Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Saul Gonzalez-Guzman, Patricia Gonzalez-Cano, Edward T. Bagu, Salvador Vazquez-Vega, Martha Martinez-Salazar, Margarita Juarez-Montiel, Adriana Gutierrez-Hoya, Jose A. Crescencio-Trujillo, Sokani Sanchez-Montes, Edith Fernandez-Figueroa, Erik A. Contreras-Lopez, Angel Guerra-Marquez, Carla Arroyo-Anduiza, Laura E. Angeles-Marquez, Eduardo Rodriguez-Trejo, Carolina Bekker-Mendez, Francisco X. Guerra-Castillo, Citlalli Regalado-Santiago, Emiliano Tesoro-Cruz, Norma Oviedo, Ana M. Victoria-Jardon, Jesus Bautista-Olvera, Pedro Garcia-Ramirez, Jose E. Vazquez-Meraz, Maria C. Contreras-Lozano, Veronica S. Castillo-Flores, Rogelio Guevara-Reyes, Alma R. Giron-Sanchez, H. D. Arenas-Luis, Maria Jose Pecero-Hidalgo, Emiliano Rios-Antonio, Natividad Ramirez-Pereda, Adalberto Martinez-Mora, Vladimir Paredes-Cervantes
Summary: The seroprevalence of Chagas disease in blood donors from the north of Mexico City and the northeast of the State of Mexico was found to be 0.23%. Most of the seropositive blood donors resided in the northeast area of the State of Mexico, Mexico City, and southern part of the State of Hidalgo, indicating the possibility of active transmission of Chagas disease in non-endemic regions.
ARCHIVES OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mauro Cesar Cafundo Morais, Diogo Silva, Matheus Marques Milagre, Maykon Tavares de Oliveira, Thais Pereira, Joao Santana Silva, Luciano da F. Costa, Paola Minoprio, Roberto Marcondes Cesar Junior, Ricardo Gazzinelli, Marta de Lana, Helder Nakaya
Summary: In this study, a machine learning approach based on a random forest algorithm was developed for the detection and counting of T. cruzi trypomastigotes in mobile phone images. The method achieved high precision, sensitivity, and area under the ROC curve when tested on a dataset of blood smear samples captured using a mobile device camera. Automating image analysis acquired with a mobile device can reduce costs and improve efficiency in the use of optical microscopes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fuguo Liu, Chunyun Zhang, Yu Duan, Jinju Ma, Yuanyuan Wang, Guofu Chen
Summary: In this study, a simple and rapid colorimetric assay named aptamer-gold nanoparticles (GNPs) based colorimetric assay (AGBCA) was developed to provide early warning for harmful algal blooms caused by Prorocentrum minimum. The GNPs remained dispersed and had a characteristic absorption peak at 520 nm. However, the addition of NaCl disrupted the stability of the solution and caused the GNPs to aggregate, resulting in a change in the absorption peak to 670 nm. The aptamers adsorbed on the GNPs surface effectively prevented aggregation. In the presence of P. minimum, the aptamers specifically bound to the algae, causing the dissociation of aptamers from GNPs and subsequent aggregation. The absorbance ratio variation (Delta A670/A520) showed a linear relationship with P. minimum concentration in the range of 1 x 102 -1 x 107 cells mL-1, with a low detection limit of 8 cells mL-1. This AGBCA method offers simplicity, specificity, and high sensitivity, making it a promising tool for the quantitative detection of P. minimum in natural samples.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Geovani L. Martins, Daniel S. Ferreira, Geraldo L. B. Ramalho
Summary: The motion performed by some protozoa is crucial for microscopy analysis, especially for distinguishing microorganisms in parasitological analysis. The interaction of parasite's motion with neighboring elements can assist its detection, even in low contrast conditions. This collateral motion is a relevant feature for detection and could potentially aid in the medical diagnosis of diseases like Chagas.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Hilda N. Rivera, Isabel McAuliffe, TaLesa Aderohunmu, Ryan E. Wiegand, Susan P. Montgomery, Richard S. Bradbury, Sukwan Handali
Summary: This study evaluated a new serologic test method for the diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease and compared it with the CDC algorithm. The results showed good concordance between the test method and the CDC algorithm, with a low cross-reactivity rate. The study suggests that the use of this method will improve the diagnosis of chronic Chagas disease.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaoling Zheng, Lulan Yang, Qi Sun, Lei Zhang, Tao Le
Summary: A fluorescent aptasensor based on MnO2 and FAM-labeled SDZ aptamer was developed for the detection of SDZ in food and environmental samples. The aptasensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity, and showed a good correlation with HPLC.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Kexin Sun, Junlong Li
Summary: CEA is a widely used tumor marker, especially for gastrointestinal cancers like colorectal malignancy. The current methods for CEA detection are limited by high costs and long waiting times. By altering the secondary structure of fluorescent modified DNA, a new method for CEA detection was established, providing a simple, fast, and cheap sensing platform for biomarkers detection. This method shows great potential in tumor screening among populations and may have prospective effects on tumor treatment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Adriana Oliveira Souza, Johny Wysllas de Freitas Oliveira, Claudia Jessica Gonsalves Moreno, Mayra Jane Campos de Medeiros, Marilia Medeiros Fernandes-Negreiros, Flavia Roberta Monteiro Souza, Daniel Lima Pontes, Marcelo Sousa Silva, Hugo Alexandre Oliveira Rocha
Summary: This study analyzed silver nanoparticles containing fucoidan as an anti-Trypanosoma cruzi agent for the first time. The results showed that AgFuc nanoparticles have the ability to inhibit parasites and induce damage to their mitochondria. This suggests that AgFuc nanoparticles have potential therapeutic applications and further preclinical studies are needed.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Dawei Li, Shen Ling, Xinru Cheng, Zhaoqi Yang, Bei Lv
Summary: A colorimetric biosensor assay has been developed for the detection of Cd2+ and Hg2+ based on Cd2+-dependent DNAzyme cleavage and Hg2+-binding-induced conformational switching of the G-quadruplex fragment. The assay exhibits excellent selectivity and high sensitivity, making it suitable for environmental water sample testing and further environmental monitoring.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nimet Yildirim-Tirgil
Summary: This study developed an aptamer-based ELISA system for sensitive detection of d-dimer molecules elevated in severe diseases. The system showed advantages over antibodies in terms of stability and usability, and was capable of quantitatively determining d-dimer molecules in a wide range and remaining stable under ordinary conditions. Validation with spiked human serum samples demonstrated high accuracy, indicating the potential of this system as a sensitive and portable tool for d-dimer analysis.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Bruno Lisboa Timm, Aline Nefertiti Silva da Gama, Marcos Meuser Batista, Denise da Gama Jaen Batista, David W. Boykin, Harry P. De Koning, Maria de Nazare Correia Soeiro
Summary: Baldis jungle preservation zone, an Argentine nature reserve, was established in 1981 and covers an area of 77,300 hectares. Located in the eastern region of Buenos Aires Province, it includes several towns such as Split Tepi, Azcue, Capra Mance, and Montegrano. The terrain of the reserve is characterized by hills, valleys, and lakes, with the most famous lake being La Rusa Lake. The area is home to diverse species, including amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The Argentine Salamander is one of the unique amphibians in this reserve and is also one of the most representative species in the area.
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
Biochemical Research Methods
Chengke Wang, Jiangyu Li
Summary: A versatile fluorescence scaffold was constructed by connecting a G-triplex sequence with G-rich DNA and using Thioflavin T as the fluorescent molecule. The conformation of the G-quadruplex DNA was changed by the specific interaction of the aptamer and kanamycin, leading to a 'turn-on' to 'turn-off' detection principle for kanamycin detection. The detection method showed reasonable sensitivity and selectivity, successfully applied for kanamycin determination in pork, chicken, and beef samples.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Madalyn. M. M. Won, Timothy Krueger, Markus Engstler, Barbara A. Burleigh
Summary: Throughout its life cycle, the parasitic protist Trypanosoma cruzi adapts to different host environments and switches between motile extracellular stages and a nonmotile intracellular amastigote stage. Contrary to previous beliefs, the flagellum of T. cruzi amastigotes is shown to be motile and exhibits periodic beating inside host cells. This discovery suggests that flagellar motility may play an active role in the parasite infection process.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Nidiyare Hevia-Montiel, Paulina Haro, Leonardo Guillermo-Cordero, Jorge Perez-Gonzalez
Summary: This research demonstrates the effectiveness and accuracy of deep learning methods based on the U-Net convolutional network architecture in the segmentation of histological images for Chagas disease.