Browsing by Author "Valente, J."
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- A large community outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, October to November 2014Publication . Shivaji, T.; Sousa Pinto, C.; San-Bento, A.; Oliveira Serra, L.A.; Valente, J.; Machado, J.; Marques, T.; Carvalho, L.; Nogueira, P.J.; Nunes, Baltazar; Vasconcelos, P.An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease with 334 confirmed cases was identified on 7 November 2014 in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal and declared controlled by 21 November. Epidemiological, environmental and microbiological analysis identified industrial wet cooling systems to be the probable source of infection. Preliminary results from sequence-based typing of clinical specimens and environmental isolates confirmed this link. A series of meteorological phenomena are likely to have contributed to the scale of this outbreak.
- Molecular Epidemiology of Aspergillus collected from Cystic Fibrosis PatientsPublication . Sabino, R.; Ferreira, J.A.G.; Moss, R.B.; Valente, J.; Verissimo, C.; Carolino, E.; Clemons, K.V.; Everson, C.; Banaei, N.; Penner, J.; Stevens, D.A.Background: Aspergillus respiratory infection is a common complication in cystic fibrosis (CF) and is associated with loss of pulmonary function and allergic disease. Methods: Fifty-three Aspergillus isolates recovered fromCF patients were identified to species by Internal Transcribed Spacer Region (ITS), β-tubulin, and calmodulin sequencing. Results: Three species complexes (Terrei, Nigri, and Fumigati) were found. Identification to species level gave a single Aspergillus terreus sensu stricto, one Aspergillus niger sensu stricto and 51 Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto isolates. No cryptic species were found. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first prospective study of Aspergillus species in CF using molecular methods. The paucity of non-A. fumigatus and of cryptic species of A. fumigatus suggests a special association of A. fumigatus sensu stricto with CF airways, indicating it likely displays unique characteristics making it suitable for chronic residence in that milieu. These findings could refine an epidemiologic and therapeutic approach geared to this pathogen