Genomes OnLine database (GOLD) v.7: updates and new features.

The Genomes Online Database (GOLD) (https://gold.jgi.doe.gov) is an open online resource, which maintains an up-to-date catalog of genome and metagenome projects in the context of a comprehensive list of associated metadata. Information in GOLD is organized into four levels: Study, Biosample/Organism, Sequencing Project and Analysis Project. Currently GOLD hosts information on 33 415 Studies, 49 826 Biosamples, 313 324 Organisms, 215 881 Sequencing Projects and 174 454 Analysis Projects with a total of 541 metadata fields, of which 80 are based on controlled vocabulary (CV) terms. GOLD provides a user-friendly web interface to browse sequencing projects and launch advanced search tools across four classification levels. Users submit metadata on a wide range of Sequencing and Analysis Projects in GOLD before depositing sequence data to the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) system for analysis. GOLD conforms with and supports the rules set by the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) Minimum Information standards. The current version of GOLD (v.7) has seen the number of projects and associated metadata increase exponentially over the years. This paper provides an update on the current status of GOLD and highlights the new features added over the last two years.

Seroprevalencia del virus de la hepatitis A en niños de 1 a 15 años en un hospital universitario / Seroprevalence of the hepatitis A virus in children from 1 to 15 years old in a university hospital

Introducción. La hepatitis A es una enfermedad infectocontagiosa causada por un virus ARN no encapsulado de la familia Picornaviridae y del género Hepatovirus, que se trasmite por vía fecal-oral, bien sea de persona a persona o en epidemias originadas por una fuente común. Objetivo. Se estimo la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos de tipo IgG contra el virus de la hepatitis A en niños de 1 a 15 años, atendidos en un hospital universitario, como parte de un estudio cooperativo nacional. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y prospectivo, entre junio y noviembre de 2007. Los niveles de anticuerpos se detectaron mediante un inmunoensayo enzimático de micropartículas. A cada participante del estudio se le hizo una encuesta de riesgo con las variables objeto del estudio. Resultados. Se estudiaron 422 niños. La prevalencia global de anticuerpos contra el virus de la hepatitis A fue de 29,1%: 37,1% en el grupo de 5 a 9 años, 36,1%, en el de 10 a 15 y 13,8%, en el de 1 a 4 años. La mayor proporción de prevalencia de anticuerpos se encontró en los niños de estrato socioeconómico más bajo: 44,2% para el estrato 1 y 27,9% para el estrato 2. Discusión. En este estudio se encontró una seroprevalencia de anticuerpos para hepatitis A más baja en menores de 5 años, lo que puede indicar una transición del patrón epidemiológico hacia un nivel intermedio. La prevalencia fue mayor en los niños de estratos socioeconómicos bajos, lo que puede estar en relación con el hacinamiento y las malas prácticas de higiene.

Introduction: Hepatitis A is an infectious disease caused by a non-encapsulated RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family, classified as Hepatovirus. It is transmitted by a fecal-oral route, either from person to person or in common source epidemics. Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against the hepatitis A virus in children aged 1-15 years, treated in a university hospital as part of a national collaborative study. Methods: A descriptive study was performed between June and November 2007. The antibody titers were detected by means of a Microparticle Capture Enzyme Immunoassay. A survey to identify risk factors was conducted for each participant, with additional variables under study. Results: We studied 422 children. The overall prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A was 29.1%, with 37.1% in the group of 5 to 9 years of age, 36.1% for 10 to 15, and 13.8% for 1 to 4. The highest proportion of antibody prevalence was found in children of the lowest socioeconomic status, 44.2% for the stratum 1 and 27.9% for the stratum 2. Conclusion: The seroprevalence to hepatitis A virus was lower in children with less than five years of age, which is an indication of a transition of the epidemiological profile to an intermediate one. The prevalence was higher in children of low socioeconomic levels, which may be related to overcrowding and poor hygiene practices.