The immunopathological landscape of human pre-TCRα deficiency: From rare to common variants.

We describe humans with rare biallelic loss-of-function PTCRA variants impairing pre-α T cell receptor (pre-TCRα) expression. Low circulating naive αß T cell counts at birth persisted over time, with normal memory αß and high γδ T cell counts. Their TCRα repertoire was biased, which suggests that noncanonical thymic differentiation pathways can rescue αß T cell development. Only a minority of these individuals were sick, with infection, lymphoproliferation, and/or autoimmunity. We also report that 1 in 4000 individuals from the Middle East and South Asia are homozygous for a common hypomorphic PTCRA variant. They had normal circulating naive αß T cell counts but high γδ T cell counts. Although residual pre-TCRα expression drove the differentiation of more αß T cells, autoimmune conditions were more frequent in these patients compared with the general population.

Phenotypic and Genetic Variability of Isolates of ZIKV-2016 in Brazil.

The possibility of a Zika virus epidemic resurgence requires studies to understand its mechanisms of pathogenicity. Here, we describe the isolation of the Zika virus from breast milk (Rio-BM1) and compare its genetic and virological properties with two other isolates (Rio-U1 and Rio-S1) obtained during the same epidemic period. Complete genomic analysis of these three viral isolates showed that they carry characteristics of the American isolates and belong to the Asian genotype. Furthermore, we detected eight non-synonymous single nucleotide variants and multiple nucleotide polymorphisms that reflect phenotypic changes. The new isolate, Rio-BM1, showed the lowest replication rates in mammalian cells, induced lower cell death rates, was more susceptible to treatment with type I IFN, and was less pathogenic than Rio-U1 in a murine model. In conclusion, the present study shows evidence that the isolate Rio-BM1 is more attenuated than Rio-U1, probably due to the impact of genetic alterations in the modulation of virulence. The results obtained in our in vitro model were consistent with the pathogenicity observed in the animal model, indicating that this method can be used to assess the virulence level of other isolates or to predict the pathogenicity of reverse genetic constructs containing other polymorphisms.

Zika virus RNA excretion in sweat with concomitant detection in other body fluid specimens.

We evaluated sweat, blood and urine specimens obtained from an ongoing cohort study in Brazil. Samples were collected at pre-established intervals after the initial rash presentation and tested for Zika virus (ZIKV) RNA presence by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). From 254 participants with confirmed infection, ZIKV RNA was detected in the sweat of 46 individuals (18.1%). Sweat presented a median cycle threshold (Ct) of 34.74 [interquartile range (IQR) 33.44-36.04], comparable to plasma (Ct 35.96 - IQR 33.29-36.69) and higher than urine (Ct 30.78 - IQR 28.72-33.22). Concomitant detection with other specimens was observed in 33 (72%) of 46 participants who had a positive result in sweat. These findings represent an unusual and not yet investigated virus shedding through eccrine glands.

Zika virus RNA excretion in sweat with concomitant detection in other body fluid specimens

We evaluated sweat, blood and urine specimens obtained from an ongoing cohort study in Brazil. Samples were collected at pre-established intervals after the initial rash presentation and tested for Zika virus (ZIKV) RNA presence by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). From 254 participants with confirmed infection, ZIKV RNA was detected in the sweat of 46 individuals (18.1%). Sweat presented a median cycle threshold (Ct) of 34.74 [interquartile range (IQR) 33.44-36.04], comparable to plasma (Ct 35.96 - IQR 33.29-36.69) and higher than urine (Ct 30.78 - IQR 28.72-33.22). Concomitant detection with other specimens was observed in 33 (72%) of 46 participants who had a positive result in sweat. These findings represent an unusual and not yet investigated virus shedding through eccrine glands.

Estudos sobre a infecção do vírus da febre amarela vacinal em camundongo / and

A Febre Amarela, uma doença causada por um representante do gênero Flavivírus, é caracterizada principalmente por grave injúria hepática que pode levar ao óbito. Há 70 anos, esta doença tem sido controlada por uma vacina constituída do vírus atenuado cepa 17D, que apresenta raríssimos casos de efeitos adversos. O vírus vacinal exibe replicação limitada no hospedeiro, porém com significativa disseminação da massa viral, levando a uma resposta imune forte e de longa duração. Devido a estas qualidades, o uso do vírus FA 17D como um vetor expressão mostra-se atraente para desenvolvimento de novas vacinas humanas. Apenas recentemente a vacina contra a febre amarela vem sendo estudada para esclarecimento dos mecanismos da imunidade gerada pelo vírus 17D e pouco é sabido sobre o tropismo e sítios de proliferação viral. Este trabalho investigou o potencial proliferativo do vírus FA 17D como modelo para o estudo de outros vírus recombinantes produzidos no laboratório, com o objetivo de caracterizar o grau de dispersão viral em diferentes órgãos. Para tanto, camundongos isogênicos (BALB/c) foram inoculados por via subcutânea na região dorsal com 105 ou 2 x 106 PFU do vírus 17DD, após 1, 2, 4, 7 e 11 dias foram colhidos o soro, a pele do sítio de inoculação, os linfonodos drenantes, o fígado e o baço para detecção do RNA viral por RT-PCR semi-nested e quantificação da carga viral por qRT-PCR. Verificou-se que com a dose maior mais camundongos apresentaram RNA viral nos órgãos e o vírus atingiu o fígado e o baço mais precocemente, sendo detectado também no soro a partir do primeiro dia pós-inoculação. Pele e linfonodo drenante do local da inoculação parecem ser sítios de replicação primária, onde o RNA viral foi detectado nos primeiros dias de infecção, com queda da carga viral após o sétimo dia. Foram dosados alguns marcadores de função hepática (AST, ALT e bilirrubina) para verificar se a imunização com o vírus 17DD poderia induzir disfunções ou lesões hepáticas, porém os resultados não mostraram diferença significativa entre o grupo vacinado e o grupo controle, mostrando que a vacina não afeta o funcionamento do fígado. Tentamos ainda avaliar alterações no perfil de citocinas séricas após imunização com o vírus 17DD através do ensaio de detecção múltipla, porém a técnica não foi sensível o suficiente para detectar qualquer alteração. O modelo estabelecido neste trabalho poderá servir como base de comparação para avaliação de novos candidatos vacinais constituídos de vírus FA recombinantes.