Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2009-11"
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- Potential impact of viral load and genetic makeup of HIV type 1 on mother-to-child transmission: characterization of env-C2V3C3 and nef sequencesPublication . Pádua, E.; Parreira, R.; Tendeiro, R.; Nunes, Baltazar; Castela, J.; Soares, I.; Mouzinho, A.; Reis, E.; Paixão, M.T.HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) was evaluated in terms of the molecular characterization of the env and nef genomic regions and quantification of maternal RNA viral loads. Assignment of viral subtype was achieved by direct sequencing of PCR 1172 products amplified from proviral DNA in 45 HIV-1-nontransmitting mothers (NTM), along with 13 pairs of HIV-1-transmitting mothers (TM) and their infected children (C). Analysis of the env C2V3C3 and nef sequences revealed that subtypes G and B, and their genetic combinations (AG, BG), accounted for over 84.5% of all viruses identified. The genetic structure form envA-nefG was the most commonly observed, with a lower frequency in the NTM (13.3%) compared to the TM (23.1%) group. A greater number of genetic forms was observed among NTM, namely the presence of sequences assigned to subtypes D and F, as well as the intergenetic A/J, and C/U, recombinant forms, along with a mosaic provirus with a complex putative envA-nefEGE genetic structure. No significant differences were found when RNA viral loads were evaluated as a function of the viral subtypes. Nevertheless, a relatively high quantification of HIV-1 RNA was obtained in the NTM group, emphasizing the importance of the compliance and effectiveness of therapeutic schemes to control viral replication and reduce the risk of HIV vertical transmission. V3 sequences displaying features associated with the R5 phenotype dominated in both groups. Both C2V3C3 and Nef's functional domains were conserved during HIV-1 vertical transmission.
- I-Move towards monitoring seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine effectiveness: lessons learnt from a pilot multi-centric case-control study in europe, 2008-9Publication . Kissling, E.; Valenciano, M.; Falcao, J.; Larrauri, A.; Widgren, K.; Pitigoi, D.; Oroszi, B.; Nunes, Baltazar; Savulescu, C.; Mazick, A.; Lupulescu, E.; Ciancio, B.; Moren, A.Within I-MOVE (European programme to monitor seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE)) five countries conducted IVE pilot case-control studies in 2008-9. One hundred and sixty sentinel general practitioners (GP) swabbed all elderly consulting for influenza-like illness (ILI). Influenza confirmed cases were compared to influenza negative controls. We conducted a pooled analysis to obtain a summary IVE in the age group of >or=65 years. We measured IVE in each study and assessed heterogeneity between studies qualitatively and using the I2 index. We used a one-stage pooled model with study as a fixed effect. We adjusted estimates for age-group, sex, chronic diseases, smoking, functional status, previous influenza vaccinations and previous hospitalisations. The pooled analysis included 138 cases and 189 test-negative controls. There was no statistical heterogeneity (I2=0) between studies but ILI case definition, previous hospitalisations and functional status were slightly different. The adjusted IVE was 59.1% (95% CI: 15.3-80.3%). IVE was 65.4% (95% CI: 15.6-85.8%) in the 65-74, 59.6% (95% CI: -72.6 -90.6%) in the age group of >or=75 and 56.4% (95% CI: -0.2-81.3%) for A(H3). Pooled analysis is feasible among European studies. The variables definitions need further standardisation. Larger sample sizes are needed to achieve greater precision for subgroup analysis. For 2009-10, I-MOVE will extend the study to obtain early IVE estimates in groups targeted for pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccination.
- The Estela Sousa e Silva Algal Culture Collection: a resource of biological and toxicological interestPublication . Paulino, Sérgio; Sam-Bento, Filomena; Churro, Catarina; Alverca, Elsa; Dias, Elsa; Valério, Elisabete; Pereira, PauloThe Estela Sousa e Silva Algal Culture Collection (ESSACC) is the legacy of nearly 40 years of the National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA) scientific and public activity in marine and freshwater phytoplankton biology and toxicology. The living isolates maintained in the ESSACC are mostly represented by marine dinoflagellates and freshwater cyanobacteria strains isolated from bloom occurrences in Portugal. More than 170 isolates comprising the most frequently found species have been obtained from environmental samples and are successfully cultured at INSA facilities. Moreover, new isolates are continuously being added to the collection, following new detection of natural blooms. Although not intended to represent the entire range of taxonomical different species occurring in Portuguese environments, the ESSACC includes a wide array of geographical, morphological, physiological, and ecological relevant isolates. So far, laboratory up-scaled culturing has been put in place for several purposes, including the production of secondary metabolites, purification of toxins, detection of toxin producing strains by molecular methods, screening for cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of purified compounds, testing for antialgal activity of organic compounds, and evaluating the combining effects of environmental factors on biomass and toxin production. We are disseminating information about this collection since it is an important wide source of readily available and easy to manipulate biological material for research purposes within the scientific community.