Percorrer por autor "Duarte, Elsa Leclerc"
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- Addressing Critical Fungal Pathogens Under a One Health Perspective: Key Insights from the Portuguese Association of Medical MycologyPublication . Sabino, Raquel; Antunes, Francisco; Araujo, Ricardo; Bezerra, A. R.; Brandão, João; Carneiro, Carla; Carvalho, Agostinho; Carvalho, D.; Conceição, I.C.; Cota-Medeiros, Fábio; Cruz, C.; Duarte, Elsa Leclerc; Holum, S.; Matos, O.; Maltez, F.; Mendonça, Alexandre; Moura, G.; Pereira, A.; Fortuna R., Celia; Teixeira, Pedro; de Valdoleiros, Sofia R.; Verissímo, Cristina; Viegas, Carla; Portuguese Association of Medical Mycology (ASPOMM); CarneiroFungal infections have emerged as a significant public health concern, especially with the increasing incidence of severe mycoses caused by pathogens such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida auris, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. These fungi, listed as critical priorities by the World Health Organization, pose a heightened risk due to rising antifungal resistance and their severe impact on immunocompromised individuals. This article, coordinated by the Portuguese Association of Medical Mycology, highlights the importance of adopting a One Health perspective to address fungal threats comprehensively. Drawing on interdisciplinary collaboration, the association aims to foster greater awareness, improve diagnostic capabilities, and stimulate research and public health policies in Portugal but also at global level. The paper outlines key strategies for surveillance, prevention, and innovation in fungal diagnostics and therapeutics. Moreover, it emphasizes the urgent need for national coordination and international cooperation in managing fungal infections, advocating for integrative approaches that link human, animal, and environmental health. By presenting aconsolidated overview of current challenges and future priorities, this work seeks to enhance preparedness and response mechanisms in the face of escalating fungal threats.
- Maternal dietary exposure to mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 promotes intestinal immune alterations and microbiota modifications increasing infection susceptibility in mouse offspringPublication . Bastos-Amador, Patricia; Duarte, Elsa Leclerc; Torres, Júlio; Caldeira, Ana Teresa; Silva, Inês; Salvador, Cátia; Assunção, Ricardo; Alvito, Paula; Ferreira, ManuelaAbstract: Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi occurring in food that are toxic to animals and humans. Early-life mycotoxins exposure has been linked to diverse pathologies. However, how maternal exposure to mycotoxins impacts on the intestinal barrier function of progeny has not been explored. Here, exposure of pregnant and lactating C57Bl/6J female mice to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1; 400 μg/kg body weight/day; 3 times a week) in gelatine pellets, from embryonic day (E)11.5 until weaning (postnatal day 21), led to gut immunological changes in progeny. The results showed an overall increase of lymphocyte number in intestine, a reduction of expression of epithelial genes related to microbial defence, as well as a decrease in cytokine production by intestinal type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). While susceptibility to chemically induced colitis was not worsened, immune alterations were associated with changes in gut microbiota and with a higher vulnerability to infection by the protozoan Eimeria vermiformis at early-life. Together these results show that maternal dietary exposure to AFB1 can dampen intestinal barrier homeostasis in offspring decreasing their capability to tackle intestinal pathogens. These data provide insights to understand AFB1 potential harmfulness in early-life health in the context of intestinal infections.
- Tuberculosis diagnosis after bleach processing for early stage tuberculosis laboratory capacity buildingPublication . David, Susana; Sutre, Ana Filipa; Sanca, Armando; Mané, Alfredo; Henriques, Victor; Portugal, Clara; Sancho, Luísa; Cardoso, Ana; Paixão, Eleonora; Duarte, Elsa Leclerc; Leite, Clarice Queico Fujimura; Salem, Julia Ignez; Antunes, AbílioThe diagnosis of tuberculosis is seriously hampered in the absence of standard biosafety laboratory facilities for specimen concentration and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture. Within a laboratory twinning arrangement, heat-fixed direct smear and sediment from 74 bleach-processed and 20 non-processed specimens from Cumura Hospital, Guinea-Bissau, were sent to Lisbon for molecular evaluation of rifampicin resistance. Sequence analysis of a 369 base-pair rpoB locus detected 3.2% (3/94) resistant specimens. To our knowledge, this represents the first report on the molecular analysis of M. tuberculosis from bleach-processed sputum, an alternative to current diagnostic practice in low-resource settings.