Instituto Adolfo Lutz

Pregnant individuals were prioritised for COVID-19 research due to concerns about increased susceptibility and limited clinical trial data. This narrative review synthesises evidence on maternal infection, immunological adaptations, placental susceptibility, and antibody transfer following maternal SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Symptomatic COVID-19 during pregnancy increases risks of severe outcomes, whereas vertical transmission remains rare. Placental pathology is characterised mainly by maternal vascular malperfusion and inflammation, with limited evidence of direct viral infection. Maternal vaccination-particularly with mRNA vaccines-induces robust IgG responses with efficient transplacental and lactational transfer, conferring passive neonatal protection. Key uncertainties include optimal vaccine timing, durability of neonatal immunity, and variant-specific responses. Strengthening standardised research and ensuring inclusion of pregnant individuals is essential for global maternal health policy.

Soil compaction commonly occurs as compacted layers with reduced permeability, which can significantly affect water flow and retention throughout the soil profile, shortening drainage time and altering soil penetration resistance. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of a compacted layer on soil water flow and penetration resistance using numerical modeling based on Richards’ equation implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics. A two-dimensional problem representing a soil profile was constructed with and without the presence of a compacted layer. The effect of compaction was examined by systematically increasing both the thickness of the compacted layer and the degree of compaction. Model parameterization was based on literature data for a clayey soil, including soil water retention curves, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and parameters describing soil penetration resistance. These parameters were used to numerically solve Richards’ equation for drainage from saturated conditions and to assess the influence of compacted layers on the temporal evolution of penetration resistance as a function of drainage time up to 10 days free drainage. The results showed that the presence of a compacted layer caused only minor changes in matric potential along the soil profile over time. The dominant factor controlling changes in penetration resistance in the simulations was the degree of compaction itself, as the lower permeability of more compacted layers promoted greater water retention in their vicinity, thereby alleviating soil penetration resistance. In conclusion, numerical simulations showed that compacted layers induced only minor changes in soil matric potential during drainage for actual compaction degree conditions. The degree of compaction was the primary factor controlling the temporal evolution of soil penetration resistance, outweighing the effect of layer thickness. Lower permeability in highly compacted layers promoted greater local water retention, which mitigated increases in penetration resistance over time. The scenario examined in this study should be extended to soils with varying textures and permeability in order to assess the broader applicability of these conclusions.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) have been disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. The HIV treatment cascade is an important clinical monitoring strategy that involves the number of MSM living with HIV in health services. This study aimed to analyze the HIV treatment cascade in the MSM population in Brazil and to identify factors associated with different cascade stages. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 Brazilian capitals and included 4,176 MSM recruited through respondent-driven sampling in 2016. Factors associated with each stage of the HIV treatment cascade (outcomes), i.e., HIV diagnosis, use of antiretroviral therapy, and achievement of undetectable viral load, were identified via logistic regression. Approximately 18.3% (95% CI: 15.4–21.7) of the MSM were diagnosed with HIV at the time of the survey. Among those living with HIV, only 55.5% (95% CI: 46.2–64.4) had previous knowledge of their serologic status, and 98.4% (95% CI: 96.3–99.3) of those aware of their status used antiretroviral therapy. Among those reporting using antiretroviral therapy, 80.0% (95% CI: 64.8–89.7) had a suppressed viral load, whereas 79.4% (95% CI: 64.4–89.2) had an undetectable viral load. Age > 25 years, having completed high school or higher, having a previous diagnosis of another sexually transmitted infection, and not being identified as bisexual were positively associated with all outcomes. Once enrolled in HIV treatment programs, most MSM achieve viral suppression. The challenge for HIV control is that fully half of our sample or men who tested positive did not know their HIV status. Regardless of the reason for this lack of testing, Brazil faces a continuing HIV epidemic.

Candidozyma auris has high rates of resistance to antifungals and hospital disinfectants. This yeast remains on surfaces for long periods, favoring the colonization of patients. Similarly Candida species, it produces persistent biofilms, which contribute to invasive infections, resulting in high mortality rates. In the search for new therapeutic alternatives of antifungal action, natural products have been widely studied due to their pharmacological potential and diverse biological activities. Eugenol and cinnamaldehyde are derived from the essential oils of cinnamon and clove, respectively, and have shown action against several microorganisms, including Candida species. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of the natural products eugenol and cinnamaldehyde on clinical isolates of C. auris. Both products showed inhibitory action on planktonic form. Biofilm biomass was considerably reduced for most of the evaluated isolates. On the other hand, during the treatment period, the metabolic activity of most isolates increased, compared to control, possibly due to the heteroresistance phenomenon; however, further studies are still needed to support this hypothesis.

ABSTRACTBackgroundTyping Aspergillus species is crucial for understanding the sources of infection in hospital environments.ObjectivesThis study analysed clinical and air samples as well as their relationship with the clinical forms of aspergillosis. Additionally, we examined the usefulness of the Short Tandem Repeats (STR) technique with two highly discriminatory markers for analysing the Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) profile.Patients/MethodsSeventy‐five air samples (September 2013–July 2014) and 116 clinical samples (2009–2014) were collected in a university hospital. Seventy‐two samples were typed by STR with two markers, MC3 and MC5.ResultsOf the 75 air samples collected, 10 were positive in the Bone Marrow Transplant unit, a ventilated unit with HEPA filters as were 18 in the Haematology ward, a naturally ventilated unit. Of the 116 clinical samples of Aspergillus spp., 95 were identified as A. fumigatus. High diversity was found, with 42 genotypes in 67 clinical samples and four in five environmental samples. Most isolates were collected during the demolition and renovation of the Emergency unit in the Hospital from 2013 to 2014. Genotype 1 was found in several units during different years. Despite the heterogeneity, identical genotypes were observed three times at short intervals in the same or different wards. Some of these identical genotypes were confirmed as possible clones by genome sequencing while others' genotyping matches failed to be confirmed.ConclusionDespite the diversity of clinical and environmental samples, useful correlations can be established in invasive aspergillosis surveillance programs by using this simple STR method as a preliminary step.

ABSTRACTIR3535 is a synthetic active ingredient widely recognized for its efficacy in topical insect repellent formulations. Among commonly used repellent actives, it is distinguished by its favorable toxicological profile, making it suitable for use in children from 6 months of age. Ensuring the quality of insect repellents is a critical regulatory practice that directly contributes to public health protection. This study presents the development and validation of a novel, rapid 2.8‐min retention time, and robust high‐performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detection (HPLC‐DAD) for the quantification of IR3535 followed by its application to the analysis of six commercial topical formulations. The method was validated in accordance with ICH Q2(R2) guidelines, demonstrating excellent linearity (R2 = 0.996), precision (RSD < 2%), recovery range (98.2%–101.4%), selectivity, low limits of quantification (0.01 mg/mL) and detection (0.003 mg/mL), as well as robustness. This analytical tool enables reliable monitoring of IR3535 content, ensuring product safety, efficacy, and ANVISA compliance. Only 2 out of 6 commercial products analyzed met specifications for IR3535 content. These findings underscore the importance of implementing rigorous quality control practices to ensure regulatory adherence and to protect consumer health and rights.

Abstract HIV-1 proviral DNA is a critical marker for the early diagnosis of vertical transmission, especially when viral load RNA is suppressed by antiretrovirals. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of a qualitative qPCR to detect HIV-1 proviral DNA. Using the TaqMan system, the assay targets the Integrase (IN), Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) regions of HIV-1, and the CCR5 gene as an internal control. To improve sensitivity, a Nested qPCR step was implemented. ACH-2 cells were used to construct a standard curve and standardize the assays. The assessment of the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of qPCR was carried out on 125 clinical samples, with the performance of Nested qPCR evaluated on 47/125 clinical samples. qPCR had a detection limit of 40 copies/reaction of HIV-1 proviral DNA, a sensitivity of 85.3%, and a specificity of 100%. Nested qPCR increased sensitivity to 30 copies/reaction. The assays proved to be effective in detecting HIV-1 proviral DNA, identifying a variety of subtypes and CRFs of the virus circulating in Brazil, and applicable to a variety of cases, including those with suppressed plasma viremia.

Crotoxin (CTX), the main toxin in Crotalus durissus terrificus venom, is a heterodimeric complex known for its antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. In macrophages, CTX stimulates energy metabolism, pro-inflammatory cytokines, superoxide production, and lipoxin A4 secretion while inhibiting macrophage spreading and phagocytosis. These effects are completely blocked by Boc-2, a selective formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) antagonist. Despite the correlation between FPRs and CTX-mediated effects, their involvement in mediating CTX entry into macrophages remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of FPRs in CTX entry into monocytes and macrophages. For this, THP-1 cells were silenced for FPRs or treated with Boc-2. Results demonstrated that FPR-related signaling pathways, which influence macrophage functions such as ROS release, phagocytosis, and spreading, were reduced in FPR-silenced cells. However, even in the absence of FPRs, CTX was efficiently internalized by macrophages. These findings suggest that FPRs are essential for the immunomodulatory effects of CTX, but are not involved in CTX internalization.