Recombinant envelope protein-based enzyme immunoassay for IgG antibodies is comparable to neutralization tests for epidemiological studies of dengue infection.

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most prevalent arbovirus in the world, found mainly in tropical regions. As clinical manifestations present frequently as nonspecific febrile illness, laboratory diagnosis is essential to confirm DENV infections and for epidemiological studies. Recombinant envelope (E) antigens of four serotypes of DENV were used to develop an immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IgG-ELISA). To evaluate the IgG-ELISA, a panel of serum samples that had been tested previously by a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was investigated for the presence of anti-E antibodies against the four DENV serotypes. IgG-ELISA was found to have a sensitivity (91%) and specificity (98%) at a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) optimized cutoff and demonstrated high performance as well as good indexes. A concordance of 97% was achieved between both assays, and only 21/704 (3%) samples were not concordant. The results of the present study demonstrate a moderate correlation between neutralizing antibody titers and IgG-ELISA values. These findings indicate that the recombinant protein-based IgG-ELISA is a suitable method for routine serodiagnosis, monitoring and seroepidemiological studies of DENV infections.

Antiviral activities of plants occurring in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: Part 2. Screening Bignoniaceae species / Atividade antiviral de extratos de plantas coletadas no estado de Minas Gerais: Parte 2. Triagem de Bignoniaceae

Ethanol extracts of eighteen Bignoniaceae species have been evaluated by the MTT assay for cytotoxicity in Vero cells and for antiviral activity against Human herpes virus type 1, Vaccinia virus and murine Encephalomyocarditis virus. Among such species, seven are reported to be of traditional medicinal use No cytotoxicity was observed for most of the extracts up to the concentration of 500 μg/mL. Fourteen (50 percent) of the 28 extracts assayed have disclosed antiviral activity with EC50 values in the range of 4.6+0.3 to 377.2+17.7 μg/mL. Only two species, Arrabidaea samydoides and Callichlamys latifolia, have shown activity against all the three viruses. The extracts were chemically characterized by their TLC and HPLC-DAD profiles. Mangiferin is the major constituent of A. samydoides but the isolated compound has been less active than the crude extract. This is the first report on the antiviral evaluation of the eighteen Bignoniaceae species assayed.

Extratos etanólicos de dezoito espécies vegetais pertencentes à família Bignoniaceae, das quais sete são descritas como de uso medicinal, foram avaliados, pelo ensaio colorimétrico do MTT, para atividades citotóxica, em células Vero, e antiviral, frente aos vírus herpes simplex-tipo 1, vaccinia e encefalomiocardite murina. A maior parte dos extratos não apresentou citotoxicidade até a concentração de 500 μg/mL. Dos 28 extratos testados quatorze (50 por cento) apresentaram atividade antiviral com valores de CE50 na faixa de 4,6+03 a 377,2+17,7 μg/mL. Somente duas espécies, Arrabidaea samydoides e Callichlamys latifolia, foram ativas frente aos três vírus. Os extratos foram caracterizados pelos seus perfís cromatográficos em CCD e CLAE-FR. Análises por CLAE-FR mostraram que a mangiferina é o constituinte majoritário em A. samydoides mas a substância isolada foi menos ativa do que o extrato bruto. Esta é a primeira vez que se relata a atividade antiviral de extratos das dezoito espécies avaliadas.

A concentraçäo de interferon humano de membranas amnióticas: II - métodos químicos / Concentrations of the human amniotic membrane interferon: II - Chemical methods

Foi investigada a concentraçäo do interferon humano de membranas amnióticas (IFN-MA) por precipitaçäo através de métodos químicos. O IFN-MA foi produzido em âmnios infectados com o vírus da doença de Newcastle em meio contendo diferentes concentraçöes de soro. A atividade anti-vírica das preparaçöes foi titulada em células Vero infectadas com o vírus da encefalomiocardite de camundongo ou o vírus Sindbis. A precipitaçäo de IFN-MA, consideradas baixas. Empregando-se sulfato de âmnio em preparaçöes com 1//de soro, pode-se recuperar quantidades acima de 60//. O método mais adequado de concentraçäo de IFN-MA contendo 1//de soro foi a precipitaçäo com ácido tricloroactico e ressuspenso do matrial com tampäo clorto pH2, com recuperaçöes em torno de 100//da atividade. As tentativas de concentrar IFN-MA preparado sem soro por estes métodos näo permitiu uma precipitaçäo adequada