MARIA CRISTINA DOMINGUES DA SILVA FINK
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
LIM/52 - Laboratório de Virologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
5 resultados
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- Genomic analysis of ERVWE2 locus in patients with multiple sclerosis: absence of genetic association but potential role of human endogenous retrovirus type W elements in molecular mimicry with myelin antigen(2013) OLIVAL, Guilherme S. do; FARIA, Thiago S.; NALI, Luiz H. S.; OLIVEIRA, Augusto C. P. de; CASSEB, Jorge; VIDAL, Jose E.; CAVENAGHI, Vitor B.; TILBERY, Charles P.; MORAES, Lenira; FINK, Maria C. S.; SUMITA, Laura M.; PERRON, Herve; ROMANO, Camila M.Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) arise from ancient infections of the host germline cells by exogenous retroviruses, constituting 8% of the human genome. Elevated level of envelope transcripts from HERVs-W has been detected in CSF, plasma and brain tissues from patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), most of them from Xq22.3, 15q21.3, and 6q21 chromosomes. However, since the locus Xq22.3 (ERVWE2) lack the 5' LTR promoter and the putative protein should be truncated due to a stop codon, we investigated the ERVWE2 genomic loci from 84 individuals, including MS patients with active HERV-W expression detected in PBMC. In addition, an automated search for promoter sequences in 20 kb nearby region of ERVWE2 reference sequence was performed. Several putative binding sites for cellular cofactors and enhancers were found, suggesting that transcription may occur via alternative promoters. However, ERVWE2 DNA sequencing of MS and healthy individuals revealed that all of them harbor a stop codon at site 39, undermining the expression of a full-length protein. Finally, since plaque formation in central nervous system (CNS) of MS patients is attributed to immunological mechanisms triggered by autoimmune attack against myelin, we also investigated the level of similarity between envelope protein and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). Comparison of the MOG to the envelope identified five retroviral regions similar to the Ig-like domain of MOG. Interestingly, one of them includes T and B cell epitopes, capable to induce T effector functions and circulating Abs in rats. In sum, although no DNA substitutions that would link ERVWE2 to the MS pathogeny was found, the similarity between the envelope protein to MOG extends the idea that ERVEW2 may be involved on the immunopathogenesis of MS, maybe facilitating the MOG recognizing by the immune system. Although awaiting experimental evidences, the data presented here may expand the scope of the endogenous retroviruses involvement on MS pathogenesis.
- Detection of human polyomaviruses JC and BK in liver pretransplant patients(2017) FIGUEIREDO, M. A.; FINK, M. C. Domingues; CASTRO, T.; BRAZ-SILVA, P. H.; STEFFENS, J. C.; EDUARDO, F. P.; GALLOTTINI, M.; ORTEGA, K. L.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify and quantify polyomaviruses (BKPyV and JCPyV) in the saliva, mouthwash, blood and urine of liver pretransplant patients. Materials and MethodsA case-control study was performed using a convenience sample of 21 end-stage liver disease patients (EG=experimental group) and 20 normoreactive controls (CG=control group). In total, 162 samples were collected. Detection and quantification of polyomaviruses were performed using real-time PCR method. ResultsIn the EG, 21 samples (25%) were positive for BKPyV and 10 (11.90%) for JCPyV, while in the CG, 27 samples (34.61%) were positive for BKPyV and six (7.69%) for JCPyV. With regard to the number of samples positive for BKPyV and JCPyV, there was no statistically significant difference between EG and CG (p=.52 and p=.25). In the EG, we observed a panorama similar to that of the CG regarding the presence of polyomaviruses in mouthwash, blood and urine. The greatest difference between the samples was that regarding the identification of BKPyV in saliva. ConclusionCirrhotic patients on the liver transplant waiting list did not show higher prevalence of BKPyV and JCPyV compared to normoreactive controls.
- Role of Neutralizing Antibodies in Adults With Community-Acquired Pneumonia by Respiratory Syncytial Virus(2012) LUCHSINGER, Vivian; PIEDRA, Pedro A.; RUIZ, Mauricio; ZUNINO, Enna; MARTINEZ, Maria Angelica; MACHADO, Clarisse; FASCE, Rodrigo; ULLOA, Maria Teresa; FINK, Maria Cristina; LARA, Pamela; AVENDANO, Luis F.Background. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been implicated in the etiology of adult community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We investigated RSV infection in Chilean adults with CAP using direct viral detection, real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR), and serology (microneutralization assay). Methods. RSV, other respiratory viruses, and bacteria were studied by conventional and molecular techniques in adults aged >= 18 years presenting with CAP to the healthcare facilities in Santiago, Chile from February 2005 through December 2007. Results. All 356 adults with CAP enrolled had an acute blood sample collected at enrollment, and 184 had a convalescent blood sample. RSV was detected in 48 cases (13.4%). Immunofluorescence assay and viral isolation each detected only 1 infection (0.2%), whereas rtRT-PCR was positive in 32 (8.9%) cases and serology was positive in 20 (10.8%) cases. CAP clinical characteristics were similar in RSV-infected and non-RSV-infected cases. RSV-specific geometric mean serum-neutralizing antibody titer (GMST) was significantly lower at admission in the 48 RSV-infected cases compared with 308 non-RSV-infected adults (GMST in log(2): RSV/A 8.1 vs 8.9, and RSV/B 9.3 vs 10.4; P < .02). Conclusions. RSV infection is frequent in Chilean adults with CAP. Microneutralization assay was as sensitive as rtRT-PCR in detecting RSV infection and is a good adjunct assay for diagnostic research. High RSV-specific serum-neutralizing antibody levels were associated with protection against common and severe infection. The development of a vaccine could prevent RSV-related CAP in adults.
- Pre-transplant shedding of BK virus in urine is unrelated to post-transplant viruria and viremia in kidney transplant recipients(2016) BICALHO, C. S.; OLIVEIRA, R. R.; PIERROTTI, L. C.; FINK, M. C. D. S.; URBANO, P. R. P.; NALI, L. H. S.; LUNA, E. J. A.; ROMANO, C. M.; DAVID, D. R.; DAVID-NETO, E.; PANNUTI, C. S.BK virus-(BKV) associated nephropathy (BKVN) is a major cause of allograft injury in kidney transplant recipients. In such patients, subclinical reactivation of latent BKV infection can occur in the pre-transplant period. The purpose of this study was to determine whether urinary BKV shedding in the immediate pre-transplant period is associated with a higher incidence of viruria and viremia during the first year after kidney transplantation. We examined urine samples from 34 kidney transplant recipients, using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to detect BKV. Urine samples were obtained in the immediate pre-transplant period and during the first year after transplant on a monthly basis. If BKV viruria was detected, blood samples were collected and screened for BKV viremia. In the immediate pre-transplant period, we detected BKV viruria in 11 (32.3%) of the 34 recipients. During the first year after transplantation, we detected BKV viruria in all 34 patients and viremia in eight (23.5%). We found no correlation between pre-transplant viruria and post-transplant viruria or viremia (p = 0.2). Although reactivation of latent BKV infection in the pre-transplant period is fairly common among kidney transplant recipients, it is not a risk factor for post-transplant BKV viruria or viremia.
- Multiple sclerosis and herpesvirus interaction(2013) OLIVAL, Guilherme Sciascia do; LIMA, Bruna Mendonca; SUMITA, Laura M.; SERAFIM, Vitor; FINK, Maria Cristina; NALI, Luis Henrique; ROMANO, Camila Malta; THOMAZ, Rodrigo Barbosa; CAVENAGHI, Vitor Breseghello; TILBERY, Charles Peter; PENALVA-DE-OLIVEIRA, Augusto CesarMultiple sclerosis is the most common autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, and its etiology is believed to have both genetic and environmental components. Several viruses have already been implicated as triggers and there are several studies that implicate members of the Herpesviridae family in the pathogenesis of MS. The most important characteristic of these viruses is that they have periods of latency and exacerbations within their biological sanctuary, the central nervous system. The Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 viruses are the members that are most studied as being possible triggers of multiple sclerosis. According to evidence in the literature, the herpesvirus family is strongly involved in the pathogenesis of this disease, but it is unlikely that they are the only component responsible for its development. There are probably multiple triggers and more studies are necessary to investigate and define these interactions.