Article
Immunology
Kristien Cloots, Pia Marino, Sakib Burza, Naresh Gill, Marleen Boelaert, Epco Hasker
Summary: The study found that VL-HIV+ and PKDL cases were both associated with a more than twofold increase in VL incidence at the village level in Bihar, India, indicating the importance of VL-HIV+ patients as infectious reservoirs for Leishmania.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
J. S. Devipriya, Ashok Kumar Gupta, Garapati Pavan, Sameer Dhingra, Krishna Murti, Velayutham Ravichandiran, Krishna Pandey
Summary: This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward VL infection among VL-infected and HIV/VL co-infected patients in Bihar. The findings showed similar deficits in KAP scores among both groups. HIV/VL participants with a personal or family history of VL had better awareness and preventive practices. There was a correlation between knowledge, attitude, and practice. It is recommended to strengthen KAP among VL and HIV/VL co-infected patients to prevent reinfection-related complications.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sakib Burza, Raman Mahajan, Shahwar Kazmi, Neal Alexander, Deepak Kumar, Vikash Kumar, Estrella Lasry, Amit Harshana, Alan de Lima Pereira, Pradeep Das, Neena Verma, Vidya Nand Ravi Das, Chandra Shekhar Lal, Bharat Rewari, Vishal Goyal, Suman Rijal, Fabiana Alves, Naresh Gill, Krishna Pandey
Summary: This study conducted in a hospital in India compared two different treatment regimens for 150 patients with HIV and VL. The results showed that combination therapy is safe, well-tolerated, effective, and reduces treatment duration.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aakriti Singh, Ganesh Yadagiri, Manorma Negi, Anurag Kumar Kushwaha, Om Prakash Singh, Shyam Sundar, Shyam Lal Mudavath
Summary: In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) grafted lipid nanoformulations were prepared as an efficient carrier for amphotericin B (AmB) to treat leishmaniasis. The nanoformulations showed good physicochemical characteristics, controlled drug release, and high antileishmanial activity without causing toxicity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Vidya Nand Rabi Das, Niyamat Ali Siddiqui, Gouri Sankar Bhunia, Krishna Pandey, Sanjay Kumar Sinha, Md Zahid Ansari, Roshan Kamal Topno, Chandra Sekhar Lal, Alok Ranjan, Vijay Pratap Singh, Pradeep Das
Summary: The establishment and activation of kala-azar sentinel site surveillance in thirteen health facilities of Bihar from 2011 to 2014 detected a rise in PKDL and co-infections. The results showed significant improvement in utilization of laboratory services and case management, with most patients being managed by the sentinel sites. The system may provide a model for improving elimination interventions and program management.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Yehonatan Noyman, Assi Levi, Dan Ben Amitai, Shiran Reiss-Huss, Fareed Sabbah, Emmilia Hodak, Tomer Mimouni, Rivka Friedland
Summary: The use of intravenous liposomal amphotericin B therapy for Leishmania tropica cutaneous leishmaniasis in pediatric patients showed low treatment efficacy and a high risk of infusion-related adverse events. Further validation is needed to confirm the observed lower response rate for mid-facial lesions.
DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Surendra Rajit Prasad, Prakash Kumar, Saptarshi Mandal, Anu Mohan, Radhika Chaurasia, Ashish Shrivastava, Pallaprolu Nikhil, Dande Aishwarya, P. Ramalingam, Rahul Gajbhiye, Shriya Singh, Arunava Dasgupta, Mukesh Chourasia, V. Ravichandiran, Prolay Das, Debabrata Mandal
Summary: In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of different types of saturated medium-chain fatty acids against Leishmania. We found that caprylic acid (CA) showed the most potent anti-leishmanial effect. Further investigation revealed that CA mediates cell death by depleting ergosterol through inhibiting the enzyme mevalonate kinase (MevK) in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. This study provides insights into the mechanism of CA against visceral leishmaniasis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Arthur Dujardin, Arnaud de La Blanchardiere, Julia Dina, Karl Stefic, Christophe Ravel, Julie Bonhomme, Renaud Verdon, Anna Lucie Fournier
Summary: This case report describes a severe visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with an acute primary HIV-1 infection, presenting with acute febrile psychotic disorder and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B, highlighting the complex interaction between HIV infection and visceral leishmaniasis in clinical presentation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
J. S. Devipriya, Ashok Kumar Gupta, Rajendra Babu Veeri, Pavan Garapati, Rishikesh Kumar, Sameer Dhingra, Krishna Murti, V. Ravichandiran, Krishna Pandey
Summary: The study found a significant gap in knowledge, attitude, and practices towards visceral leishmaniasis among people living with HIV in Bihar, highlighting the need for enhanced health education initiatives in endemic areas to improve awareness and preventive practices for VL.
Article
Pediatrics
Adrian Puertas Sanjuan, Carlos Javier Parramon-Teixido, Susana Hernandez-Perez, Marie Antoinette Frick, Maria Jose Cabanas Poy
Summary: This is a case report on a preterm neonate who developed severe hydroelectrolyte disturbances after treatment with liposomal amphotericin B. He had mild hyponatremia prior to treatment and developed hypokalemia and severe hyponatremia that persisted over time, along with other electrolyte imbalances. This is the first reported case of sustained electrolyte disturbances following discontinuation of liposomal amphotericin B.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Danfeng Ren, Wenya Cao, Xiaojing Liu, Qunying Han, Wanhu Fan, Guoliang Li, Han Xia, Xi Zhang
Summary: This study presented four cases of visceral leishmaniasis treated with low-dose L-AmB therapy, demonstrating the safety and efficacy of this novel treatment protocol for VL patients. The treatment resulted in high cure rates without severe complications.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Tugba Erat, Isa An
Summary: The efficacy and safety of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) in pediatric cutaneous leishmaniasis patients were evaluated in this study. The results showed a low treatment success rate with the L-AmB dose used in the study.
DERMATOLOGIC THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Maria Ubals, Pau Bosch-Nicolau, Adrian Sanchez-Montalva, Fernando Salvador, Gloria Aparicio-Espanol, Elena Sulleiro, Aroa Silgado, Antoni Soriano-Arandes, Maria Espiau, Berta Ferrer, Diana Pou, Begona Trevino, Israel Molina, Vicente Garcia-Patos
Summary: The study described a cohort of patients with complex cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), with a focus on the treatment outcome of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB). Results showed that all patients were considered cured within the first year post-treatment, and there were no treatment failures with L-AmB for complex CL.
Article
Immunology
Shyam Sundar, Jitendra Singh, Anju Dinkar, Neha Agrawal
Summary: This study assessed the safety and effectiveness of miltefosine for post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis. The cure rate was 76%, but a significant number of patients experienced ocular complications.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Antonio Lipa Castro, Sebastien Pomel, Catherine Cailleau, Natalie Fournier, Indira Dennemont, Philippe M. Loiseau, Gillian Barratt
Summary: This article describes the in-vivo evaluation of AmB-loaded, lipid-based cochleate systems designed for the oral route. The study found that cochleate formulations based on Lipoid PSP70 show promising antiparasitic activity for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sophie Owen, Sakib Burza, Shiril Kumar, Neena Verma, Raman Mahajan, Amit Harshana, Krishna Pandey, Kristien Cloots, Emily Adams, Pradeep Das
Summary: This study aims to evaluate non-invasive or minimally invasive alternatives such as blood and skin qPCR, peripheral blood buffy coat smear microscopy, and urine antigen ELISA for the diagnosis and post-treatment test of cure for VL in HIV-coinfected patients in India. Ethical approval has been granted for this study and any future publications will be published in open access journals.
Article
Immunology
Sakib Burza, Raman Mahajan, Shahwar Kazmi, Neal Alexander, Deepak Kumar, Vikash Kumar, Estrella Lasry, Amit Harshana, Alan de Lima Pereira, Pradeep Das, Neena Verma, Vidya Nand Ravi Das, Chandra Shekhar Lal, Bharat Rewari, Vishal Goyal, Suman Rijal, Fabiana Alves, Naresh Gill, Krishna Pandey
Summary: This study conducted in a hospital in India compared two different treatment regimens for 150 patients with HIV and VL. The results showed that combination therapy is safe, well-tolerated, effective, and reduces treatment duration.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
M. Nair, M. P. Zeegers, G. M. Varghese, S. Burza
Summary: India has formulated a National Action Plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance, but lack of financial allocation across states, poor enforcement, and inadequate multisectoral coordination have hindered progress in addressing this global health threat.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Christophe Boete, Sakib Burza, Estrella Lasry, Silvia Moriana, William Robertson
Summary: The study explored expert opinions on existing and emerging malaria vector control tools, finding that LLINs were considered more effective in all settings. In emergency situations, insecticide-treated covers and blankets were also highly rated.
CONFLICT AND HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Arjun Chandna, Melissa Richard-Greenblatt, Richard Tustin, Sue J. Lee, Kevin C. Kain, Sakib Burza, Yoel Lubell, Paul Turner
Summary: Host biomarker testing can be a valuable tool in clinical assessment of patients with infections, especially in resource-constrained settings. This study evaluated the stability of 16 biomarkers stored in different temperature conditions and found that dried blood spots can be safely stored at refrigeration temperatures for up to 3 months, providing more practical methods for testing in resource-limited environments and facilitating research in rural and remote areas.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Arjun Chandna, Raman Mahajan, Priyanka Gautam, Lazaro Mwandigha, Karthik Gunasekaran, Divendu Bhusan, Arthur T. L. Cheung, Nicholas Day, Sabine Dittrich, Arjen Dondorp, Tulasi Geevar, Srinivasa R. Ghattamaneni, Samreen Hussain, Carolina Jimenez, Rohini Karthikeyan, Sanjeev Kumar, Shiril Kumar, Vikash Kumar, Debasree Kundu, Ankita Lakshmanan, Abi Manesh, Chonticha Menggred, Mahesh Moorthy, Jennifer Osborn, Melissa Richard-Greenblatt, Sadhana Sharma, Veena K. Singh, Vikash K. Singh, Javvad Suri, Shuichi Suzuki, Jaruwan Tubprasert, Paul Turner, Annavi M. G. Villanueva, Naomi Waithira, Pragya Kumar, George M. Varghese, Constantinos Koshiaris, Yoel Lubell, Sakib Burza
Summary: This study reports three clinical prediction models that can help identify which patients with moderate COVID-19 can be safely managed in the community. Each model consists of three easily ascertained clinical parameters and one biochemical biomarker, measurable with a commercially available rapid test.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Raman Mahajan, Sophie Owen, Shiril Kumar, Krishna Pandey, Shahwar Kazmi, Vikash Kumar, Emily R. Adams, Amit Harshana, Sakib Burza
Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of asymptomatic Leishmania infection (ALI) in a cohort of PLHIV in Bihar, India. The results showed a relatively high prevalence of ALI in PLHIV, with patients having low CD4 counts and larger household size having a higher risk of ALI.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Arjun Chandna, Raman Mahajan, Priyanka Gautam, Lazaro Mwandigha, Pragya Kumar, George M. Varghese, Constantinos Koshiaris, Yoel Lubell, Sakib Burza
Summary: Efficient resource allocation is crucial for effective pandemic response, and host biomarkers can predict clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
William Calero-Caceres, Kerly Rodriguez, Anabell Medina, Jennifer Medina, Nimer Ortuno-Gutierrez, Temmy Sunyoto, Cicero Armidio Gomes Dias, Carlos Bastidas-Caldes, Maria Soledad Ramirez, Anthony David Harries
Summary: The One Health concept is crucial in addressing the challenge of multidrug-resistant bacteria in both human and animal health. The discovery of the plasmid-borne mcr gene poses a significant threat, and the World Health Organization recommends surveillance strategies to control its spread. The analysis of E. coli genomes carrying mcr-1 reveals patterns in virulence genes, plasmid content, and antibiotic resistance, highlighting the importance of environmental monitoring in understanding antimicrobial resistance origins and dissemination.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Mohit Nair, Nora Engel, Maurice P. Zeegers, Sakib Burza
Summary: The study aims to evaluate outpatient antibiotic misuse in India and identify gaps in policy and practice. The research found that educational interventions targeting individual or interpersonal interactions were ineffective, and policy interventions should focus on improving healthcare infrastructure and addressing staffing disparities in rural areas using task shifting.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION PREVENTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel Yantzi, Md Hadiuzzaman, Pradip Kumar Sen Gupta, Amin Lamrous, Kathryn Richardson, John Pringle, Lisa Schwartz, Puspita Hossain, David Kizito, Sakib Burza
Summary: This study aimed to understand the moral experiences of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff in delivering palliative and end-of-life care. The findings revealed that staff prioritize comfort for children who are not expected to survive. Authority of doctors, international staff, and clinical guidelines played a significant role in decision-making. When integrating palliative care into humanitarian programs, it is important to emphasize the active role of palliative care in reducing suffering.