LUCIA MARIA ALMEIDA BRAZ
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/38 - Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Imunobiologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
LIM/38 - Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Imunobiologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
19 resultados
Resultados de Busca
Agora exibindo 1 - 10 de 19
- A PCR and RFLP-based molecular diagnostic algorithm for visceral leishmaniasis(2020) GODOY, Natalia Souza de; LIMA-JUNIOR, Manoel Sebastiao da Costa; LINDOSO, Jose Angelo Lauletta; PEREIRA-CHIOCCOLA, Vera Lucia; OKAY, Thelma Suely; BRAZ, Lucia Maria AlmeidaObjective: To determine an algorithm for molecular diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) by kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) (RV1/ RV2) and internal transcriber spacer (ITS1) (LITSR/L5.8S) polymerase chain reaction (PCR), complemented by ITS1 PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), using peripheral blood or bone marrow aspirate from patients with suspected VL. Methods: Biological samples were submitted to the gold standard for the diagnosis of VL and molecular diagnosis represented by ITS1 PCR, kDNA PCR, and ITS1 PCR RFLP. The samples were obtained from seven groups: group I, 82 samples from patients with confirmed VL; group H , 16 samples from patients under treatment for VL; groupII, 14 samples from dogs with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL); group II, a pool of six experimentally infected sandflies (Lutzomya longipalpis); group IV, 18 samples from patients with confirmed tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) and groups ? and VI were from control groups without VII. Results: The following gold standard and molecular examination results were obtained for each of the seven groups: group I : parasitologic and immunochromatographic tests showed a sensitivity of 76.3% (61 of 80) and 68.8% (55 of 80), respectively, and a sensitivity of 97.6% (80 of 82) and 92.7% (76 of 82) by ITS1 and kDNA PCR, respectively. After ITS1 PCR RFLP (Hae III) analysis of the 80 positive samples, 52.5% (42 of 80) generated three fragments of 180, 70, and 50 bp, corresponding to the pattern of Leishmania infantum infantum; group Pi : negative for the parasitologic methods and positive for IrK39 (100%, 16 of 16), presented 12.5% (2 of 16) of positivity by ITS1 PCR and 25.0% (4 of 16) by kDNA PCR; group III: positive in the parasitologic and serologic tests (100%, 14 of 14), presented 85.7%(12 of 14) of positivity by ITS1 PCR and kDNA PCR. ITS1 PCR RFLP showed that 83.3% (10 of 12) of the canine samples contained parasites with profiles similar to L. infantum; groupIVpresented amplifications by ITS1 PCR and kDNA PCR. ITS1 PCR products were analyzed by RFLP, generating a profile similar to that of L. infantum; group V: positive in the parasitologic examination (100%, 18 of 18), presented 72.2% (13 of 18) of the samples by ITS1 PCR positive. A total of 69.2% (9 of 13) showed profiles corresponding to a Viannia complex by ITS1 PCR RFLP; and group ? and group W were negative by ITS1 and kDNA molecular tests. Comparing the molecular results with the parasitologic and serologic diagnosis from group I, almost perfect agreement was found ( kappa both>0.80, P<0.001). ITS1 and RV1/RV2 PCR detected 90.2% (74 of 82) of the samples. Two samples positive by RV1/RV2 were negative by LITSR/L5.8S, and six samples positive by LITSR/L5.8S were negative by RV1/RV2. Therefore, these two systems complemented each other; they diagnosed 100% of the samples as belonging to the Leishmania genus. Conclusions: We suggest an algorithm for the molecular diagnosis of VL, which must consider previous parasitologic and serologic (immunochromatographic) diagnoses, and should combine kDNA and ITS1 to determine the Leishmania subgenus using RFLP as a complement method to define the L. infantum species.
- Visceral Leishmaniasis diagnosis: a rapid test is a must at the hospital bedside(2020) BRAZ, Lucia Maria Almeida; TAHMASEBI, Roozbeh; HEFFORD, Philip Michael; LINDOSO, Jose Angelo Lauletta
- EVALUATION OF THE "SYMBIOSYS" IMMUNOASSAY FOR THE SEROLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF CHAGAS DISEASE(2012) SOUZA, Regina Maia de; AMATO NETO, Vicente; BEZERRA, Rita Cristina; GAKYIA, Erika; BRAZ, Lucia Maria Almeida
- Nitro-Heterocyclic compounds induce apoptosis-like effects in Leishmania (L). amazonensis promastigotes(2019) MENDONCA, Daiane Barros Dias; SILVA, Renata Ellen Costa; PALACE-BERL, Fanny; TAKAKURA, Cleusa F. H.; SOARES, Sandra Regina C.; BRAZ, Lucia Maria Almeida; TAVARES, Leoberto Costa; LINDOSO, Jose Angelo LaulettaBackground: Three drugs - pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B and pentamidine - are currently used for leishmaniasis treatment. They are administered for long periods, only parenterally, and have high cardiac, renal and hepatic toxicities. Therefore, the investigation of new compounds is required. Nitro-heterocyclic derivatives have been used as possible drug candidates to treat diseases caused by trypanosomatids. Methods: Leishmania (L.) amazonensis promastigotes (MHO/BR/73/M2269), maintained in the Laboratorio de Soroepidemiologia - Instituto de Medicina Tropical-USP, were exposed to five nitroheterocyclic derivatives, with differences at phenyl-ring position 4: BSF-C4H9, BSF-H, BSF-NO2, BSF-CH3 and BSF-Cl, for 48 hours. After analyzing viability (MTT assay), we evaluated cellular-morphology activity of compounds by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and measurement of apoptosis (phosphatidylserine expression) by flow cytometry. Results: EC50 of amphotericin B and BSF-CH3 were 0.50 mu M and 0.39 mu M respective. Other nitro-heterocyclic compounds presented EC50 higher than amphotericin B. All compounds showed greater AV - and PI-positive expression than amphotericin B at 100 mu M, except BSF-NO2. TEM showed complete nuclear disfigurement with 100 mu M of BSF-NO2, 25 and 6.25 mu M of BSF-H, and 6.25 mu M BSF-Cl; presence of vesicles within the flagellar pocket with 25 mu M BSF-H; alteration of the kinetoplast with 25 mu M BSF-C4H9, 25 mu M of BSF-H, 6.25 mu M BSF-CH3 and 6.25 mu M of BSF-Cl. Conclusions: Nitro-heterocyclic compounds have shown activity against promastigotes of L. amazonensis, at lower concentrations. However, improvement of compound scaffolds are needed to assist the elucidation of the mechanism of action and to achieve greater activity.
- Disparity between scientific accomplishment and biotechnology availability in Brazil(2021) BRAZ, Lucia Maria Almeida; TAHMASEBI, Roozbeh; COSTA, Antonio Charlys da; WITKIN, Steven S.Despite being among the world's leaders in scientific output, Brazil ranks 66th among countries in the production of reagents and supplies needed for state-of-the-art scientific analyses. The production of needed reagents and equipment for experimental analyses and patient diagnostics is sorely lacking within Brazil and explicit in this pandemic period caused by SARS-CoV-2. A significant fraction of resources from Brazilian funding agencies is now being transferred to companies in other countries for the purchase of essential scientific-related products. Is this sustainable? Therefore it is necessary to draw the attention of all the world and Brazilian society about this situation
- USEFULNESS OF kDNA PCR IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS REACTIVATION IN CO-INFECTED PATIENTS(2013) NICODEMO, Antonio Carlos; AMATO, Valdir Sabbaga; TUON, Felipe Francisco; SOUZA, Regina Maia de; OKAY, Thelma Suely; ALMEIDA, Lucia MariaIt is important to develop new methods for diagnosing relapses in the co-infection of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and HIV to enable earlier detection using less invasive methods. We report a case of a co-infected patient who had relapses after VL treatment, where the qualitative kDNA PCR showed a good performance. The kDNA PCR seems to be a useful tool for diagnosing VL and may be a good marker for predicting VL relapses after treatment of co-infected patients with clinical symptoms of the disease.
- Tegumentary leishmaniasis diagnosis: what happened with MST (Montenegro Skin Test) in Brazil?(2019) BRAZ, Lucia Maria Almeida
bookPart Protozooses intestinais(2013) GAKIYA, Erika; BRAZ, Lúcia Maria Almeida; SOUZA, Regina Maia de; BEZERRA, Rita Cristina; AMATO NETO, Ruth Semira Rodríguez Alarcón- Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis and leprosy: case report and literature review(2015) TRINDADE, Maria Angela Bianconcini; SILVA, Lana Luiza da Cruz; BRAZ, Lucia Maria Almeida; AMATO, Valdir Sabbaga; NAAFS, Bernard; SOTTO, Mirian NacagamiBackground: Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a dermal complication of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which may occur after or during treatment. It has been frequently reported from India and the Sudan, but its occurrence in South America has been rarely reported. It may mimic leprosy and its differentiation may be difficult, since both diseases may show hypo-pigmented macular lesions as clinical presentation and neural involvement in histopathological investigations. The co-infection of leprosy and VL has been reported in countries where both diseases are endemic. The authors report a co-infection case of leprosy and VL, which evolved into PKDL and discuss the clinical and the pathological aspects in the patient and review the literature on this disease. Case presentation: We report an unusual case of a 53-year-old female patient from Alagoas, Brazil. She presented with leprosy and a necrotizing erythema nodosum, a type II leprosy reaction, about 3 month after finishing the treatment (MDT-MB) for leprosy. She was hospitalized and VL was diagnosed at that time and she was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B. After 6 months, she developed a few hypo-pigmented papules on her forehead. A granulomatous inflammatory infiltrate throughout the dermis was observed at histopathological examination of the skin biopsy. It consisted of epithelioid histiocytes, lymphocytes and plasma cells with the presence of amastigotes of Leishmania in macrophages (Leishman's bodies). The diagnosis of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis was established because at this time there was no hepatosplenomegaly and the bone marrow did not show Leishmania parasites thus excluding VL. About 2 years after the treatment of PKDL with liposomal amphotericin B the patient is still without PKDL lesions. Conclusion: Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis is a rare dermal complication of VL that mimics leprosy and should be considered particularly in countries where both diseases are endemic. A co-infection must be seriously considered, especially in patients who are non-responsive to treatment or develop persistent leprosy reactions as those encountered in the patient reported here.
bookPart Doença de chagas(2013) BRAZ, Lúcia Maria Almeida; AMATO NETO, Vicente