Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucas A. M. Franco, Carlos H. V. Moreira, Lewis F. Buss, Lea C. Oliveira, Roberta C. R. Martins, Erika R. Manuli, Jose A. L. Lindoso, Michael P. Busch, Alexandre C. Pereira, Ester C. Sabino
Summary: Chagas disease is a major social and public health issue in Latin America, with adverse reactions to benznidazole (BZN) treatment potentially genetically determined. Genetic and transcriptomic analyses identified chromosome 16 gene region associations and enriched signaling pathways related to BZN adverse reactions. These findings suggest potential for patient risk stratification before initiating BZN treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Michael G. Thomas, Kate McGonagle, Paul Rowland, David A. Robinson, Peter G. Dodd, Isabel Camino-Diaz, Lorna Campbell, Juan Cantizani, Pablo Castaneda, Daniel Conn, Peter D. Craggs, Darren Edwards, Liam Ferguson, Andrew Fosberry, Laura Frame, Panchali Goswami, Xiao Hu, Justyna Korczynska, Lorna MacLean, Julio Martin, Nicole Mutter, Maria Osuna-Cabello, Christy Paterson, Imanol Pena, Erika G. Pinto, Caterina Pont, Jennifer Riley, Yoko Shishikura, Frederick R. C. Simeons, Laste Stojanovski, John Thomas, Karolina Wrobel, Robert J. Young, Filip Zmuda, Fabio Zuccotto, Kevin D. Read, Ian H. Gilbert, Maria Marco, Timothy J. Miles, Pilar Manzano, Manu De Rycker
Summary: There is an urgent need for new treatments for Chagas disease. The discovery of a preclinical candidate for visceral leishmaniasis prompted the investigation of alternative proteasome inhibitors for Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite causing Chagas disease. A selective pyridazinone compound was identified and optimized for efficacy studies, showing potential as a new treatment for Chagas disease.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Isabela Ribeiro, Bethania Blum, Jayme Fernandes, Glaucia Santina, Makoto Asada, Michael Everson, Edgar Schuck, Ethel Feleder, Eric Evene, Virginie Gualano
Summary: The study evaluated the pharmacokinetics and safety interactions of BNZ and E1224 in healthy volunteers. The results showed changes in RVZ concentration parameters when both compounds were coadministered, but both compounds were well tolerated and no clinically relevant safety interactions were observed.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
G. Cesar, M. A. Natale, M. C. Albareda, M. G. Alvarez, B. Lococo, A. M. De Rissio, M. Fernandez, M. D. Castro Eiro, G. Bertocchi, B. E. White, F. Zabaleta, R. Viotti, R. L. Tarleton, S. A. Laucella
Summary: Participants with Trypanosoma cruzi-specific plasmablasts in circulation before treatment and early changes in these B cells after treatment are likely to have a positive serological outcome.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Ismael F. de Araujo, Natalia L. Aires, Francisco W. Q. Almeida-Neto, Marcia M. Marinho, Emanuelle M. Marinho, Emanuel Paula Magalhaes, Ramon R. P. P. B. de Menezes, Tiago L. Sampaio, Alice Maria Costa Martins, Edson H. Teixeira, Ana Rafaela Freitas Dotto, Wanderlei do Amaral, Alexandre Magno R. Teixeira, Pedro De Lima-Neto, Emmanuel S. Marinho, Helcio S. dos Santos
Summary: The study found that the triterpene CLF-1 has a good inhibitory effect on Trypanosoma cruzi and is well-absorbed in the intestine with low toxicity, making it a potential candidate for new Chagas disease treatments.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Alejandro M. Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto M. Saraiva, Luiz H. C. Sangenis, Sergio S. Xavier, Andrea S. de Sousa, Andrea R. Costa, Marcelo T. de Holanda, Henrique H. Veloso, Fernanda S. N. S. Mendes, Filipe A. C. Costa, Marcio N. Boia, Pedro E. A. A. Brasil, Fernanda M. Carneiro, Gilberto M. Sperandio da Silva, Mauro F. F. Mediano
Summary: This study showed that for Chagas disease patients with ICF, benznidazole treatment is associated with a decreased incidence of CD progression to the cardiac form and a reduced risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, our results suggest that BZN treatment for patients with ICF should be incorporated into clinical practice.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luis Antonio Rodriguez Carnero, Andreia Kuramoto, Lea Campos de Oliveira, Jhonatas Sirino Monteiro, Joao Carlos Setubal, Edecio Cunha-Neto, Ester Cerdeira Sabino, Ricardo Jose Giordano
Summary: This study used the gPhage platform to compare antigens and antibodies before and after treatment in 20 patients with chronic Chagas disease. The results showed a decrease in antibody levels and recognition of specific antigens after treatment. The gPhage data correlated with patient PCR-status and could predict patient response to treatment. In conclusion, the use of the gPhage platform contributes to the development of novel diagnostic tools for Chagas disease.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Estefania Prochetto, Ivan Bontempi, Luz Rodeles, Gabriel Cabrera, Miguel Vicco, Paula Cacik, Maria Florencia Pacini, Monica Perez Gianeselli, Ana Rosa Perez, Ivan Marcipar
Summary: The study demonstrates the potential role of a new therapeutic vaccine in the treatment of chronic Chagas disease. The results show that the vaccine can reduce the progression of heart disease and decrease heart parasite load.
Article
Immunology
Juliana Magalhaes Chaves Barbosa, Yasmin Pedra-Rezende, Luiza Dantas Pereira, Tatiana Galvao de Melo, Helene Santos Barbosa, Joseli Lannes-Vieira, Solange Lisboa de Castro, Anissa Daliry, Kelly Salomao
Summary: The combination treatment of Bz + AMD can attenuate the damage caused by T. cruzi infection in cardiac cells and have a certain control effect on parasite replication.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Davi Alvarenga Lima, Leilane Oliveira Goncalves, Joao Luis Reis-Cunha, Paul Anderson Souza Guimaraes, Jeronimo Conceicao Ruiz, Daniel Barbosa Liarte, Silvane Maria Fonseca Murta
Summary: This study performed comparative transcriptomic analysis of wildtype and benznidazole-resistant T. cruzi populations, revealing metabolic pathways related to clinical drug resistance and identifying promising molecular targets for the development of new drugs for Chagas disease.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Juliana Magalhaes Chaves Barbosa, Yasmin Pedra Rezende, Tatiana Galvao de Melo, Gabriel de Oliveira, Cynthia Machado Cascabulho, Evelyn Nunes Goulart da Silva Pereira, Anissa Daliry, Kelly Salomao Salem
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affects millions of people in Latin America. The current treatment options have limitations, and combined therapy with amiodarone and benznidazole shows promise in reducing parasitemia and improving cardiac damage in acutely infected mice.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Josue Pozo-Martinez, Francisco Salgado, Ana Liempi, Ulrike Kemmerling, Raul Mera-Adasme, Claudio Olea-Azar, Mauricio Moncada-Basualto, Fernanda Borges, Eugenio Uriarte, Maria Joao Matos
Summary: The study demonstrated that a series of catechol-containing 3-arylcoumarins have moderate trypanocidal activity on the trypomastigote form of the parasite, with 3-(4'-bromophenyl)-6,7-dihydroxycoumarin (8) showing the highest activity but also the highest cytotoxicity in Vero cells. The inclusion in beta-cyclodextrins reduced the trypanocidal activity and cytotoxicity, but increased solubility. Compound 8 was found to act through the generation of oxidative stress, and the combination with BZN showed a synergistic effect, reducing the necessary dose of BZN and proving to be a promising alternative strategy for treating the disease.
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cassiano Cunha de Souza, Jose Aleixo de Azevedo-Franca, Emile Barrias, Stephany C. F. Cavalcante, Eduardo Guimaraes Vieira, Ana Maria Da Costa Ferreira, Wanderley de Souza, Maribel Navarro
Summary: Four novel metal-BZN complexes were synthesized and characterized in this study. The IC50 values of these complexes in inhibiting parasite proliferation stages are five to ten times lower than benznidazole itself. The cytotoxicity in human cells is lower for these complexes compared to BZN, indicating higher selectivity.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Suzana Marques de Jesus, Leonardo Pinto, Fernanda de Lima Moreira, Glauco Henrique Balthazar Nardotto, Rodrigo Cristofoletti, Luisa Perin, Katia da Silva Fonseca, Pauliana Barbedo, Lorena Cera Bandeira, Paula Melo de Abreu Vieira, Claudia Martins Carneiro
Summary: Chronic infection with Trypanosoma cruzi alters the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of benznidazole in mice, potentially impacting the therapeutic dosing regimen. This study suggests that chronic Chagas disease patients may require adjustments in benznidazole pharmacokinetics and dosing due to changes in drug exposure and tissue distribution.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Juan M. Bustamante, Brooke E. White, Gregory K. Wilkerson, Carolyn L. Hodo, Lisa D. Auckland, Wei Wang, Stephanie McCain, Sarah A. Hamer, Ashley B. Saunders, Rick L. Tarleton
Summary: This study demonstrates that higher dose, intermittent administration of benznidazole can effectively treat Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Administration twice a week, for more than 4 months, provides the best chance for parasitological cure.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Azucena Rodriguez-Guardado, Miriam J. Alvarez-Martinez, Maria Delmans Flores, Elena Sulleiro, Diego Torrus-Tendero, Maria Velasco, Francisco Javier Membrillo
Summary: A survey in Spain found that treatment with dexamethasone or other immunosuppressants in SARS-CoV-2 patients may increase the risk of severe strongyloidiasis. The study highlights the importance of unified screening and treatment protocols for imported diseases like strongyloidiasis, especially in COVID-19 patients at higher risk of complications.
ENFERMEDADES INFECCIOSAS Y MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Arantxa Perez-Ugarte, Carles Rubio Maturana, Aroa Silgado, Francesc Zarzuela Serrat, Lidia Goterris, Fernando Paredes-Carmona, Elena Sulleiro
Summary: A 4-year-old traveller returning from Senegal presented symptoms consistent with malaria. The HRP-2 antigen detection test was negative, while the panmalarial aldolase test was positive. Microscopy confirmed the presence of P. falciparum trophozoites with a parasitemia of 16%. After ruling out other causes of false-negative antigen detection, this is a rare case of prozone effect.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2023)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Marta Diaz-Menendez, Kristina M. Angelo, Rosa de Miguel Buckley, Emmanuel Bottieau, Ralph Huits, Martin P. Grobusch, Federico Giovanni Gobbi, Hilmir Asgeirsson, Alexandre Duvignaud, Francesca F. Norman, Emilie Javelle, Loic Epelboin, Camilla Rothe, Francois Chappuis, Gabriela Equihua Martinez, Corneliu Popescu, Daniel Camprubi-Ferrer, Israel Molina, Silvia Odolini, Sapha Barkati, Susan Kuhn, Stephen Vaughan, Anne McCarthy, Mar Lago, Michael D. Libman, Davidson H. Hamer
Summary: An increasing number of travellers returning from Cuba in June to September 2022 were reported to have dengue virus infection, indicating an ongoing outbreak in the area. This report highlights the significance of travellers as sentinels for arboviral outbreaks and emphasizes the importance of early identification of travel-related dengue.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Agustin Ciapponi, Fabiana Barreira, Lucas Perelli, Ariel Bardach, Joaquim Gascon, Israel Molina, Carlos Morillo, Nilda Prado, Adelina Riarte, Faustino Torrico, Juan Carlos Villar, Sara Reidel, Luz Gibbons, Sergio Sosa-Estani
Summary: The study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of fixed doses and adjusted doses of benznidazole (BZN) for Trypanosoma cruzi-seropositive adults without cardiomyopathy. Through a systematic review and individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis, it was found that BZN therapy, regardless of the type of dose, showed strong association with negative qPCR and sustainable parasitological clearance. The tolerance of fixed doses was not worse than that of adjusted doses. However, there is currently a lack of direct comparisons between fixed and adjusted doses.
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fernando Salvador, Daniel Galvis, Begona Trevino, Elena Sulleiro, Adrian Sanchez-Montalva, Nuria Serre-Delcor, Lidia Goterris, Ma Luisa Aznar, Pau Bosch-Nicolau, Ines Oliveira, Juan Espinosa-Pereiro, Diana Pou, Israel Molina
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of strongyloidiasis on diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases. However, no association was found between strongyloidiasis and these diseases based on a retrospective study of 95 infected patients and 83 non-infected individuals.
TROPICAL MEDICINE & INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
(2023)
Correction
Infectious Diseases
Maria Aparecida Shikanai-Yasuda, Mauro Felippe Felix Mediano, Christina Terra Gallafrio Novaes, Andrea Silvestre de Sousa, Ana Marli Christovam Sartori, Rodrigo Carvalho Santana, Dalmo Correia, Cleudson Nery de Castro, Marilia Maria dos Santos Severo, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Marisa Liliana Fernandez, Fernando Salvador, Maria Jesus Pinazo, Valdes Roberto Bolella, Pedro Carvalho Furtado, Marcelo Corti, Ana Yece Neves Pinto, Alberto Fica, Israel Molina, Joaquim Gascon, Pedro Albajar Vinas, Juan Cortez-Escalante, Alberto Novaes Ramos, Eros Antonio de Almeida
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luisa Roade, Elena Sulleiro, Cristina Bocanegra, Fernando Salvador, Begona Trevino, Francesc Zarzuela, Lidia Goterris, Nuria Serre-Delcor, Ines Oliveira-Souto, Maria Luisa Aznar, Diana Pou, Adrian Sanchez-Montalva, Pau Bosch-Nicolau, Juan Espinosa-Pereiro, Israel Molina
Summary: There is no consensus on the recommended screening algorithms for schistosomiasis in asymptomatic high-risk subjects in non-endemic areas. This study evaluated the real-life performance of direct microscopy and ELISA serology for schistosomiasis screening in a high-risk population in a non-endemic setting. Retrospective cohort study conducted in Barcelona showed that serology achieved a similar performance to direct diagnosis for the screening of schistosomiasis in a high-risk population.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Berta Serrano, Erika Bonacina, Itziar Garcia-Ruiz, Manel Mendoza, Pablo Garcia-Manau, Paula Garcia-Aguilar, Judit Gil, Mireia Armengol-Alsina, Nuria Fernandez-Hidalgo, Elena Sulleiro, Laura Castillo-Ribelles, Nerea Maiz, Elena Carreras, Anna Suy
Summary: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection have shown an increased incidence of preeclampsia-like syndrome. This study aims to confirm this syndrome and its implications on pregnancy outcomes. The results suggest that more than 50% of pregnant women with severe COVID-19 and diagnostic criteria for preeclampsia may actually have a preeclampsia-like syndrome, which can affect up to 7.5% of women with severe COVID-19. The syndrome has similar perinatal outcomes to normotensive women with severe pneumonia caused by COVID-19. The study highlights the importance of using soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1-to-placental growth factor ratio in future research and clinical decisions.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY MFM
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sergio Espana-Cueto, Ines Oliveira-Souto, Fernando Salvador, Lidia Goterris, Begona Trevino, Adrian Sanchez-Montalva, Nuria Serre-Delcor, Elena Sulleiro, Virginia Rodriguez, Maria Luisa Aznar, Pau Bosch-Nicolau, Juan Espinosa-Pereiro, Diana Pou, Israel Molina
Summary: This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics of patients with post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) after returning from tropical or subtropical areas. The results showed that 10.2% of patients with travellers' diarrhoea developed PI-IBS, with symptoms persisting for an average of 15 months. Parasitic infections appear to be associated with PI-IBS.
JOURNAL OF TRAVEL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Begona Trevino, Francesc Zarzuela, Ines Oliveira-Souto, Carles Rubio Maturana, Nuria Serre-Delcor, Maria L. Aznar, Diana Pou, Lidia Goterris, Fernando Salvador, Pau Bosch-Nicolau, Jose M. Rubio, Edurne Ruiz, Israel Molina, Elena Sulleiro
Summary: A 17-year-old male from The Gambia who migrated to Spain underwent a routine health examination and was found to have Loa loa microfilariae. This atypical finding highlights the importance of screening for newly arrived migrants and obtaining a comprehensive medical history including migratory routes and previous travels.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Juan David Puyana Ortiz, Andrea Carolina Garces Rodriguez, Maria Luisa Aznar, Juan Espinosa Pereiro, Adrian Sanchez-Montalva, Joan Martinez-Camprecios, Nuria Saborit, Jose Angel Rodrigo-Pendas, Guadalupe Garcia Salgado, Claudia Broto Cortes, Nuria Serre Delcor, Ines Oliveira, Begona Trevino Maruri, Diana Pou Ciruelo, Fernando Salvador, Pau Bosch-Nicolau, Irene Torrecilla-Martinez, Ricardo Zules-Ona, Maria Teresa Tortola Fernandez, Israel Molina
Summary: A retrospective study was conducted at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain to describe treatment outcomes and adverse events for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) patients. Out of 261 persons who initiated LTBI treatment, 86.6% completed treatment successfully. Adverse events were more frequent in persons receiving immunosuppressive treatment.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Tomas O. Jensen, Greg A. Grandits, Mamta K. Jain, Thomas A. Murray, Birgit Grund, Kathryn Shaw-Saliba, Michael A. Matthay, Mahsa Abassi, Magdalena Ardelt, Jason V. Baker, Peter Chen, Robin L. Dewar, Anna L. Goodman, Timothy J. Hatlen, Helene C. Highbarger, Mark Holodniy, Perrine Lallemand, Sylvain Laverdure, Bradley G. Leshnower, David Looney, Charalampos D. Moschopoulos, Henry Mugerwa, Daniel D. Murray, Eleftherios Mylonakis, Stephanie Nagy-Agren, M. Tauseef Rehman, Adam Rupert, Randy A. Stevens, Stuart Turville, Amy Weintrob, Katherine Wick, Jens Lundgren, Emily R. Ko
Summary: This study suggests that neutralizing monoclonal antibodies have an antiviral effect among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, without affecting the endogenous anti-nucleocapsid antibody response, systemic inflammation, or clinical status on day 5.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)