Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Derek J. Matthews, Ryan C. Fries, Nicholas D. Jeffery, Sarah A. Hamer, Ashley B. Saunders
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi infection causes cardiac damage in dogs, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) can detect the damage. This study aimed to describe CMR in naturally infected dogs with chronic Chagas disease and evaluate the frequency of abnormalities in CMR and other diagnostic tests. The results suggest that CMR can provide useful information and support the use of naturally infected dogs as an animal model for Chagas disease.
Article
Immunology
Yawei Liu, Robert Bockermann, Mahdieh Hadi, Iman Safari, Belinda Carrion, Marie Kveiborg, Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas
Summary: ADAM12 is identified as a costimulatory molecule in T cells that mimics CD28 signaling to activate and induce proliferation of Th1 cells. Lack of genomic ADAM12 in T cells diminishes T-bet and IFN gamma production in Th1 cells, providing a potential target for the treatment of Th1-mediated diseases.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Natalia Erdens Maron Freitas, Fernanda Lopes Habib, Emily Ferreira Santos, Angelo Antonio Oliveira Silva, Natalia Dantas Fontes, Leonardo Maia Leony, Daniel Dias Sampaio, Marcio Cerqueira de Almeida, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Fred Luciano Neves Santos
Summary: This article reviews the technological advances in serological diagnosis of Chagas disease in dogs and cats. Dogs and cats are considered important for the maintenance of domestic transmission cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. However, there are no commercial tests available to detect past or active infections in these animals. The use of chimeric recombinant T. cruzi antigens may improve the diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease in dogs and cats.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jose Mateus, Paola Nocua, Paola Lasso, Manuel Carlos Lopez, M. Carmen Thomas, Adriana Egui, Claudia Cuervo, John Mario Gonzalez, Concepcion J. Puerta, Adriana Cuellar
Summary: The study investigates the relationship between parasite control and immune T cell responses in Chagas disease by using distinct infection approaches in an animal model. Different infection outcomes were observed in single or mixed T. cruzi infection with different genotypes, leading to differential immune CD8(+) T cell responses. This suggests that the quality of the CD8(+) T cell response may dictate differences in infection outcomes during chronic T. cruzi infection.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Emily A. Kelly, Jose I. Echeverri Alegre, Katherine Promer, Jesica Hayon, Roumen Iordanov, Khuzaima Rangwalla, Jerry J. Zhang, Zian Fang, Cindy Huang, Cassiana E. Bittencourt, Sharon Reed, Rosa M. Andrade, Caryn Bern, Eva H. Clark, Jeffrey D. Whitman
Summary: This study reviewed four hospital systems in California and Texas and found low overall rates of diagnostic testing for Chagas disease, primarily among older patients with end-organ damage, and incomplete confirmatory testing. This suggests missed opportunities for early diagnosis, which can reduce the risk of disease progression and prevent vertical transmission.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Darina Paprckova, Veronika Niederlova, Alena Moudra, Ales Drobek, Michaela Pribikova, Sarka Janusova, Kilian Schober, Ales Neuwirth, Juraj Michalik, Martina Huranova, Veronika Horkova, Michaela Cesnekova, Michaela Simova, Jan Prochazka, Jana Balounova, Dirk H. Busch, Radislav Sedlacek, Martin Schwarzer, Ondrej Stepanek
Summary: Mature T cells are selected in the thymus for their ability to recognize self-antigens, but the role of self-reactivity in T-cell biology is still not fully understood. By examining mouse peripheral CD8(+) T cells, two unconventional populations of antigen-inexperienced T cells were discovered. Highly self-reactive T cells preferentially differentiate into antigen-inexperienced memory-like cells, but do not form a population expressing specific genes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Emily A. Kelly, Christina A. Bulman, Emma L. Gunderson, Amanda M. Irish, Rebecca L. Townsend, Judy A. Sakanari, Susan L. Stramer, Caryn Bern, Jeffrey D. Whitman
Summary: The latest-generation CD serology tests may improve diagnostic sensitivity without affecting specificity. Reactivity and sensitivity were highest in samples from donors born in South America and lowest in specimens from those born in Mexico, with intermediate results in specimens from Central American donors.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Carlos-Henrique D. Barbosa, Fabio B. Canto, Ariel Gomes, Layza M. Brandao, Jessica R. Lima, Guilherme A. Melo, Alessandra Granato, Eula G. A. Neves, Walderez O. Dutra, Ana-Carolina Oliveira, Alberto Nobrega, Maria Bellio
Summary: CD4CTLs play an important role in different pathologies, but the mechanisms controlling their generation are poorly understood. In this study, CD4CTLs were found to abundantly differentiate during mouse infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, exhibiting specific cytotoxicity and expressing immunoregulatory and exhaustion markers. The magnitude of the CD4CTL response was found to be controlled by T-cell intrinsic IL-18R/MyD88 signaling.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maria Carmo P. Nunes, Lewis F. Buss, Jose Luiz P. Silva, Larissa Natany A. Martins, Claudia Di Lorenzo Oliveira, Clareci Silva Cardoso, Bruno Oliveira de Figueiredo Brito, Ariela Mota Ferreira, Lea Campos Oliveira, Ana Luiza Bierrenbach, Fabio Fernandes, Michael P. Busch, Viviane Tiemi Hotta, Luiz Mario Baptista Martinelli, Maria Carolina F. Almeida Soeiro, Adriana Brentegani, Vera M. C. Salemi, Marcia M. Menezes, Antonio Luiz P. Ribeiro, Ester Cerdeira Sabino
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive description of the natural history of T. cruzi seropositivity in a contemporary patient population, highlighting the central importance of anti-T. cruzi antibody titer as a marker of Chagas disease activity and risk of progression.
Article
Infectious Diseases
A. Abras, C. Ballart, A. Fernandez-Arevalo, T. Llovet, M. Gallego, C. Munoz
Summary: The study evaluated two algorithms for the diagnosis of chronic and congenital Chagas disease, with CMIA showing potential as a single diagnostic test in non-endemic countries and the revised algorithm with the >= 6 S/CO proving to be an efficient method for chronic CD diagnosis. For infants with congenital infection, CMIA could potentially be used as a single test for screening at 10 months or earlier, but further research is needed.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kelly E. Allen, Megan W. Lineberry
Summary: This study evaluated the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in shelter dogs in Oklahoma and found that a percentage of the dogs were also infected with other vector-borne pathogens.
VECTOR-BORNE AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Elizabeth L. Malcolm, Ashley B. Saunders, Jordan P. Vitt, Bruno G. Boutet, Sarah A. Hamer
Summary: This article describes two cases of severe Chagas cardiomyopathy in dogs, characterized by myocardial dysfunction and electrocardiographic abnormalities. The current treatment approach includes the use of cardiac medications and antiparasitic therapy, but effective treatment protocols are still under development.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jorge Nihei, Fabiola Cardillo, Jose Mengel
Summary: Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas' disease, where immune responses are effective in the acute phase but progress to the chronic stage. Tissue-specific immune responses may develop during anti-parasite immunity, highlighting the importance of studying immunoregulatory mechanisms during infection. The role of IL-2 in regulating immune responses and maintaining tissue-specific tolerance during T. cruzi infection suggests its potential as a therapeutic target in Chagas' disease.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Juan M. Farina, Kiera Liblik, Pablo Iomini, Andres F. Miranda-Arboleda, Clara Saldarriaga, Ivan Mendoza, Ezequiel J. Zaidel, Jose M. Rubio-Campal, Alvaro Sosa-Liprandi, Adrian Baranchuk
Summary: The burden of cardiovascular diseases is increasing in low- and middle-income countries, and alongside this, there is a recognition of the contribution of neglected tropical diseases and other infections. However, there is limited access to healthcare and insufficient data collection infrastructure, resulting in underestimation of the true impact of these infections on the cardiovascular system. Thorough research and strategies are urgently needed to address this issue in health systems with limited resources.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
C. Schmitt, E. P. Hoefsmit, T. Fangmeier, N. Kramer, C. Kabakci, J. Vera Gonzalez, J. M. Versluis, A. Compter, T. Harrer, H. Mijocevic, S. Schubert, T. Hundsberger, A. M. Menzies, R. A. Scolyer, G. V. Long, L. E. French, C. U. Blank, L. M. Heinzerling
Summary: A study of melanoma patients from three countries found no significant association between previous neurotropic infections and immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced neurological adverse events.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOTHERAPY
(2023)