Browsing by Author "Almeida, V."
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- Detection of Borrelia lusitaniae, Rickettsia sp. IRS3, Rickettsia monacensis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus collected in Madeira Island, PortugalPublication . Lopes de Carvalho, Isabel; Milhano, N.; Santos, A.S.; Almeida, V.; Barros, S.C.; De Sousa, R.; Núncio, M.S.A total of 300 Ixodes ricinus ticks were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Sequence analysis demonstrated 8 (2.7%) ticks infected with B. lusitaniae, 60 (20%) with Rickettsia spp., and 1 (0.3%) with A. phagocytophilum. Seven (2.3%) ticks were coinfected with B. lusitaniae and Rickettsia spp., 2 (0.6%) with R. monacensis, and 5 (1.7%) with Rickettsia sp. IRS3. The results of this study suggest simultaneous transmission of multiple tick-borne agents on Madeira Island, Portugal.
- Mitochondria proteome profiling: a comparative analysis between gel- and gel-free approachesPublication . Ferreira, R.; Rocha, H.; Almeida, V.; Padrão, A.L.; Santa, C.; Vilarinho, L.; Amado, F.; Vitorino, R.Mitochondrial proteomics emerged aiming to disclose the dynamics of mitochondria under various pathophysiological conditions. In the present study we investigated the relative merits of gel-based (2DE and SDS-LC) and gel-free (2D-LC) protein separation approaches and protein identification algorithms (Mascot and Paragon) in the proteome profiling of mitochondria isolated from cultured fibroblasts, a sample traditionally used for diagnosis purposes. Combining data retrieved from 2DE, 2D-LC and SDS-LC and search methods, a total of 696 non-redundant proteins were identified. An overlap of only 19% between the proteins identified by the three different methods was observed when Mascot and Paragon were used. Regarding protein ID, a consistency in the number of identified proteins per sample was noticed for 2DE approach. Independent of the methodological approach chosen, it was noticed that the predominance in mitochondria of hydrophilic proteins with 20-50 kDa and pI 5-6 and 8-9; however, 2D-LC and SDS-LC allowed the enrichment of proteins with a mass below 30 kDa and of basic proteins with pI values above 8. In conclusion, data from the present study highlight the power of integrating different separation technologies and protein identification algorithms.
- Rare Case of Rickettsiosis Caused by Rickettsia monacensis, Portugal, 2021Publication . de Sousa, R.; Santos, M. L.; Cruz, C.; Almeida, V.; Garrote, A. R.; Ramirez, F.; Seixas, D.; Manata, M.J.; Maltez, F.We report a case of rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia monacensis in an immunocompetent 67-year-old man in Portugal who had eschar, erythematous rash, and an attached Ixodes ricinus tick. Seroconversion and eschar biopsy led to confirmed diagnosis by PCR. Physicians should be aware of this rare rickettsiosis, especially in geographic regions with the vector.