Article
Immunology
Colin J. Forsyth, Jennifer Manne-Goehler, Caryn Bern, Jeffrey Whitman, Natasha S. Hochberg, Morven Edwards, Rachel Marcus, Norman L. Beatty, Yagahira E. Castro-Sesquen, Christina Coyle, Paula Stigler Granados, Davidson Hamer, James H. Maguire, Robert H. Gilman, Sheba Meymandi
Summary: This article provides straightforward recommendations for the screening and diagnosis of Chagas disease in the United States. The study emphasizes the importance of testing individuals who were born or resided in endemic countries of Mexico and Central and South America, as well as screening family members of those who test positive. Special consideration should also be given to women of childbearing age with risk factors and infants born to seropositive mothers.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Eva H. Clark, Carina Marquez, Jeffrey D. Whitman, Caryn Bern
Summary: Chagas disease can have dangerous consequences in people with HIV co-infection. This study provides practical recommendations to improve diagnosis and care for co-infected individuals, including incorporating Chagas disease screening into the initial evaluation for people with HIV. Screening for Chagas disease is important to identify infected individuals and provide timely treatment. Prompt evaluation and treatment should be considered for co-infected individuals with low CD4 cell counts and neurologic or cardiac symptoms.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Caue Benito Scarim, Francisco Olmo, Elizabeth Igne Ferreira, Chung Man Chin, John M. Kelly, Amanda Fortes Francisco
Summary: The research indicates that NFOH has stronger anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity, works through a inhibitory mechanism, and is more effective in treating chronic infections compared to the acute stage, sharing similar characteristics with BZN.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ilaria Pati, Mario Cruciani, Francesca Masiello, Francesco Barone, Giacomo Silvioli, Massimo La Raja, Simonetta Pupella, Vincenzo De Angelis
Summary: The survey conducted by the Italian National Blood Centre found that the transfusion risk of T. cruzi infection in Italy is very low, with only 15 out of 24,269 donors testing positive. This rate is lower than the number of positive donors for other transfusion transmissible infections in the same period.
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naiara Dutra Barroso Gomes, Emanuel Paula Magalhaes, Lyanna Rodrigues Ribeiro, John Washington Cavalcante, Marcelo Morais Gomes Maia, Felipe Ramon Cunha da Silva, Arif Ali, Marcia Machado Marinho, Emmanuel Silva Marinho, Helcio Silva dos Santos, Alice Maria Costa Martins, Ramon Roseo Paula Pessoa Bezerra de Menezes
Summary: This study evaluated the activity of synthetic p-aminochalcones against T. cruzi and found that they have a trypanocidal effect by causing membrane damage and oxidative stress. Their mechanism of action may be related to inhibition of cruzain and TR.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Julian Ullrich, Lutz Guertler, Ernst Quenzel, Franz Weinauer, Dieter Roessler, Ulrich Kalus, Axel Pruss, Pedro Albajar-Vinas, Michael Pritsch
Summary: This study aims to investigate the risk of transfusion-associated transmission of Chagas disease in Germany and collect first-hand data on the topic. The results show that no transfusion-associated infection has been reported in Germany, but it is likely to have happened unnoticed or may occur in the near future. The authors suggest conducting risk-adapted serology-based screenings in Germany to prevent transmission events and increase case detection. Larger and ongoing studies are also needed to gather more evidence and address the neglect of Chagas disease in Germany.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aline Alves da Silva, Pedro Ivo da Silva Maia, Carla Duque Lopes, Sergio de Albuquerque, Marcelo Siqueira Valle
Summary: This study synthesized new thiosemicarbazones as potential drugs for Chagas disease, and found that one of the compounds exhibited better activity compared to the standard drug in experiments.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Melissa D. Klein, Freddy Tinajeros, Maria Del Carmen Menduina, Edith Malaga, Beth J. Condori, Manuela Verastegui, Federico Urquizu, Robert H. Gilman, Natalie M. Bowman
Summary: The study found that older maternal age, family history of Chagas disease, home conditions, lower educational level, and history of living in a rural area were significantly associated with higher odds of maternal infection. Protective factors against transmission included cesarean delivery and family history of Chagas disease, while twins were significantly more likely to be congenitally infected than singleton births.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
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
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ulises G. Castillo, Ayato Komatsu, Morena L. Martinez, Jenny Menjivar, Marvin J. Nunez, Yoshinori Uekusa, Yuji Narukawa, Fumiyuki Kiuchi, Junko Nakajima-Shimada
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is considered one of the most infectious diseases in Central America. This study screened the anti-trypanosomal activity of plant species from Salvadoran flora, identifying four species with activity. A new flavanone compound, jaqueflavanone A, was isolated and found to exhibit anti-trypanosomal activity.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL MEDICINES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jean-Yves Brossas, Ballering Griselda, Margarita Bisio, Jeremy Guihenneuc, Julian Ernesto Nicolas Gulin, Stephane Jaureguiberry, Francois-Xavier Lescure, Arnaud Fekkar, Dominique Mazier, Jaime Altcheh, Luc Paris
Summary: The study evaluated the effectiveness of the Chagas Western Blot IgG assay as a confirmatory serologic test, showing 100% sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The method was found to be a simple and quick diagnostic tool for Chagas disease, with potential for use in large-scale studies.
Article
Microbiology
Sergio Castaneda, Marina Munoz, Peter J. Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Alberto E. Paniz-Mondolfi, Kathryn M. Jones, Rojelio Mejia, Cristina Poveda, Juan David Ramirez
Summary: Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and has a profound impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Alterations in the gut microbiome caused by the parasite may play a crucial role in host-parasite interactions and immune responses. Understanding this interaction could provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of the disease and the development of new treatments.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Thainara da Silva Goncalves, Renata Luiz Ursine, Miriam Cardozo, Rosanna Lorrane Francisco dos Reis Matos, Rita de Cassia Moreira de Souza, Lileia Goncalves Diotaiuti, David Eladio Gorla, Silvio Fernando Guimaraes de Carvalho, Thallyta Maria Vieira
Summary: This study evaluated the association between sociodemographic and environmental factors, changes in land use and cover, and the occurrence and abundance of triatomines. The results showed that variables such as the number of domiciles, household economic income, pavement, NDVI, deforestation, unchanged, and anthropic were positively associated with the occurrence and/or number of triatomines.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Editorial Material
Hematology
Beat M. Frey, Steffen M. Zeisberger, Simon P. Hoerstrup
TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND HEMOTHERAPY
(2016)
Article
Hematology
Thomas Volken, Andreas Banziger, Andreas Buser, Damiano Castelli, Stefano Fontana, Beat M. Frey, Amira Sarraj, Jorg Sigle, Jutta Thierbach, Tina Weingand, Behrouz Mansouri-Taleghani
TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND HEMOTHERAPY
(2016)
Editorial Material
Hematology
Beat M. Frey, Steffen M. Zeisberger, Simon P. Hoerstrup
TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND HEMOTHERAPY
(2016)
Article
Hematology
Adrian Bruhin, Lorenz Goette, Simon Haenni, Lingqing Jiang, Alexander Markovic, Adrian Roethlisberger, Regula Buchli, Beat M. Frey
TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND HEMOTHERAPY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Matthias M. Schneider, Marc Emmenegger, Catherine K. Xu, Itzel Condado Morales, Georg Meisl, Priscilla Turelli, Chryssa Zografou, Manuela R. Zimmermann, Beat M. Frey, Sebastian Fiedler, Viola Denninger, Raphael P. B. Jacquat, Lidia Madrigal, Alison Ilsley, Vasilis Kosmoliaptsis, Heike Fiegler, Didier Trono, Tuomas P. J. Knowles, Adriano Aguzzi
Summary: The clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infections is influenced by the concentration and affinity of antiviral antibodies, which are difficult to measure in polyclonal antibody responses in plasma. Using microfluidic antibody affinity profiling (MAAP), researchers were able to determine the affinities and concentrations of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in plasma samples. The study found that MAAP could accurately predict the cellular neutralization ability of sera, making it a potentially valuable tool for therapeutic plasma exchange and monitoring vaccination success.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Andrea Zbinden, Judith Ries, Patrick M. Redli, Cyril Shah, Andreas Glauser, David Goslings, Daniela Huzly, Juerg Boeni, Jochen Gottschalk, Beat M. Frey
Summary: The prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is higher than expected among blood donors in Switzerland, and the current screening methods may not effectively detect OBI carriers. Therefore, it is recommended to review the current hepatitis B virus screening algorithm and consider implementing anti-HBc testing to improve blood product safety.
TRANSFUSION MEDICINE AND HEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yannik Severin, Benjamin D. Hale, Julien Mena, David Goslings, Beat M. Frey, Berend Snijder
Summary: Phenotypic plasticity in the immune system is influenced by donor age, gender, and blood pressure, resulting in distinct polarization and activation-associated phenotypes across immune cell classes. The morphology of T cells is associated with their transcriptional state, with inflammation-associated polarized T cell morphology and age-associated loss of mitochondria observed. This study reveals that immune cell phenotypes reflect both molecular and personal health information, providing new perspectives for deep immune phenotyping in individuals' health and disease.
