Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2015-01-29"
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- Nontuberculous mycobacteria pathogenesis and biofilm assemblyPublication . Sousa, Sara; Bandeira, Maria; Carvalho, Patricia Almeida; Duarte, Aida; Jordão, LuísaNontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emergent pathogens whose importance in human health has been gaining relevance after being recognized as etiological agents of opportunist infections in HIV patients. Currently, NTM are recognized as etiological agents of several respiratory and extrarespiratory infections of immune-competent individuals. The environmental nature of NTM together with the ability to assemble biofilms on different surfaces plays a key role on their pathogenesis. In the present work the ability of three fast-growing NTM (M. smegmatis, M. fortuitum and M. chelonae) to persist within a model of human alveolar macrophages was evaluated. Most often human infections with NTM occur by contact with the environment. Biofilms can work as environmental reservoirs. For this reason, it was decided to evaluate the ability of NTM to assemble biofilms on different surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy was used to elucidate the biofilm structure. The ability to assemble biofilms was connected with the ability to spread on solid media known as sliding. Biofilm assembly and intracellular persistence seems to be ruled by different mechanisms.
- Start of the 2014/15 influenza season in Europe: drifted influenza A(H3N2) viruses circulate as dominant subtypePublication . Broberg, E.; Snacken, R.; Adlhoch, C.; Beauté, J.; Galinska, M.; Pereyaslov, D.; Brown, C.; Penttinen, P.; WHO European Region and European Influenza Surveillance NetworkThe influenza season 2014/15 started in Europe in week 50 2014 with influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominating. The majority of the A(H3N2) viruses characterised antigenically and/or genetically differ from the northern hemisphere vaccine component which may result in reduced vaccine effectiveness for the season. We therefore anticipate that this season may be more severe than the 2013/14 season. Treating influenza with antivirals in addition to prevention with vaccination will be important.
- Cutaneous infection by different Alternaria species in a liver transplant recipientPublication . Brás, Susana; Sabino, Raquel; Laureano, André; Simões, Helena; Fernandes, Cândida; Marques-Pinto, Gabriela; Cardoso, Jorge; Veríssimo, CristinaFungal invasive infections are rare in general population but are an emergent cause of infection in the immunocompromized population, especially in the solid organ transplant recipients. Herein the authors report a clinical case of a liver transplanted patient suffering a cutaneous co-existent infection with A. alternata as well as A. infectoria. To our knowledge this is the first case of cutaneous concomitant infection due to those two species reported not only in Portugal but also worldwide. The patient was treated with surgical excision of the lesions and oral itraconazol without relapse.