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Browsing by Author "Rocha, R."

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  • Detection of Dientamoeba fragilis in Portuguese children with acute gastroenteritis between 2011 and 2013
    Publication . Júlio, C.; Furtado, Cristina; Rocha, R.; Escobar, C.; Brito, M.J.; Oleastro, Mónica
    Dientamoeba fragilis is an inhabitant of human gastrointestinal tract with a worldwide distribution. The first description considered this protozoan a rare and harmless commensal, since then it has struggled to gain recognition as a pathogen. Commercial multiplex real-time PCR was used to detect D. fragilis in fecal samples from hospitalized children (⩽18 years) with acute gastrointestinal disease, admitted to two hospitals of Lisbon area, with different demographic characteristics. A total of 176 children were studied, 103 (58·5%) male, 144 (81·8%) children between 0 and 5 years and 32 (18·2%) above 6 years old. The overall protozoa frequency considering the four tested microorganisms were 8·5% (15/176), and the most frequently found protozoan was D. fragilis, 6·3% (11/176). Dientamoeba fragilis frequency was higher among older children (21·9%), than younger children (2·8%), and greater in boys (6·8%) than in girls (5·5%). All positive children presented with diarrhoea associated with vomiting, fever and abdominal pain. Infection was associated with the age of children (P < 0·001), school attendance (P = 0·002) and consumption of certain foods (P = 0·014), e.g. cakes with crème and ham. The frequency of diantamoebiasis found in a cohort of hospitalized Portuguese children, with acute gastrointestinal disease, could be considered a very high value when compared with the protozoan frequency normally associated with this pathology.
    2015-09Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Genomes of Helicobacter pylori prophages
    Publication . Vale, F.F.; Nunes, A.; Oleastro, M.; Gomes, J.P.; Sampaio, D.; Rocha, R.; Vítor, J.; Engstrand, L.; Pascoe, B.; Berthenet, E.; Sheppard, S.; Hitchings, M.D.; Mégraud, F.; Vadivedu, J.; Lehours, P.
    Nearly 20% of the Helicobacter pylori genomes carry prophages genes. Recently we were able to clearly differentiate four populations of prophages according to geographical origin of host strain. Interestingly we were able to discriminate between Northern Europe and Southern Europe using a phage sequence typing based on 2 prophage genes of H. pylori (integrase and holin) but present in only a minority of strains.
    2016-09Conference object Open access Show more
  • Helicobacter pylori strains from ulcer and non-ulcer differ in binding ability to mucins
    Publication . Quintana-Hayashi, M.P.; Rocha, R.; Roxo-Rosa, M.; Oleastro, M.; Linden, S.K.
    Background : Adhesion to mucins within the mucus layer and to membrane bound mucins present on the surface epithelial cells is a key step in the interac􀦞on of H. pylori and its host. Aim : To inves􀦞gate the level and mechanisms of binding of non- ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) strains versus pep􀦞c ulcer disease (PUD) strains to human gastric mucins.
    2016-09Conference object Open access Show more