2023
MPL36, a major plasminogen (PLG) receptor in pathogenic Leptospira, has an essential role during infection
Zhu W, Passalia F, Hamond C, Abe C, Ko A, Barbosa A, Wunder E. MPL36, a major plasminogen (PLG) receptor in pathogenic Leptospira, has an essential role during infection. PLOS Pathogens 2023, 19: e1011313. PMID: 37486929, PMCID: PMC10399853, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011313.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOuter membrane proteinsBacterial outer membrane proteinsC-terminal regionSurface-exposed regionsLeptospiral pathogenesisMDCK cell monolayersMembrane proteinsPathogenic LeptospiraImportant virulence factorMutant strainRecombinant proteinsPathogen's abilityVirulence mechanismsLysine residuesKoch's molecular postulatesBinding proteinPlasminogen receptorPathogen disseminationPathogenic spirochetesVirulence factorsProteinBacterial pathogensEssential roleMutantsHost tissuesSimplified sewerage to prevent urban leptospirosis transmission: a cluster non-randomised controlled trial protocol in disadvantaged urban communities of Salvador, Brazil
Cremonese C, Souza F, Palma F, Sodré J, Brito R, dos Santos Ribeiro P, Santana J, Coelho R, Ticona J, Nazaré R, de Oliveira D, Silva C, Eyre M, de Araújo Mendes V, Knee J, Ristow P, Stauber C, López Y, Giorgi E, Diggle P, Reis M, Cumming O, Ko A, Costa F. Simplified sewerage to prevent urban leptospirosis transmission: a cluster non-randomised controlled trial protocol in disadvantaged urban communities of Salvador, Brazil. BMJ Open 2023, 13: e065009. PMID: 37355266, PMCID: PMC10314607, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrazilian Clinical Trials RegistryNon-randomised interventionClinical Trials RegistryNational Research Ethics CommitteeMajor health problemQuasi-experimental study designIntervention-control pairsRoute of exposureSecondary outcomesPrimary outcomeTrials RegistryResearch Ethics CommitteeRisk of exposureSerological measurementsStudy protocolTrial protocolPeer-reviewed publicationsHealth problemsControl clustersAetiological agentInfected rodentsStudy designLeptospirosis transmissionEthics CommitteeUrban slumsBartonella in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the urban slum environment in Brazil
Zeppelini C, Oliveira D, Kosoy M, Reis M, Ko A, Childs J, Costa F. Bartonella in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the urban slum environment in Brazil. Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciências 2023, 95: e20220809. PMID: 37909607, DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220809.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
Leptospira Infection in Rural Areas of Urabá Region, Colombia: A Prospective Study.
Quintero-Vélez J, Rodas J, Rojas C, Ko A, Wunder E. Leptospira Infection in Rural Areas of Urabá Region, Colombia: A Prospective Study. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2022, 107: 1267-1277. PMID: 36375452, PMCID: PMC9768283, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1103.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOutdoor occupationsLeptospira infectionProspective studyRisk factorsMultivariable modelLeptospira seroprevalenceLogistic regression modelsEco-epidemiological aspectsMultinomial logistic regression modelsMultivariable analysisSerologic testingPrimary exposureMale genderMicroscopic agglutinationPresence of ratsOlder ageRural areasLeptospira serogroupsInfectionSeroincidenceLeptospira speciesSeroprevalenceSerogroupsRegression modelsDirt floorsGut microbiome dysbiosis in antibiotic-treated COVID-19 patients is associated with microbial translocation and bacteremia
Bernard-Raichon L, Venzon M, Klein J, Axelrad J, Zhang C, Sullivan A, Hussey G, Casanovas-Massana A, Noval M, Valero-Jimenez A, Gago J, Putzel G, Pironti A, Wilder E, Thorpe L, Littman D, Dittmann M, Stapleford K, Shopsin B, Torres V, Ko A, Iwasaki A, Cadwell K, Schluter J. Gut microbiome dysbiosis in antibiotic-treated COVID-19 patients is associated with microbial translocation and bacteremia. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 5926. PMID: 36319618, PMCID: PMC9626559, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33395-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGut microbiome dysbiosisCOVID-19 patientsMicrobiome dysbiosisSecondary infectionSARS-CoV-2 infection inducesLife-threatening secondary infectionsTranslocation of bacteriaBlood culture resultsCOVID-19 severityAntimicrobial-resistant speciesCOVID-19Different clinical sitesMicrobial translocationBloodstream infectionsInfection inducesBarrier permeabilitySystemic circulationDysbiosisGoblet cellsPaneth cellsClinical sitesCulture resultsPatient healthGut microbiomePatientsMIF is a common genetic determinant of COVID-19 symptomatic infection and severity
Shin JJ, Fan W, Par-Young J, Piecychna M, Leng L, Israni-Winger K, Qing H, Gu J, Zhao H, Schulz WL, Unlu S, Kuster J, Young G, Liu J, Ko AI, Garcia A, Sauler M, Wisnewski AV, Young L, Orduña A, Wang A, Klementina O, Garcia AB, Hegyi P, Armstrong ME, Mitchell P, Ordiz DB, Garami A, Kang I, Bucala R. MIF is a common genetic determinant of COVID-19 symptomatic infection and severity. QJM 2022, 116: 205-212. PMID: 36222594, PMCID: PMC9620729, DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcac234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMacrophage migration inhibitory factorLow-expression MIF alleleCOVID-19 infectionMIF allelesCATT7 alleleHealthy controlsCOVID-19Serum macrophage migration inhibitory factorSymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infectionHigher serum MIF levelsHigh-expression MIF allelesRetrospective case-control studySARS-CoV-2 infectionFunctional polymorphismsAvailable clinical characteristicsMultinational retrospective studySerum MIF levelsUninfected healthy controlsSymptomatic COVID-19Tertiary medical centerHealthy control subjectsCase-control studyMigration inhibitory factorCoronavirus disease 2019Common functional polymorphismsLinking rattiness, geography and environmental degradation to spillover Leptospira infections in marginalised urban settings: An eco-epidemiological community-based cohort study in Brazil
Eyre MT, Souza FN, Carvalho-Pereira T, Nery N, de Oliveira D, Cruz JS, Sacramento GA, Khalil H, Wunder EA, Hacker KP, Hagan JE, Childs JE, Reis MG, Begon M, Diggle PJ, Ko AI, Giorgi E, Costa F. Linking rattiness, geography and environmental degradation to spillover Leptospira infections in marginalised urban settings: An eco-epidemiological community-based cohort study in Brazil. ELife 2022, 11: e73120. PMID: 36111781, PMCID: PMC9560157, DOI: 10.7554/elife.73120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInfection riskSignificant global public health burdenCommunity-based cohort studyGlobal public health burdenPublic health burdenAgents of leptospirosisExposure of interestYears of agePublic health interventionsHigh-risk communitiesJoint spatial modellingZoonotic spilloverCohort studyHuman infection riskMale genderSerological evidenceHealth burdenLeptospira infectionLeptospiral infectionInfection rateHealth interventionsEco-epidemiological studiesHealth surveillanceFundação de Amparo à PesquisaOswaldo Cruz FoundationEvaluation of the impact of chemical control on the ecology of Rattus norvegicus of an urban community in Salvador, Brazil
Pertile A, Lustosa R, Carvalho-Pereira T, Pedra G, Panti-May J, Oliveira U, Zeppelini C, Souza F, Oliveira D, Khalil H, Reis M, Childs J, Ko A, Begon M, Costa F. Evaluation of the impact of chemical control on the ecology of Rattus norvegicus of an urban community in Salvador, Brazil. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0270568. PMID: 35857771, PMCID: PMC9299319, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270568.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRodent control programsDemographic variablesSpirochete Leptospira interrogansControl interventionsCommunity settingsR. norvegicusChi-squareControl of zoonosesLeptospira interrogansChemical interventionDemographic characteristicsInterventionIntervention campaignsRodentsSynanthropic rodentsMonthsBody massControl programsControl practicesRattus norvegicusControl campaignsUrban poor communitiesPopulationEnvironmental transmissionAnalysis of variancePopulation dynamics of synanthropic rodents after a chemical and infrastructural intervention in an urban low-income community
Awoniyi A, Venegas-Vargas C, Souza F, Zeppelini C, Hacker K, Carvalho-Pereira T, Marins C, de Santana M, Pertile A, Begon M, Ko A, Diggle P, Reis M, Childs J, da Silva E, Costa F, Khalil H. Population dynamics of synanthropic rodents after a chemical and infrastructural intervention in an urban low-income community. Scientific Reports 2022, 12: 10109. PMID: 35710879, PMCID: PMC9203450, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14474-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUrban low-income communityLow-income communitiesEffects of interventionsPre-intervention levelsSynanthropic rodentsLong-term effectsRodent infestationInterventionRodent control programsLongitudinal studyCity of SalvadorControl programsActivity/abundanceRodentsPopulationHousehold/Pose risksYearsStudyOmicron-specific mRNA vaccination alone and as a heterologous booster against SARS-CoV-2
Fang Z, Peng L, Filler R, Suzuki K, McNamara A, Lin Q, Renauer PA, Yang L, Menasche B, Sanchez A, Ren P, Xiong Q, Strine M, Clark P, Lin C, Ko AI, Grubaugh ND, Wilen CB, Chen S. Omicron-specific mRNA vaccination alone and as a heterologous booster against SARS-CoV-2. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 3250. PMID: 35668119, PMCID: PMC9169595, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30878-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHeterologous boosterSARS-CoV-2Antibody responseMRNA vaccinesMRNA vaccinationDelta variantOmicron variantType of vaccinationStrong antibody responseMRNA vaccine candidatesVaccine candidatesNeutralization potencyImmune evasionSARS-CoV.Two weeksComparable titersVaccinationVaccineTiters 10MiceOmicronWeeksWA-1LNP-mRNABoosterNo evidence of fetal defects or anti-syncytin-1 antibody induction following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination
Lu-Culligan A, Tabachnikova A, Pérez-Then E, Tokuyama M, Lee HJ, Lucas C, Monteiro V, Miric M, Brache V, Cochon L, Muenker MC, Mohanty S, Huang J, Kang I, Dela Cruz C, Farhadian S, Campbell M, Yildirim I, Shaw AC, Ma S, Vermund SH, Ko AI, Omer SB, Iwasaki A. No evidence of fetal defects or anti-syncytin-1 antibody induction following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. PLOS Biology 2022, 20: e3001506. PMID: 35609110, PMCID: PMC9129011, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001506.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19 mRNA vaccinationMRNA vaccinationEarly pregnancyFetal sizeCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccinationSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Maternal antibody statusAdverse neonatal outcomesSyndrome coronavirus 2Birth defectsPolyinosinic-polycytidylic acidCrown-rump lengthGross birth defectsUnvaccinated adultsMaternal illnessNeonatal outcomesVaccinated adultsAntibody statusTLR3 agonistEarly immunizationMurine pregnancyAntibody inductionCoronavirus 2EVITA Dengue: a cluster-randomized controlled trial to EValuate the efficacy of Wolbachia-InfecTed Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in reducing the incidence of Arboviral infection in Brazil
Collins MH, Potter GE, Hitchings MDT, Butler E, Wiles M, Kennedy JK, Pinto SB, Teixeira ABM, Casanovas-Massana A, Rouphael NG, Deye GA, Simmons CP, Moreira LA, Nogueira ML, Cummings DAT, Ko AI, Teixeira MM, Edupuganti S. EVITA Dengue: a cluster-randomized controlled trial to EValuate the efficacy of Wolbachia-InfecTed Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in reducing the incidence of Arboviral infection in Brazil. Trials 2022, 23: 185. PMID: 35236394, PMCID: PMC8889395, DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-05997-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsArboviral infectionsMajor global health problemHigh-quality evidenceCluster-randomized trialGlobal health problemNational InstituteEfficacy of WolbachiaWorld Mosquito ProgramArbovirus transmissionOngoing trialsLicensed antiviralsAedes aegypti mosquitoesEffective vaccineTrial designMosquito ProgramSerologic surveillanceHealth problemsHuman infectionsAedes aegyptiInfectionEpidemiologic outcomesVector control activitiesTrialsAegypti mosquitoesAedes mosquitoes
2021
Effect of Sewerage on the Contamination of Soil with Pathogenic Leptospira in Urban Slums
Casanovas-Massana A, Souza F, Curry M, de Oliveira D, de Oliveira AS, Eyre MT, Santiago D, Santos M, Serra RMR, Lopes E, Xavier BI, Diggle PJ, Wunder EA, Reis MG, Ko AI, Costa F. Effect of Sewerage on the Contamination of Soil with Pathogenic Leptospira in Urban Slums. Environmental Science And Technology 2021, 55: 15882-15890. PMID: 34767339, PMCID: PMC9302045, DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04916.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGenetic Evidence for a Potential Environmental Pathway to Spillover Infection of Rat-Borne Leptospirosis
Casanovas-Massana A, de Oliveira D, Schneider AG, Begon M, Childs JE, Costa F, Reis MG, Ko AI, Wunder EA. Genetic Evidence for a Potential Environmental Pathway to Spillover Infection of Rat-Borne Leptospirosis. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2021, 225: 130-134. PMID: 34139761, PMCID: PMC8730487, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab323.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPotential environmental pathwaysEnvironmental reservoirsSpillover infectionsEnvironmental pathwaysHuman leptospirosis casesSevere leptospirosisLeptospirosis infectionLeptospirosis casesMolecular epidemiologyGenetic evidencePathogenic LeptospiraLeptospira interrogansInfectionLeptospirosisUrban slumsSpillover pathwaysRat specimensReservoirPathwayUrban communitiesCommunityEpidemiologyDiverse functional autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19
Wang EY, Mao T, Klein J, Dai Y, Huck JD, Jaycox JR, Liu F, Zhou T, Israelow B, Wong P, Coppi A, Lucas C, Silva J, Oh JE, Song E, Perotti ES, Zheng NS, Fischer S, Campbell M, Fournier JB, Wyllie AL, Vogels CBF, Ott IM, Kalinich CC, Petrone ME, Watkins AE, Dela Cruz C, Farhadian S, Schulz W, Ma S, Grubaugh N, Ko A, Iwasaki A, Ring A. Diverse functional autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19. Nature 2021, 595: 283-288. PMID: 34010947, DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03631-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPeripheral immune cell compositionSARS-CoV-2 infectionCOVID-19Effects of autoantibodiesTissue-associated antigensSpecific clinical characteristicsInnate immune activationImmune cell compositionCOVID-19 exhibitCOVID-19 manifestsAnalysis of autoantibodiesSARS-CoV-2Functional autoantibodiesMouse surrogateClinical characteristicsVirological controlClinical outcomesImmune activationMild diseaseAsymptomatic infectionAutoantibody reactivityDisease progressionHealthcare workersHigh prevalenceAutoantibodiesAngiostrongylus cantonensis in urban populations of terrestrial gastropods and rats in an impoverished region of Brazil.
Souza F, Aguiar Santos M, Almeida Alves D, Cecília Vieira de Melo L, Jessé Gonçalves da Mota D, Cristina Pertile A, Gava R, Luiz Silva Pinto P, Eyre M, Graco Zeppelini C, Reis M, Ko A, Begon M, Bahiense T, Costa F, Carvalho-Pereira T. Angiostrongylus cantonensis in urban populations of terrestrial gastropods and rats in an impoverished region of Brazil. Parasitology 2021, 148: 994-1002. PMID: 33843507, PMCID: PMC11010192, DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000597.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHousehold rat infestation in urban slum populations: Development and validation of a predictive score for leptospirosis
Costa F, Zeppelini CG, Ribeiro GS, Santos N, Reis RB, Martins RD, Bittencourt D, Santana C, Brant J, Reis MG, Ko AI. Household rat infestation in urban slum populations: Development and validation of a predictive score for leptospirosis. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021, 15: e0009154. PMID: 33657101, PMCID: PMC7959339, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009154.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchA live attenuated-vaccine model confers cross-protective immunity against different species of the Leptospira genus
Wunder EA, Adhikarla H, Hamond C, Bonner K, Liang L, Rodrigues CB, Bisht V, Nally JE, Alt DP, Reis MG, Diggle PJ, Felgner PL, Ko A. A live attenuated-vaccine model confers cross-protective immunity against different species of the Leptospira genus. ELife 2021, 10: e64166. PMID: 33496263, PMCID: PMC7837694, DOI: 10.7554/elife.64166.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCross-protective immunityPathogenic Leptospira speciesTerms of morbidityLeptospira speciesTransient bacteremiaSingle doseAntibody responseImmune responseApplicable vaccinesVaccine candidatesAnimal modelsEffective preventionAttenuated mutantsZoonotic diseaseLeptospira genusPotential correlatesDisease transmissionDiseaseLeptospirosisImmunityBacteremiaMorbidityImmunizationVaccineRelevant proteinsKnowledge, Attitude, and Practices regarding Leptospirosis among Visitors to a Recreational Forest in Malaysia
Shafie NJ, Halim N, Zalipah M, Amin N, Esa S, Md-Nor S, Casanovas-Massana A, Ko AI, Palma F, Souza F, Costa F. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices regarding Leptospirosis among Visitors to a Recreational Forest in Malaysia. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2021, 104: 1290-1296. PMID: 33534768, PMCID: PMC8045624, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0306.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHigh-risk groupPractice scoresWorldwide public health problemCross-sectional studyPublic health problemHigher practice scoresHigher knowledge scoresAppropriate prevention programsGood practice habitsHigh riskHealth problemsKnowledge scorePrevention programsPractice habitsLeptospirosisMajority of respondentsLeptospirosis transmissionMajor causeDiseaseTransmission routesZoonotic diseaseHigher knowledgePotential outbreaksScoresFinal model
2020
Seroepidemiology of Leptospira infection in slaughtered cattle in Gauteng province, South Africa
Dogonyaro BB, van Heerden H, Potts AD, Kolo BF, Lotter C, Katsande C, Fasina FO, Ko AI, Wunder EA, Adesiyun AA. Seroepidemiology of Leptospira infection in slaughtered cattle in Gauteng province, South Africa. Tropical Animal Health And Production 2020, 52: 3789-3798. PMID: 33009586, PMCID: PMC10407966, DOI: 10.1007/s11250-020-02417-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSeroprevalence of leptospirosisMicroscopic agglutination testRisk factorsCattle populationSeropositive cattleSerogroup SejroeSouth AfricaCattleCross-sectional studyLeptospira sppPublic health importancePredominant serogroupVaccine serogroupsAbattoirLivestockLeptospira infectionGauteng ProvinceCutoff titerBlood samplesLeptospirosisSejroeDemographic dataHealth importanceAgglutination testSeroprevalence