A5103014889- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Malaria Research and Control
- Cardiac Structural Anomalies and Repair
- Cardiac Valve Diseases and Treatments
- Congenital Heart Disease Studies
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Hepatitis C virus research
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices
- Heart Failure Treatment and Management
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Vascular Tumors and Angiosarcomas
- Cardiac pacing and defibrillation studies
- Aortic Disease and Treatment Approaches
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Research
University of Georgia
2019-2025
Universidad del Valle de Guatemala
2013-2024
Hospital General Universitario De Valencia
2019
Influenza virus pandemics and seasonal epidemics have claimed countless lives. Recurrent zoonotic spillovers of influenza viruses with pandemic potential underscore the need for effective countermeasures. In this study, we show that pre-exposure prophylaxis broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) MEDI8852 is highly in protecting cynomolgus macaques from severe disease caused by aerosolized pathogenic avian H5N1 infection. Protection was dose–dependent yet independent Fc-mediated effector...
Imported malaria threatens control and elimination efforts in countries that have low rates of transmission. In 2010, an outbreak Plasmodium falciparum was reported among United Nations peacekeeping soldiers from Guatemala who had recently returned the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC). Epidemiologic evidence suggested were infected DRC, but local transmission could not be ruled out all cases. We used population genetic analyses neutral microsatellites to determine source. Genetic relatedness...
Background. We compared the prognostic value of liver biopsy (LB) and FIB-4 index in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C (HCV) coinfection.
Abstract The greatest diversity of influenza A virus (IAV) is found in wild aquatic birds the orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes. In these birds, IAV replication occurs mostly intestinal tract. Fecal, cloacal, and/or tracheal swabs are typically collected tested by real‐time RT‐PCR (rRT‐PCR) isolation embryonated chicken eggs order to determine presence IAV. Virus may impose bottlenecks that select variant populations different from those circulating nature, such result artifactual...
Wild aquatic birds are considered the natural hosts of 16 HA (H1-H16) and 9 NA (N1-N9) subtypes influenza A viruses (FLUAV) found in different combinations. H14 FLUAVs rarely detected nature. Since 2011, have been consistently Guatemala, leading to largest collection this subtype from a single country. All Guatemala were blue-winged teal samples. In report, 17 new full-length FLUAV genome sequences 2014 until 2019 analyzed compared all published sequences, including North America, Eurasia....
Waterfowl species are known to harbor the greatest diversity of low pathogenicity influenza A virus (LPAIV) subtypes and recognized as their main natural reservoir. In Guatemala there is evidence circulation LPAIV in wild ducks; however, bird contributing viral during winter migration Central America unknown. this study, samples obtained from 1250 hunter-killed birds 22 different were collected on Pacific coast three seasons between 2010 2013. Prevalence detected by real-time...
Malaria elimination is being pursued in five of seven Central American countries. Military personnel returning from peacekeeping missions sub-Saharan Africa could import chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, posing a threat to and the continued efficacy first-line chloroquine (CQ) treatment these This report describes importation P. falciparum among 150 Guatemalan army special forces support staff who spent ten months on United Nations' mission Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) 2010....
Plasmodium vivax is the most widely distributed human parasite and main cause of malaria outside African continent. However, knowledge about genetic variability P. limited when compared to information available for falciparum. We present results a study aimed at characterizing structure populations obtained from pregnant women different endemic settings. Between June 2008 October 2011 nearly 2000 were recruited during routine antenatal care each site followed up until delivery. A capillary...
Guatemala is the country with largest swine production in Central America; however, evidence of influenza A virus (IAV) pigs has not been clearly delineated.In this study, we analyzed presence and spatial distribution IAV commercial backyard populations.Samples from two nationwide surveys conducted 2010 2011 were tested using virological (rRT-PCR isolation) serological (ELISA hemagglutination inhibition) assays to detect IAV.Influenza was detected 15.7% sampled (30.6% herds) 11.7% (24.2%...
The effects of antiretroviral drugs on the response to pegylated interferon plus ribavirin remain uncertain. We evaluated whether affected in patients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV). conducted a retrospective analysis two cohorts HIV/HCV-co-infected treated between 2001 2007 Spain. outcome measure was sustained virological (SVR). Logistic regression models were used test possible associations non-response pre-treatment characteristics, including accompanying drugs. study...
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 viruses cause high mortality in humans and have pandemic potential. Effective vaccines treatments against this threat are urgently needed. Here, we refined our previously established model of lethal infection cynomolgus macaques. An inhaled aerosol virus dose 5.1 log
Swine influenza is a respiratory disease that affects the pork industry and public health threat. It caused by type A virus (FLUAV), which continuously undergoes genetic antigenic variations. large amount of information regarding FLUAV in pigs available worldwide, but it limited Latin America. The HA sequences H1 subtype FLUAV-positive samples obtained from Colombia between 2008–2021 were analyzed using sequence-based cartography N-Glycosylation analyses. Of 12 predicted global groups,...
Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic H7N3, H5Nx, and H7N8 avian influenza viruses in North America were introduced by migratory birds, underscoring the importance understanding how wild birds contribute to dissemination evolution IAVs nature. At least four main IAV duck host species migrate through or overwinter within a narrow strip Central America, providing opportunities for diverse lineages mix exchange gene segments. By obtaining whole-genome sequences 68 isolates collected from...
The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS2) affected the geriatric population. Among research models, Golden Syrian hamsters (GSH) are one most representative to study SARS2 pathogenesis and host responses. However, animal studies that recapitulate effects in human population lacking. To address this gap, we inoculated 14 months old GSH with a prototypic ancestral strain studied on virus pathogenesis, shedding, gastrointestinal microbiome changes. infection led...
Abstract Background The SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. To better understand evolution of early in pandemic Province Cordoba, Argentina, we performed a comparative genomic analysis strains detected survivors and non-survivors COVID-19. We also carried out an epidemiological study to find possible association between symptoms comorbidities these patients with their clinical outcomes. Results A representative sampling was different cities Cordoba. Ten nine complete...
Abstract Avian influenza poses a severe threat to poultry production and global food security, prompting the development of vaccination programs in numerous countries. Modified live virus (MLV) vaccines, with their potential for mass application, offer distinct advantage over existing options. However, concerns surrounding reversion, recombination, unintended transmission have hindered progress MLV avian poultry. To address these concerns, we engineered reassortment-impaired,...
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomic surveillance is crucial for understanding viral evolution and guiding public health responses. However, many countries, particularly in Central America, have limited sequencing capacity, resulting scarce delayed data. This study addresses this gap by analyzing 320 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced from a major diagnostic center Guatemala City, Guatemala, between April August 2021. Clade 21J (Delta) was predominant (46.2%),...
Abstract The main targets for neutralizing anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (HCV-nAbs) are the E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins. We have studied characteristics of HCV-nAbs through a retrospective study involving 29 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) with peg-IFNα + ribavirin anti-HCV therapy. Plasma samples at baseline week 24 after SVR were used to perform neutralization assays against five JFH1-based HCV recombinant viruses coding from...
Information on Influenza A virus (IAV) prevalence in shorebird populations Guatemala is scarce, and no live captures of shorebirds have been made for this purpose. The only reported case corresponded to a harvested individual. To update obtain information IAV shorebirds, transversal study was the South Coast Guatemala. main objective evaluate presence among migratory stopover areas country. Captures sampling took place three sites during migration (October–April) over periods (2016–2017,...
Abstract Due to their documented epidemiological relevance as hosts for influenza A viruses (IAV), humans, poultry and pigs in backyard production systems (BPS) within wetlands could be key the emergence of novel IAV variants able transmit between humans or animals. To better understand circulation at human–animal interface BPS wetlands, we studied duck flocks pig herds Pacific Coast Guatemala. From April 2013 October 2014, estimated monthly per cent seropositive viral positive two...
Abstract The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS2) affected the geriatric population. Among research models, Golden Syrian hamsters (GSH) are one most representative to study SARS2 pathogenesis and host responses. However, animal studies that recapitulate effects in human population lacking. To address this gap, we inoculated 14 months old GSH (resembling people over 60 years old) with a prototypic ancestral strain studied on virus pathogenesis, shedding,...
Commercial swine farms provide unique systems for interspecies transmission of influenza A viruses (FLUAVs) at the animal-human interface. Bidirectional FLUAVs between pigs and humans plays a significant role in generation novel strains that become established new host population. Active FLUAV surveillance was conducted 2 years on commercial pig farm Southern Guatemala with no history vaccination. Nasal swabs (n = 2,094) from fattening (6 to 24 weeks old) respiratory signs were collected...