RESUMO
Meningococcus serogroup B (MenB), clonal complex 32 (cc 32), was the Brazilian epidemic strain of meningococcal disease (MD) in the 1990's. Currently, meningococcus serogroup C (MenC), cc 103, is responsible for most of the cases of the disease in Brazil. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of bactericidal antibody (SBA) against representative epidemic strains of MenC, (N753/00 strain, C:23:P1.22,14-6, cc103) and MenB, (Cu385/83 strain, B:4,7:P1.15,19, cc32) in students and employees of a university hospital in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS, Brazil). A second MenC strain (N79/96, C:2b:P1.5-2,10, cc 8) was used as a prototype strain of Rio de Janeiro's outbreak that occurred in the 1990's. Our previous study showed a 9% rate of asymptomatic carriers in these same individuals. A second goal was to compare the SBA prevalence in meningococcal carriers and non-carriers. Fifty-nine percent of the studied population showed protective levels of SBA titers (log2≥2) against at least one of the three strains. About 40% of the individuals had protective levels of SBA against N753/00 and Cu385/83 strains. Nonetheless, only 22% of the individuals showed protective levels against N79/96 strain. Significantly higher antibody levels were seen in carriers compared to non-carriers (P≤0.009). This study showed that, similar to other States in Brazil, a MenC (23:P1.22,14-6, cc103) strain with epidemic potential is circulating in this hospital. Close control by the Epidemiological Surveillance Agency of RS of the number of cases of MD caused by MenC strains in the State is recommended to prevent a new disease outbreak.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Antibacterianos/sangue , Neisseria meningitidis Sorogrupo B/imunologia , Neisseria meningitidis Sorogrupo C/imunologia , Adulto , Brasil , Feminino , Hospitais Universitários , Humanos , Immunoblotting/métodos , Masculino , Infecções Meningocócicas/imunologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neisseria meningitidis Sorogrupo B/isolamento & purificação , Neisseria meningitidis Sorogrupo C/isolamento & purificação , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Sorogrupo , Ensaios de Anticorpos Bactericidas Séricos , Estatísticas não Paramétricas , Adulto JovemRESUMO
SUMMARYAn outbreak of meningococcal disease (MD) with severe morbidity and mortality was investigated in midwestern Brazil in order to identify control measures. A MD case was defined as isolation of Neisseria meningitidis, or detection of polysaccharide antigen in a sterile site, or presence of clinical purpura fulminans, or an epidemiological link with a laboratory-confirmed case-patient, between June and August 2008. In 8 out of 16 MD cases studied, serogroup C ST103 complex was identified. Five (31%) cases had neurological findings and five (31%) died. The attack rate was 12 cases/100 000 town residents and 60 cases/100 000 employees in a large local food-processing plant. We conducted a matched case-control study of eight primary laboratory-confirmed cases (1:4). Factors associated with illness in single variable analysis were work at the processing plant [matched odds ratio (mOR) 22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·3-207·7, P<0·01], and residing <1 year in Rio Verde (mOR 7, 95% CI 1·11-43·9, P<0·02). Mass vaccination (>10 000 plant employees) stopped propagation in the plant, but not in the larger community.
Assuntos
Surtos de Doenças , Controle de Infecções/métodos , Infecções Meningocócicas/epidemiologia , Infecções Meningocócicas/microbiologia , Neisseria meningitidis Sorogrupo C/isolamento & purificação , Exposição Ocupacional , Adolescente , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Infecções Comunitárias Adquiridas/epidemiologia , Infecções Comunitárias Adquiridas/microbiologia , Infecções Comunitárias Adquiridas/mortalidade , Infecções Comunitárias Adquiridas/prevenção & controle , Feminino , Manipulação de Alimentos , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , Vacinação em Massa/métodos , Infecções Meningocócicas/mortalidade , Infecções Meningocócicas/prevenção & controle , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Vacinas Pneumocócicas/administração & dosagem , Análise de Sobrevida , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Freshwater sponges are abundant in the Amazon region and they have been known to cause dermatitis (acute inflammation) since the beginning of the 20th century. To determine whether additional constituents, besides their body spicules, cause dermatological reactions in humans, an experimental study was developed and carried out using mice and Drulia uruguayensis prepared in three different forms: intact sponges (IS), macerated sponges (MS) or isolated spicules - megascleres (ISM). The cells most commonly involved in inflammatory reactions (mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils), as well as intraepithelial lymphocytes and degranulated mast cells, were counted so that they could be used as parameters to determine which of the sponge preparations induced the greatest reaction. The effects of the sponge on the skin were then determined by histological analysis. The results obtained showed that IS caused the greatest inflammatory reaction (p = 0.000005), activating mainly mast cells (p = 0.0018). The histopathological analysis revealed a slight loss of continuity of the epidermis when ISM or IS were applied. These findings allow us to conclude that a structurally intact sponge can cause a greater inflammatory reaction in the first contact because of its ability to perforate the skin and allow inflammatory agents to enter. Other proteins present in dried sponge bodies could induce allergic but not toxic responses (in contact with the entire sponge, a large number of pharmacologically inert proteins may be introduced, with a potential allergen).
Assuntos
Animais , Feminino , Badiaga/efeitos adversos , Badiaga/toxicidade , Dermatite , Ecossistema Amazônico , CamundongosRESUMO
Freshwater sponges are abundant in the Amazon region and they have been known to cause dermatitis (acute inflammation) since the beginning of the 20th century. To determine whether additional constituents, besides their body spicules, cause dermatological reactions in humans, an experimental study was developed and carried out using mice and Drulia uruguayensis prepared in three different forms: intact sponges (IS), macerated sponges (MS) or isolated spicules - megascleres (ISM). The cells most commonly involved in inflammatory reactions (mast cells, eosinophils and neutrophils), as well as intraepithelial lymphocytes and degranulated mast cells, were counted so that they could be used as parameters to determine which of the sponge preparations induced the greatest reaction. The effects of the sponge on the skin were then determined by histological analysis. The results obtained showed that IS caused the greatest inflammatory reaction (p = 0.000005), activating mainly mast cells (p = 0.0018). The histopathological analysis revealed a slight loss of continuity of the epidermis when ISM or IS were applied. These findings allow us to conclude that a structurally intact sponge can cause a greater inflammatory reaction in the first contact because of its ability to perforate the skin and allow inflammatory agents to enter. Other proteins present in dried sponge bodies could induce allergic but not toxic responses (in contact with the entire sponge, a large number of pharmacologically inert proteins may be introduced, with a potential allergen).(AU)
Assuntos
Animais , Feminino , Adulto , Ratos , Poríferos/patogenicidade , Dermatite de Contato/etiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology of meningococcal disease (MD) in southern Brazil. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study among 2215 MD cases reported from 1995 to 2003 in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State. RESULTS: The overall incidence fell by 50%; the case-fatality rate during this period was 22%. Even so, the incidence of MD remained high after the epidemic period ended in 1999. Together, the age groups of 1-4 years and infants accounted for 54.1% of reported cases with incidences of 11.3/100 000 and 31.3/100 000, respectively; 69.8% of cases were caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, which increased significantly. There was a significant decrease in serogroup C cases in the whole period. The phenotypes B:4,7:P1.19,15, B:15:P1.7,16 and B:NT:P1.3 caused almost 50% of all serotyped cases. Fifty-six isolates obtained from RS patients during the first non-epidemic year 2000 plus 20 isolates from other southern Brazilian states (Santa Catarina and Paraná), Denmark and France were typed by multilocus sequence typing. Twenty sequence types (STs) were identified, eight of them found only in RS. ST-33 (27%) and ST-259 (18%) were the most frequent; both belong to the ST-32/ET-5 complex. ST-259 cases showed a trend towards higher risk of fatal outcome. ST-259 isolates were not detected among geographic controls or in other studies in Brazil. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that ST-33 and ST-259 clones and the emergence of the ST-103 isolates contributed to the continued high incidence of MD in RS.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Infecções Meningocócicas/epidemiologia , Epidemiologia Molecular , Neisseria meningitidis/classificação , Neisseria meningitidis/genética , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Bacteriemia/epidemiologia , Bacteriemia/microbiologia , Proteínas de Bactérias/metabolismo , Técnicas de Tipagem Bacteriana , Brasil/epidemiologia , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Meningite Meningocócica/epidemiologia , Meningite Meningocócica/microbiologia , Infecções Meningocócicas/microbiologia , Neisseria meningitidis/isolamento & purificação , Prevalência , Estações do Ano , SorotipagemRESUMO
A mAb against the NadA protein from Neisseria meningitidis strain 3006 (serosubtype B : 2b : P1.2 : P5.2,8) demonstrated strong bactericidal activity against Brazilian epidemic serogroup B strain N44/89 (B : 4,7 : P1.19,15 : P5.5,7) and a serogroup C strain, IMC 2135 (C : 2a : P1.5,2), but not against another serogroup C strain, N1002/90 (C : 2b : P1.3 : P5.8). The immunogenicity of native NadA in an outer-membrane vesicle (OMV) preparation was also tested. Serum from mice immunized with OMV from serogroup B strain N44/89, which contains the NadA protein, showed bactericidal activity against serogroup B and C strains possessing NadA. In dot-blot analysis of 100 serogroup B and 100 serogroup C isolates from Brazilian patients, the mAb to NadA recognized about 60% of the samples from both serogroups. The molecular mass of the NadA protein from strain N44/89 determined by mass spectrometry was 37 971 Da and the peptide sequences were identical to those of NadA from N. meningitidis strain MC58.
Assuntos
Camundongos , Neisseria meningitidis Sorogrupo B/imunologia , Neisseria meningitidis Sorogrupo C/imunologia , Vacinas Meningocócicas/imunologia , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/biossíntese , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/imunologia , Anticorpos Monoclonais/imunologia , Anticorpos Monoclonais/metabolismo , Antígenos de Bactérias/imunologia , Antígenos de Bactérias/química , BrasilRESUMO
The plasma membrane (Ca(2+) + Mg(2+))ATPase hydrolyzes pseudo-substrates such as p-nitrophenylphosphate. Except when calmodulin is present, Ca(2+) ions inhibit the p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity. In this report it is shown that, in the presence of glycerol, Ca(2+) strongly stimulates phosphatase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The glycerol- and Ca(2+)-induced increase in activity is correlated with modifications in the spectral center of mass (average emission wavenumber) of the intrinsic fluorescence of the enzyme. It is concluded that the synergistic effect of glycerol and Ca(2+) is related to opposite long-term hydration effects on the substrate binding domain and the Ca(2+) binding domain.
Assuntos
4-Nitrofenilfosfatase/metabolismo , ATPase de Ca(2+) e Mg(2+)/metabolismo , Cálcio/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/enzimologia , Eritrócitos/enzimologia , Glicerol/farmacologia , Líquido Intracelular/enzimologia , ATPase de Ca(2+) e Mg(2+)/efeitos dos fármacos , Cálcio/farmacologia , Membrana Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Quelantes/farmacologia , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Eritrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Líquido Intracelular/efeitos dos fármacos , Solventes/farmacologia , Frações Subcelulares/efeitos dos fármacos , Frações Subcelulares/metabolismo , Ureia/farmacologiaRESUMO
We compared the results obtained by serotyping of PorB epitopes using an expanded panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) including mAb 7 and mAb 10, with results obtained by RFLP of rRNA genes (ribotyping). The purpose of this study was to assess the correlation between phenotypic- and genotypic- methods for typing N. meningitidis. The ribotypes obtained using ClaI or EcoRV endonucleases grouped the strains in seven and two different patterns, respectively. This additional characterization of PorB epitopes improved the correlation between these two methods of typing N. meningitidis.
Assuntos
Proteínas da Membrana Bacteriana Externa/genética , Neisseria meningitidis/genética , Porinas , Ribotipagem , Sorotipagem , Variação Genética , Humanos , Região Variável de Imunoglobulina/genética , Neisseria meningitidis/classificaçãoRESUMO
Meningococcal disease caused by N. meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) has been endemic in Brazil since 1997. In this study, we determined the prevalence of serosubtypes of MenB isolated in 10 Brazilian states and the Federal District during 1997 and 1998 and investigated the extent of PorA VR sequence variation among the most prevalent serosubtypes to evaluate the possible use of an outer membrane vesicle (OMV)-, PorA-based vaccine to prevent meningococcal disease in Brazil. During this period, a total of 8,932 cases of meningococcal disease were reported. Only 42% (n = 3,751) of the reported cases were laboratory confirmed, and about 60% (n = 2,255) of those were identified as MenB. Among 1,297 MenB strains selected for this study, the most prevalent serosubtypes were P1.19,15 (66%), P1.7,1 (11%), and P1.7,16 (4%). PorA VR typing showed that 91% of the P1.19,15 strains analyzed had VR1 and VR2 sequences identical to those of the prototype strain. No sequence variation was detected among the 40 strains representing all isolated MenB P1.7,16 strains in the three southern states, where this serosubtype accounts for 75% of the serosubtypes identified. Similarly, all P1.7,1 strains were identified by PorA typing as P1.7-1,1. Although further improvements in the reporting of cases and collection of strains in Brazil are needed, our data suggest that a trivalent OMV-based vaccine prepared with PorA types P1.19,15, P1.7-1,1, and P1.7,16 may be appropriate to control serogroup B meningococcal disease in most of the Brazilian states.
Assuntos
Infecções Meningocócicas/microbiologia , Vacinas Meningocócicas , Neisseria meningitidis/classificação , Porinas/classificação , Porinas/genética , Brasil/epidemiologia , Variação Genética , Humanos , Infecções Meningocócicas/epidemiologia , Infecções Meningocócicas/prevenção & controle , Vacinas Meningocócicas/imunologia , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Neisseria meningitidis/genética , Neisseria meningitidis/imunologia , Neisseria meningitidis/isolamento & purificação , Porinas/imunologia , Prevalência , SorotipagemRESUMO
The plasma membrane of cells contains enzymes whose active sites face the external medium rather than the cytoplasm. The activities of these enzymes, referred to as ectoenzymes, can be measured using living cells. In this work we describe the ability of living promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis to hydrolyze extracellular ATP. In these intact parasites whose viability was assessed before and after the reactions by motility and by trypan blue dye exclusion, there was a low level of ATP hydrolysis in the absence of any divalent metal (5.39 +/- 0.71 nmol P(i)/h x 10(7) cells). The ATP hydrolysis was stimulated by MgCl(2) and the Mg-dependent ecto-ATPase activity was 30.75 +/- 2.64 nmol P(i)/h x 10(7) cells. The Mg-dependent ecto-ATPase activity was linear with cell density and with time for at least 60 min. The addition of MgCl(2) to extracellular medium increased the ecto-ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. At 5 mM ATP, half-maximal stimulation of ATP hydrolysis was obtained with 1.21 mM MgCl(2). This stimulatory activity was also observed when MgCl(2) was replaced by MnCl(2), but not by CaCl(2) or SrCl(2). The apparent K(m) for Mg-ATP(2-) was 0.98 mM and free Mg(2+) did not increase the ecto-ATPase activity. In the pH range from 6.8 to 8.4, in which the cells were viable, the acid phosphatase activity decreased, while the Mg(2+)-dependent ATPase activity increased. This ecto-ATPase activity was insensitive to inhibitors of other ATPase and phosphatase activities, such as oligomycin, sodium azide, bafilomycin A(1), ouabain, furosemide, vanadate, molybdate, sodium fluoride, tartrate, and levamizole. To confirm that this Mg-dependent ATPase was an ecto-ATPase, we used an impermeant inhibitor, 4,4'-diisothiocyanostylbene 2',2'-disulfonic acid as well as suramin, an antagonist of P(2) purinoreceptors and inhibitor of some ecto-ATPases. These two reagents inhibited the Mg(2+)-dependent ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. A comparison between the Mg(2+)-dependent ATPase activity of virulent and avirulent promastigotes showed that avirulent promastigotes were less efficient than the virulent promastigotes in hydrolyzing ATP.