A5090114715- Viral Infections and Vectors
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- HIV Research and Treatment
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Sex work and related issues
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Malaria Research and Control
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Migration, Health and Trauma
- Intimate Partner and Family Violence
Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud
2016-2025
Universidad de Panamá
2014-2024
Migrant Clinicians Network
2022
University of Colorado Hospital
2022
University of Colorado Denver
2022
Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación
2021
Fundación Valle del Lili
2021
Imperial College London
2021
Hospital for Tropical Diseases
2021
University of Oxford
2021
Dengue virus is one of the most important arboviral pathogens and causative agent dengue fever, hemorrhagic shock syndrome. It transmitted between humans by mosquitoes Aedes aegypti albopictus, at least 2.5 billion people are daily risk infection. During their lifecycle, exposed to a variety microbes, some which needed for successful development into adulthood. However, recent studies have suggested that adult mosquito's midgut microflora critical in influencing transmission human pathogens....
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases have become a major global environmental problem with important public health, economic, political consequences. The etiologic agents of most emerging are zoonotic, anthropogenic changes that affect wildlife communities increasingly implicated in disease emergence spread. Although increased incidence has been correlated biodiversity loss for several zoonoses, experimental tests these systems lacking. We manipulated small-mammal by removing...
Worldwide G-glycoprotein phylogeny of human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) group A sequences revealed diversification in major clades and genotypes over more than 50 years recorded history. Multiple cocirculated during prolonged periods time, but recent dominance the GA2 genotype was noticed several studies, it is highlighted here with from viruses circulating recently Spain Panama. Reactivity monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognize strain-variable epitopes G glycoprotein failed to...
Background Paromomycin-based topical treatments were shown to be effective in curing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions caused by Leishmania major Tunisia. Cure rates of an index lesion approximately 80%. As a follow on, we conducted similar Phase 3 trial Panama demonstrate the efficacy these against New World species. The primary objective was determine if combination cream (paromomycin-gentamicin) resulted statistically superior final clinical cure compared paromomycin alone for...
The recently enriched genomic history of Indigenous groups in the Americas is still meager concerning continental Central America. Here, we report ten pre-Hispanic (plus two early colonial) genomes and 84 genome-wide profiles from seven presently living Panama. Our analyses reveal that demographic events contributed to extensive genetic structure currently seen area, which also characterized by a distinctive Isthmo-Colombian component. This component drives these populations on specific...
Abstract Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) regions were an important epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic SARS-CoV-2 evolution. Through Genomic Surveillance Regional Network (COVIGEN), LAC countries produced number genomic sequencing data that made possible enhanced surveillance capacity in Americas, paving way for characterization emerging variants helping to guide public health response. In this study we analyzed approximately 300,000 sequences generated between February 2020 March 2022 by...
Habitat fragmentation and diversity loss due to increased conversion of natural habitats agricultural uses influence the distribution abundance wildlife species thus may change ecology pathogen transmission. We used hantaviruses in Panama as a research model determine whether anthropogenic environmental is associated with changes dynamics viral Specifically, we wanted hantavirus infection was correlated spatial attributes landscape at both large small scales or these are mediated by...
The dengue virus (DENV) is endemic in most tropical regions of Central and South America. It known that when the number mosquito vectors ( Aedes aegypti albopictus) for this disease becomes abundant, infectious cases increases. DENV has been to be continuously circulating Panama since 1993, with an increasing reported recent years after COVID-19 pandemic, as well other vector-borne diseases. Preventing outbreaks by having early detection system utmost importance. To tackle task, we propose...
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of viral genomic surveillance, prompting numerous countries to enhance their monitoring systems for acute respiratory infections (ARIs), especially influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). Given significance asymptomatic cases in severe syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, often undetected by ILI a more comprehensive approach was essential track circulation SARS-CoV-2 variants population. In response, many swiftly adopted wastewater...
<title>Abstract</title> Mosquito-borne viruses pose a significant, global threat to human and animal health. Traditionally, arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) surveillance has been retroactive following an outbreak, which limits the ability predict prevent outbreaks. We implemented proactive arboviral framework in Panama between 2011 2024, combining human, virological, entomological, ecological, genomic surveillance. screened 599 rodents, 14,586 mosquitoes, 398 humans with febrile disease,...
Progress with the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) has been hampered by inconsistent methodologies used to assess effects. A sizable number trials conducted over years generated only weak evidence backing current recommendations, as shown systematic reviews on old-world and new-world CL (OWCL NWCL).Using a previously published guidance paper trial methodology reference, consensus was sought key parameters including core eligibility outcome measures, among OWCL (7 countries, 10...
Antiretroviral therapies have proved life-saving in HIV infection, dramatically reducing morbidity and mortality.With longer survival, morbidities mortalities infection are increasingly similar to the associated with ageing.In treated risk of these is linked immune activation, inflammation coagulation indices.And persons failure restore circulating CD4 T cell numbers a greater as well heightened levels coagulation.The drivers incompletely defined could be related sustained low viral...
Abstract We report an epidemiologic analysis of 4,210 cases infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and genetic 313 new near-complete virus genomes in Panama during March 9–April 16, 2020. Although containment measures reduced R0 Rt, they did not interrupt spread the country.
American tegumentary leishmaniasis is an increasing public health problem in Panama. This study describes the clinical characteristics and molecular epidemiology of Panama over a 5-year period (2004–2008). Additionally, we applied polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)–based assay to identify Leishmania species isolates, skin scrapings, sandflies specimens. Whereas 60.3% cases were detected with conventional parasitologic techniques (smear or vitro...
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne infection caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. We report cluster of fatal cases RMSF in 2007 Panama, involving pregnant woman and two children from the same family. The presented with followed respiratory distress, maculopapular rash, an eschar at site which tick had been removed. She died four days after disease onset. This second published patient confirmed PCR to be infected R. One month later, within one another rash three diagnosis was...
The Isthmus of Panama–the narrow neck land connecting the northern and southern American landmasses–was an obligatory corridor for Paleo-Indians as they moved into South America. Archaeological evidence suggests unbroken link between modern natives their Paleo-Indian ancestors in some areas Panama, even if surviving indigenous groups account only 12.3% total population. To evaluate Panamanians have retained a larger fraction native pre-Columbian gene pool maternally-inherited mitochondrial...
Members of the genera Alphavirus (family Togaviridae) and Flavivirus Flaviridae) are important zoonotic human equine etiologic agents neurologic diseases in New World. In 2010, an outbreak Madariaga virus (MADV; formerly eastern encephalitis virus) Venezuelan (VEEV) infections was reported Panamá. We further characterized epidemiology by studying household contacts confirmed cases with neurological disease signs. Serum samples were screened using a hemagglutination inhibition test, results...
The first outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in Central America was documented on the Azuero peninsula Panama late 1999 and 2000. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction evidence implicated only Choclo virus symptomatic HPS with a mortality rate 20%, although two rodent-borne hantaviruses (Choclo Calabazo virus) were identified peridomestic habitat. Neighborhood serosurveys around case households found seroprevalence rates as high 30%, highest Americas except for western...
<i>Background:</i> The first cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) in Panama were notified the 1980s and it was considered a low-risk region for this disease. Between 2000 2005, prevalence study conducted to characterize MS Panama. <i>Methods:</i> An instrument developed gather information from clinical files interviews with previous informed consent. diagnosis confirmed by neurologists applying Poser McDonald criteria as per inclusion period. <i>Results:</i>...
There is scant information on sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence and risk factors among Latin American indigenous populations. We investigated STI adolescents of the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé region Panama.A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted school-going aged 14 to 19 years. Eligible consenting participants self-completed a questionnaire provided blood urine samples. Female additional self-administered genital swabs. Seroprevalences human immunodeficiency virus...
Objective To describe reported changes in sexual behaviours, including virtual sex (sexting and cybersex), access to HIV/STI testing care during COVID-19 measures Panama. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional survey from 8 August 12 September 2020 among adults (≥18 years) residing Participants were recruited through social media. Questions included demographics, HIV care, behaviours 3 months before distancing (COVID-19 measures). Logistic regression was used identify associations...
Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), which is caused by infection with Choclo virus, uncommon in Panama, yet seropositivity among rural residents as high 60%. To clarify the environmental risk factors favoring rodent-to-human transmission, we tested serum from 3,067 rodents captured over a five-year period for antibodies against recombinant N protein of hantavirus enzyme immunoassay and strip immunoblot. Among 220 seropositive rodents, Oligoryzomys fulvescens, reservoir had highest...
Abstract Choclo virus (CHOV) was described in sigmodontine rodents, Oligoryzomys fulvescens , and humans during an outbreak of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) 1999–2000 western Panama. Although HCPS is rare, hantavirus‐specific serum antibody prevalence among the general population high suggesting that CHOV may cause many mild or asymptomatic infections. The goals this study were to confirm role frequently detected establish phylogenetic relationship with other New World...