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This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, sociobehavioral factors and clinical-laboratory consequences of late presentation among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Brazilian Amazon region. In total, 402 HIV + individuals treated at reference units in Belém city (Pará, Brazil) between 2018 and 2019 were evaluated. Late presentation was defined as a first-collection LTCD4+ count below 350 cells/µL. Sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical data were obtained from questionnaires or medical records. Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokine profiles were evaluated by flow cytometry. Longitudinal data on viral load, T lymphocytes, and antiretroviral therapy administration were obtained from control and logistic databases. Approximately 52.73% of the participants were late presenters and sought medical care 7-12 + months after their primary HIV diagnosis. Sociobehavioral factors associated with late presentation included illicit drug use for more than 5 years, polyamory, no alcohol consumption, homosexuality, and sexual inactiveness after HIV diagnosis. Clinically, late presentation was associated with coinfection rate; polysymptomatology; high IFN-É£, IL-6 and IL-10 levels; nonresponse to antiretroviral therapy; and virological failure- and tuberculosis coinfection-motivated changes to therapy. In summary, the prevalence of late presentation in Pará in the Brazilian Amazon region is high. Delays in seeking specialized care after a primary HIV diagnosis cause medium/long-term changes in the life expectancy and health of PLHIV.
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The IgG response against SARS-CoV-2 infection can persist for over six months (long response; LR). However, among 30% of those infected, the duration can be as short as three months or less (short response; SR). The present study assembled serological data on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG response duration of two previous studies and integrated these results with the plasmatic cytokine levels and genetic profile of 10 immune-relevant SNPs that were also previously published, along with the plasmatic total IgG, IgA, and IgM levels, allowing for the genetic, clinical, immunological, and epidemiological aspects of the post-COVID-19 IgG response duration to be understood. The SR was associated with previous mild acute COVID-19 and with an SNP (rs2228145) in IL6R related to low gene expression. Additionally, among the SR subgroup, no statistically significant Spearman correlations were observed between the plasma levels of IL-17A and the Th17 regulatory cytokines IFN-γ (rs = 0.2399; p = 0.1043), IL-4 (rs = 0.0273; p = 0.8554), and IL-2 (rs = 0.2204; p = 0.1365), while among the LR subgroup, weaker but statistically significant Spearman correlations were observed between the plasma levels of IL-17A and IFN-γ (rs = 0.3873; p = 0.0016), IL-4 (rs = 0.2671; p = 0.0328), and IL-2 (rs = 0.3959; p = 0.0012). These results suggest that the Th17 response mediated by the IL-6 pathway has a role in the prolonged IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Anticuerpos Antivirales , COVID-19 , Inmunoglobulina G , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , COVID-19/inmunología , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/sangre , COVID-19/virología , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , SARS-CoV-2/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunología , Masculino , Femenino , Receptores de Interleucina-6/genética , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Interleucina-17/sangre , Interleucina-17/genética , Citocinas/sangre , Inmunoglobulina A/sangre , Interferón gamma/sangre , Interferón gamma/genética , Inmunoglobulina M/sangre , Interleucina-4/sangre , Interleucina-4/genética , AncianoRESUMEN
CCR5Δ32 and SDF1-3'A polymorphisms were investigated in a cohort of viremia controllers, without the use of therapy, along with their influence on CD4+ T lymphocytes (TLs), CD8+ TLs, and plasma viral load (VL). The samples were analyzed from 32 HIV-1-infected individuals classified as viremia controllers 1 and 2 and viremia non-controllers, from both sexes, mostly heterosexuals, paired with 300 individuals from a control group. CCR5∆32 polymorphism was identified by PCR amplification of a fragment of 189 bp for the wild-type allele and 157 bp for the allele with the ∆32 deletion. SDF1-3'A polymorphism was identified by PCR, followed by enzymatic digestion (restriction fragment length polymorphism) with the Msp I enzyme. The relative quantification of gene expression was performed by real-time PCR. The distribution of allele and genotype frequencies did not show significant differences between the groups. The gene expression of CCR5 and SDF1 was not different between the profiles of AIDS progression. There was no significant correlation between the progression markers (CD4+ TL/CD8+ TL and VL) and the CCR5∆32 polymorphism carrier status. The 3'A allele variant was associated with a marked loss of CD4+ TLs and a higher plasma VL. Neither CCR5∆32 nor SDF1-3'A was associated with viremia control or the controlling phenotype.
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Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida , Quimiocina CXCL12 , Infecciones por VIH , Receptores CCR5 , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/genética , Biomarcadores , Brasil , Quimiocina CXCL12/genética , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Frecuencia de los Genes , VIH-1 , Receptores CCR5/genética , ViremiaRESUMEN
Autoimmune diseases can develop during HIV-1 infection, mainly related to the individual's immune competence. The study investigated the association of the TREX1 531C/T polymorphism and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in HIV-1 infection and the time of antiretroviral therapy (ART) used. Cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments were carried out in 150 individuals, divided into three groups: ART-naïve, 5 years and 10 years on ART; ART-naïve individuals were evaluated for 2 years after initiation of treatment. The individuals' blood samples were submitted to indirect immunofluorescence tests, real-time PCR and flow cytometry. The TREX1 531C/T polymorphism was associated with higher levels of TCD4+ lymphocytes and IFN-α in individuals with HIV-1. Individuals on ART had a higher frequency of ANA, higher levels of T CD4+ lymphocytes, a higher ratio of T CD4+/CD8+ lymphocytes and higher levels of IFN-α than therapy-naïve individuals (p < 0.05). The TREX1 531C/T polymorphism was associated with better maintenance of the immune status of individuals with HIV-1 and ANA with immune restoration in individuals on ART, indicating the need to identify individuals at risk of developing an autoimmune disease.
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Exodesoxirribonucleasas , Infecciones por VIH , VIH-1 , Humanos , Anticuerpos Antinucleares , Autoanticuerpos , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Estudios Transversales , Infecciones por VIH/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones por VIH/genética , VIH-1/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Exodesoxirribonucleasas/genética , Exodesoxirribonucleasas/inmunologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The HIV-1 epidemic is still considered a global public health problem, but great advances have been made in fighting it by antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART has a considerable impact on viral replication and host immunity. The production of type I interferon (IFN) is key to the innate immune response to viral infections. The STING and cGAS proteins have proven roles in the antiviral cascade. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of ART on innate immunity, which was represented by STING and cGAS gene expression and plasma IFN-α level. METHODS: This cohort study evaluated a group of 33 individuals who were initially naïve to therapy and who were treated at a reference center and reassessed 12 months after starting ART. Gene expression levels and viral load were evaluated by real-time PCR, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts by flow cytometry, and IFN-α level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: From before to after ART, the CD4+ T cell count and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio significantly increased (p < 0.0001), the CD8+ T cell count slightly decreased, and viral load decreased to undetectable levels in most of the group (84.85%). The expression of STING and cGAS significantly decreased (p = 0.0034 and p = 0.0001, respectively) after the use of ART, but IFN-α did not (p = 0.1558). Among the markers evaluated, the only markers that showed a correlation with each other were STING and CD4+ T at the time of the first collection. CONCLUSIONS: ART provided immune recovery and viral suppression to the studied group and indirectly downregulated the STING and cGAS genes. In contrast, ART did not influence IFN-α. The expression of STING and cGAS was not correlated with the plasma level of IFN-α, which suggests that there is another pathway regulating this cytokine in addition to the STING-cGAS pathway.
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Fármacos Anti-VIH/uso terapéutico , Infecciones por VIH , Proteínas de la Membrana/genética , Nucleotidiltransferasas/genética , Estudios de Cohortes , Expresión Génica , Infecciones por VIH/tratamiento farmacológico , VIH-1/genética , VIH-1/metabolismo , Humanos , Interferón-alfa/sangre , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Genetic changes may induce dysregulated cytokine production and affect the progression of the chronic disease caused by the hepacivirus C (HCV) because the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines determines the outcome of infection. This study evaluated the TNFA -308G>A and IL10 -1082A>G polymorphisms in the susceptibility and progress of chronic hepatitis C. METHOD: The study included 101 samples from patients with chronic hepatitis C and 300 samples from healthy donors. Polymorphisms were typed by real-time PCR and were analyzed for associations with histopathological parameters (according to METAVIR classification) and HCV viral load. RESULTS: The polymorphic genotype for the TNFA -308G>A variant was not present in the group of patients with chronic hepatitis C and its absence could be associated with protection against HCV infection (p = 0.0477). Patients with the polymorphic genotype of the IL10 -1082A>G polymorphism had higher HCV viral load than wild-type patients (p = 0.0428). Neither polymorphism was associated with different levels of necroinflammatory activity or fibrosis scores. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the polymorphic genotype at TNFA -308G>A as protective against chronic HCV infection, and the polymorphic genotype at the IL10 -1082A>G variant associated with higher HCV viral load. Further studies must be performed in order to confirm these associations.
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Hepacivirus , Hepatitis C Crónica , Biomarcadores , Genotipo , Hepatitis C Crónica/genética , Humanos , Interleucina-10/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In this study, the prevalence and persistence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus) IgG was evaluated in volunteers 90 days after COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) diagnosis by correlating response dynamics with clinical conditions, epidemiological characteristics, and disease severity. METHODS: The study recruited 200 volunteers aged 18 years or older of both sexes diagnosed with COVID-19. Of the 200 volunteers initially selected, the 135 individuals who underwent serological testing for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on the first visit to the laboratory, were invited to return, after 90 days, and provide a new blood sample for a second assessment of the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody. Disease severity and longevity of symptoms were evaluated for each individual and associated with the serological profile. RESULTS: Among the 135 individuals who underwent a previous serological test for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, 125 showed reactivity to IgG (92.6%). Of the 125 individuals with detectable IgG in the first test, 87 (69.6%) showed persistence of this antibody after 90 days and 38 (30.4%) lost IgG reactivity in the second evaluation. The frequency of all reported symptoms was higher in individuals who maintained IgG persistence after 90 days of symptoms. Symptom manifestations lasted ≥21 days in the group with a persistent IgG response (39.6%) and ≤ 7 days in the group with a nonpersistent IgG response (50.0%). The length of hospital stay and supplemental oxygen use were higher in individuals with a persistent IgG response. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study show a high frequency of loss of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies within 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis in the Brazilian Amazon.
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Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Prueba Serológica para COVID-19/métodos , COVID-19/sangre , COVID-19/epidemiología , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , SARS-CoV-2/inmunología , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Brasil/epidemiología , COVID-19/inmunología , COVID-19/virología , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is etiologically associated with the chronic inflammatory neurodegenerative disease HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) Annexin A1 (AnxA1) is an anti-inflammatory protein with proposed neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory functions. We hypothesized that ANXA1 gene expression may be dysregulated in HTLV-1-infected HAM/TSP patients. METHODS: This study involved 37 individuals infected with HTLV-1, including 21 asymptomatic (AS) carriers and 16 with HAM/TSP, and a control group of 30 individuals negative for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2. For AS HTLV-1-positive and HAM/TSP patients, ANXA1 and formyl peptide receptor (FPR1, FPR2 and FPR3) expression and HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) in peripheral blood cells were evaluated by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and plasma AnxA1 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: ANXA1 gene expression was increased in the AS group compared with the HAM/TSP and control groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. FPR1 gene expression was higher in patients with HTLV-1 than in controls (AS, p = 0.0032; HAM/TSP, p < 0.0001). Plasma AnxA1 levels were higher in the AS group than in the HAM/TSP group (p = 0.0045), and PVL was higher in patients with HAM/TSP than in AS individuals (p = 0.0162). The use of a combined ROC curve using Annexin 1 levels and proviral load significantly increased the sensitivity and specificity to predict progression to HAM/TSP (AUC = 0.851 and AUC = 0.937, respectively, to AUC = 1000). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that AnxA1 may be dysregulated in HAM/TSP patients. Serological detection of AnxA1 in association with proviral load may provide a prognostic biomarker for HTLV-1-associated neurodegenerative disease.
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Anexina A1/sangre , Virus Linfotrópico T Tipo 1 Humano/aislamiento & purificación , Paraparesia Espástica Tropical/diagnóstico , Adulto , Anexina A1/genética , Biomarcadores/sangre , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Paraparesia Espástica Tropical/sangre , Paraparesia Espástica Tropical/virología , Pronóstico , Curva ROC , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Carga ViralRESUMEN
The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reached the Brazilian Amazon and spread among indigenous populations. In the present study, we demonstrate a high prevalence of infection among the Xikrin of Bacajá people (Kayapó). A sample of 100 individuals of both sexes (51 men and 49 women) with ages ranging from 2 to 82 years were clinically evaluated and tested for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody. Among all investigated individuals, 58 were IgG-reactive (58 %) by a rapid test, and 73 (73 %) were reactive in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with no difference between sexes. Oxygen saturation ranged from 82 to 99 %, with the lowest value observed in a two-year-old girl. The results show that as expected, SARS-CoV-2 infection rapidly reached more than 70 % of the population, most likely because of the difficulties of maintaining social distance due to cultural characteristics. These results highlight the importance of indigenous health policies as a means of minimizing the impact of the pandemic on these communities.
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Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , COVID-19/etnología , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Indígenas Sudamericanos/estadística & datos numéricos , SARS-CoV-2/inmunología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Brasil/epidemiología , COVID-19/sangre , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Prevalencia , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The emergence of the new causative agent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the city of Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and its spread worldwide, led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a pandemic. The disease has caused high mortality among traditional populations and the most socially vulnerable groups such indigenous and refugees. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the population of Venezuelan indigenous Warao refugees residing in private and public shelters in the city of Belem, capital of Para State, in the Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: One hundred one individuals of both sexes (43 men and 58 women) with ages varying from 18 to 77 years (average of 36 years) were investigated. Whole blood samples were collected and subsequently separated into plasma and leukocytes. Serological analysis was performed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - ELISA (Anti-SARS-COV-2 S1 IgG, EUROIMMUN, USA). RESULTS: The results indicate a positive serum prevalence of 83.2% (84), of which 77.6% (45/58) were females and 90.7% (39/43) were males. An indeterminate profile was observed in 6.9% (7), where it was not possible to confirm the presence of antibodies, and 9.9% (10) individuals were negative for IgG antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The finding of the high seroprevalence of IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies reveals a high exposure of the Warao population in Belem to infection with the new coronavirus. These results underscore the importance of maintaining epidemiological surveillance with testing in traditional populations due to the high possibility of spreading the virus, especially among the most socioeconomically vulnerable groups, which depend exclusively on the Unified Health System (SUS), such as refugees and indigenous people.
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COVID-19 , Refugiados , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anticuerpos Antivirales , Brasil/epidemiología , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2 , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) transcription factor is one of the main markers of immunological suppression in different pathological profiles, and the presence of polymorphic variants may alter the gene expression of this factor. Despite descriptions of an association between the presence of the rs2232365 polymorphism and chronic diseases, the role of the sex variant in this context has not yet been elucidated, as the FOXP3 gene is located on the human sex chromosome X. RESULTS: To contribute to this topic, 323 women and 373 men were enrolled in the study, of which 101 were diagnosed with chronic viral liver diseases (39 women and 62 men), 67 with HTLV-1 infection (44 women and 23 men), 230 with coronary artery disease (91 women and 139 men) and 298 healthy and uninfected blood donors (149 women and men). They were genotyped for the rs2232365 polymorphism. The rs2232365 polymorphism was associated with clinical and pathological aspects and biomarkers of viral infections only in men, with functional differences between different infections. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship is suggested between sex and FOXP3 rs2232365 polymorphism, resulting in different biological repercussions.
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Factores de Transcripción Forkhead/metabolismo , Genotipo , Infecciones por HTLV-I/genética , Virus Linfotrópico T Tipo 1 Humano/fisiología , Factores Sexuales , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Enfermedad Crónica , Enfermedad de la Arteria Coronaria/genética , Femenino , Factores de Transcripción Forkhead/genética , Predisposición Genética a la Enfermedad , Infecciones por HTLV-I/inmunología , Humanos , Masculino , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido SimpleRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Human polyomavirus 2 (HPyV2 or JCPyV) is persistent in the environment due to its excretion in urine and feces; it is detected in samples of wastewater, surface water and drinking water. A lack of basic sanitation and sewage collection results in the presence of this virus in food, especially in oysters, since they are bioaccumulators and are consumed in their natural form, thus posing a risk to human health. METHODS: This study investigated the frequency of HPyV2 in samples of oysters marketed in northeastern Pará State, Brazil, and optimized a real-time PCR (qPCR) protocol for the detection of an endogenous oyster control. A total of 217 oysters in 22 pools from five municipalities in the state of Pará were analyzed. Samples underwent dissection and total maceration of oyster tissue using a viral concentration technique, followed by DNA extraction with phenol-chloroform and amplification of the VP1 region for molecular detection via qPCR. RESULTS: HPyV2 was detected in 18.2% (4/22) of the pooled samples, with frequencies of 25, 20, 20 and 16% in the municipalities of Salinópolis, Augusto Corrêa, São Caetano de Odivelas and Curuçá, respectively. Notably, the sample pool from the municipality of Bragança did not have detectable HPyV2 and this was the only sampled location with a water treatment station. In this study, Crassostrea genus-specific primers (AFL52 ribosomal RNA gene) of oyster were developed for use as an endogenous control in the qPCR analysis, which will be useful for future studies. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of HPyV2 in oyster samples commercialized in the state of Pará shows the circulation of this virus in the studied municipalities. Thus, it is necessary to implement measures for improving sewage collection and basic sanitation to avoid contamination of water and food with HPyV2.
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Monitoreo del Ambiente , Ostreidae/virología , Poliomavirus/aislamiento & purificación , Microbiología del Agua , Animales , Brasil , Humanos , Poliomavirus/genética , Aguas del Alcantarillado/virología , Purificación del AguaRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic progressive myelopathy associated with an inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS), being characterized by perivascular infiltration of inflammatory cells. HTLV-1-infected cells have the capacity to migrate through endothelial layers by enhancing adhesion receptor expression and corresponding ligands. T cells interact with the extracellular matrix via integrin receptors and these interactions affect both cell migration and proliferation. The importance of these interactions in retrovirus-induced diseases, however, remains less clear. METHODS: Herein we studied the expression of 3 integrin alpha chains (CD49d, CD49e, and CD49f) on the membrane of T-cell subsets in patients infected by HTLV-1, both HAM/TSP patients and oligo/asymptomatic subjects who were asymptomatic or presented slight manifestations related to the virus infection. RESULTS: We observed higher peripheral blood frequency of CD49dhiCD4+ and CD49dhiCD8+ T cells in HTLV-1-infected patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the increased expression of adhesion molecules, such as CD49d on T lymphocytes from HTLV-1-infected patients may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease, in both oligo/asymptomatic and HAM/TSP-infected subjects. Accordingly, it is conceivable that there is a potential use of CD49d as target for a therapeutic approach aiming at blocking migration of activated T cells from HTLV-1-infected patients into the CNS, thus avoiding the progression to HAM/TSP.
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Virus Linfotrópico T Tipo 1 Humano , Paraparesia Espástica Tropical , Sistema Nervioso Central , Humanos , Inflamación , Subgrupos de Linfocitos TRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection is characterized by high viral replication and a decrease in CD4+ T cells (CD4+TC), resulting in AIDS, which can lead to death. In elite controllers and viremia controllers, viral replication is naturally controlled, with maintenance of CD4+TC levels without the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: The aim of the present study was to describe virological and immunological risk factors among HIV-1-infected individuals according to characteristics of progression to AIDS. The sample included 30 treatment-naive patients classified into three groups based on infection duration (> 6 years), CD4+TC count and viral load: (i) 2 elite controllers (ECs), (ii) 7 viremia controllers (VCs) and (iii) 21 nonviremia controllers (NVCs). Nested PCR was employed to amplify the virus genome, which was later sequenced using the Ion PGM platform for subtyping and analysis of immune escape mutations. RESULTS: Viral samples were classified as HIV-1 subtypes B and F. Greater selection pressure on mutations was observed in the group of viremia controllers, with a higher frequency of immunological escape mutations in the genes investigated, including two new mutations in gag. The viral sequences of viremia controllers and nonviremia controllers did not differ significantly regarding the presence of immune escape mutations. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that progression to AIDS is not dependent on a single variable but rather on a set of characteristics and pressures exerted by virus biology and interactions with immunogenetic host factors.
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Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/inmunología , VIH-1/genética , Evasión Inmune/genética , Mutación/inmunología , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/virología , Adulto , Brasil , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Genes gag/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Filogenia , Conformación Proteica , Estudios Retrospectivos , Carga Viral , Viremia/genética , Replicación Viral/genética , Productos del Gen gag del Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana/química , Productos del Gen gag del Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana/genéticaRESUMEN
The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has alarmed the world with its high rate of transmission and the ability to cause severe and fatal disease. The impact of this pandemic may be even greater in populations where the absence of health services is a chronic aspect, as reported with populations living in the Brazilian Amazon. In this article, we address the perspective of possible impacts of the pandemic on these populations and the importance of conducting seroepidemiological surveillance studies.
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Infecciones por Coronavirus/prevención & control , Pandemias/prevención & control , Neumonía Viral/prevención & control , Brasil/epidemiología , COVID-19 , Infecciones por Coronavirus/epidemiología , Servicios de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Neumonía Viral/epidemiología , Estudios SeroepidemiológicosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that the human T-lymphotropic virus 2 (HTLV-2) is endemic in several indigenous populations of the Brazilian Amazon and molecular analyses have shown the exclusive presence of HTLV-2 subtype 2c among the indigenous groups of this geographical region. METHODS: The present study characterizes the prevalence of HTLV-2 infection in three new villages of the Xikrin tribe, in the Kayapo group, according to their distribution by sex and age. The study included 263 samples from individuals from the Kateté, Djujeko and Oodjã villages. Plasma samples were tested for the presence of anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Seropositive samples were confirmed using real-time PCR, nested PCR and sequencing. RESULTS: The serological and molecular results confirmed the sole presence of HTLV-2 in 77 (29%) samples, with a prevalence of 38% among women and 18% among men. In these communities, it was found that the prevalence of HTLV-2 infection increased with age. Nucleotide sequences (642 bp, 5'LTR) from eight samples were subjected to phylogenetic analysis by the neighbor-joining method to determine the viral subtype, which confirmed the presence of HTLV-2c. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study establish the presence of HTLV-2 infection in three new villages of the Xikrin tribe and confirm the high endemicity of the infection in the Kayapo indigenous group of the Brazilian Amazon.
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Infecciones por HTLV-II/epidemiología , Virus Linfotrópico T Tipo 2 Humano/genética , Virus Linfotrópico T Tipo 2 Humano/patogenicidad , Adulto , Anciano , Brasil/epidemiología , Brasil/etnología , Niño , Preescolar , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Virus Linfotrópico T Tipo 2 Humano/inmunología , Humanos , Indígenas Sudamericanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Filogenia , Prevalencia , Reacción en Cadena en Tiempo Real de la PolimerasaRESUMEN
We conducted an external quality assessment of Zika virus molecular diagnostic tests in Brazil using a new Zika virus standard. Of 15 laboratories, 73% showed limited sensitivity and specificity. Viral load estimates varied significantly. Continuous quality assurance is needed to adequately estimate risk for Zika virus-associated disease and determine patient care.
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Laboratorios/normas , Técnicas de Diagnóstico Molecular/normas , ARN Viral/aislamiento & purificación , Virus Zika/aislamiento & purificación , Brasil , Humanos , Control de Calidad , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Carga ViralRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Prenatal tests are important for prevention of vertical transmission of various infectious agents. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), rubella virus and vaccination coverage against HBV in pregnant adolescents who received care in the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 324 pregnant adolescents from 2009 to 2010. After the interview and blood collection, the patients were screened for antibodies and/or antigens against HIV-1/2, HTLV-1/2, CMV, rubella virus and HBV. The epidemiological variables were demonstrated using descriptive statistics with the G, χ2 and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 15.8 years, and the majority (65.4%) had less than 6 years of education. The mean age at first intercourse was 14.4 years, and 60.8% reported having a partner aged between 12 and 14 years. The prevalence of HIV infection was 0.3%, and of HTLV infection was 0.6%. Regarding HBV, 0.6% of the participants had acute infection, 9.9% had a previous infection, 16.7% had vaccine immunity and 72.8% were susceptible to infection. The presence of anti-HBs was greater in adolescent between 12 and 14 years old (28.8%) while the anti-HBc was greater in adolescent between 15 and 18 years old (10.3%). Most of the adolescents presented the IgG antibody to CMV (96.3%) and rubella (92.3%). None of the participants had acute rubella infection, and 2.2% had anti-CMV IgM. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first report of the seroepidemiology of infectious agents in a population of pregnant adolescents in the Northern region of Brazil. Most of the adolescents had low levels of education, were susceptible to HBV infection and had IgG antibodies to CMV and rubella virus. The prevalence of HBV, HIV and HTLV was similar to that reported in other regions of Brazil. However, the presence of these agents in this younger population reinforces the need for good prenatal follow-up and more comprehensive vaccination campaigns against HBV due to the large number of women susceptible to the virus.
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Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Pruebas de Detección del Suero Materno/estadística & datos numéricos , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/epidemiología , Embarazo en Adolescencia/sangre , Virosis/epidemiología , Adolescente , Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunología , Brasil/epidemiología , Niño , Estudios Transversales , Citomegalovirus/inmunología , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/sangre , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/epidemiología , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/virología , Deltaretrovirus/inmunología , Infecciones por Deltaretrovirus/sangre , Infecciones por Deltaretrovirus/epidemiología , Infecciones por Deltaretrovirus/virología , Femenino , VIH/inmunología , Infecciones por VIH/sangre , Infecciones por VIH/epidemiología , Infecciones por VIH/virología , Hepatitis B/sangre , Hepatitis B/epidemiología , Hepatitis B/virología , Virus de la Hepatitis B/inmunología , Humanos , Transmisión Vertical de Enfermedad Infecciosa/prevención & control , Embarazo , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/sangre , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/virología , Atención Prenatal , Rubéola (Sarampión Alemán)/sangre , Rubéola (Sarampión Alemán)/epidemiología , Rubéola (Sarampión Alemán)/virología , Virus de la Rubéola/inmunología , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , Virosis/sangre , Virosis/virologíaRESUMEN
GB virus C (GBV-C) is a lymphotropic virus with a low level or non-existent replication in the liver. The interaction between HIV-1 and GBV-C apparently reduces the progression of HIV-1 infection to AIDS and improves the quality of life of HIV-1 infected individuals. A cross-sectional study was established to determine the possible effect of HIV-1/GBV-C coinfection on HIV-1 viral load and CD4+ T lymphocyte counts. Samples from 313 HIV-1 infected persons from the Virus Laboratory of the Federal University of Pará as well as demographic and clinical information were obtained from medical records. This study used a nested PCR method to determine GBV-C viremia. The prevalence of HIV-1/GBV-C coinfection was 17%. There were no significant differences in the distribution according to age, sex or ethnicity between the groups. The differences in HIV-1 viral load and CD4+ T lymphocyte count between the HIV-1 and HIV-1/GBV-C groups were highly significant, indicating that coinfection results in lower viral loads and higher CD4+ T lymphocyte counts compared to HIV-1 mono-infection. The results indicate a protective effect among coinfected individuals.
Asunto(s)
Coinfección/virología , Infecciones por Flaviviridae/complicaciones , Virus GB-C , Infecciones por VIH/complicaciones , VIH-1 , Hepatitis Viral Humana/complicaciones , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Infecciones por Flaviviridae/virología , Infecciones por VIH/virología , Hepatitis Viral Humana/virología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to describe the genetic diversity of HIV-1, as well as the resistance profile of the viruses identified in HIV-1 infected pregnant women under antiretroviral therapy in the state of Pará, Northern Brazil. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 45 HIV-1 infected pregnant to determine the virus subtypes according to the HIV-1 protease (PR) gene and part of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) gene by sequencing the nucleotides of these regions. Drug resistance mutations and susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs were analyzed by the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database. RESULTS: Out of 45 samples, only 34 could be amplified for PR and 30 for RT. Regarding the PR gene, subtypes B (97.1%) and C (2.9%) were identified; for the RT gene, subtypes B (90.0%), F (6.7%), and C (3.3%) were detected. Resistance to protease inhibitors (PI) was identified in 5.8% of the pregnant, and mutations conferring resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were found in 3.3%, while mutations conferring resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were found in 3.3%. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed a low frequency of strains resistant to antiretroviral drugs, the prevalence of subtypes B and F, and the persistent low transmission of subtype C in pregnant of the state of Pará, Brazil.