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Background and Purpose: Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax are responsible for most malaria cases in humans in the African Region and the Americas; these parasites have developed resistance to classic antimalarial drugs. On the other hand, previous investigations of the alkyl-linked bis tetrahydro-(2H)-1,3,5-thiadiazine-2-thione (bis-THTT) derivatives compounds show satisfactory results against protozoan parasites such as Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma vaginalis, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Leishmania donovani. Therefore, it is possible to see some effect of bis-THTT derivatives on other protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium. Experimental Approach: This study aimed to perform an in vivo biological evaluation of bis-THTT (JH1 to JH6) derivatives compounds as possible anti-malaria drugs in BALB/c mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and Plasmodium yoelii 17XL strains. In this work, we evaluated the compounds as potential antimalarial drugs in BALB/c mice infected with Plasmodium strains. Key Results: For each compound, we assess the percentages of parasitemia by smears from tail blood and the humoral response by indirect ELISA test using each compound as an antigen. We also evaluated the B lymphocyte response and the cytotoxicity of the bis-THTT derivatives compounds with MTT cell proliferation assays. Conclusions: Our results show that the bis-THTT derivatives JH2 and JH4 presented effective parasitemia control in mice infected with P. berghei; JH5 and JH6 compounds have similar infection control results as chloroquine in mice infected P. yoelii strain. The evaluation of bis-THTT derivatives compounds in a model of BALB/c mice infected with P. berghei and P. yoelii allowed us to conclude that some of them have an antimalarial effect; however, none of the tested compounds exceeded the efficiency of chloroquine.
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RESUMEN Introducción: el coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, causante de la enfermedad COVID-19 se ha convertido en un problema de salud pública mundial que requiere la implemen-tación de pruebas de diagnóstico rápidas y sensibles. Objetivo: evaluar y comparar el límite de detección del método LAMP con respecto al método estándar y aplicar el método RT-LAMP para el diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2 en muestras clínicas de pacientes colombianos. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo y transversal, analizando un total de 25 muestras de hisopado nasofaríngeo incluyendo muestras negativas y positivas para SARS-CoV-2, a través del método RT-LAMP comparado con el método estándar RT-qPCR. Resultados: el método LAMP detectó ~18 copias del gen N, en 30 min, demostrando un límite de detección similar al obtenido con el método estándar, en un menor tiempo y una concordancia en RT-LAMP del 100 % con los resultados. Conclusiones: RT-LAMP es un método sensible, específico y rápido que puede ser empleado para el diagnóstico de la enfermedad COVID-19.
SUMMARY Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, that causes the COVID-19 disease, has become a global public health problem that requires the implementation of rapid and sensitive diagnostic tests. Aim: To evaluate and compare the sensitivity of LAMP assay to a standard method and use RT-LAMP for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples from Colombian patients. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 25 nasopharyngeal swab samples including negative and positive samples for SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed, through the RT-LAMP method compared to the RT-qPCR assay. Results: LAMP method detected ~18 copies of the N gene, in 30 min, evidenced a detection limit similar to the standard method, in a shorter time and a concordance in RT-LAMP of 100% with the results. Conclusions: RT-LAMP is a sensitive, specific, and rapid method that can be used as a diagnostic aid of COVID-19 disease.
RESUMO Introdução: o coronavírus SARS-CoV-2, causador da doença de COVID-19, tornou-se um problema de saúde pública global que requer a implementação de testes diagnósticos rápidos e sensíveis. Objetivo: avaliar e comparar o limite de detecção do método LAMP em relação ao método padrão e aplicar o método RT-LAMP para o diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2 em amostras clínicas de pacientes colombianos. Métodos: foi realizado um estudo descritivo e transversal, analisando um total de 25 amostras de hissopado nasofaríngeo, incluindo amostras negativas e positivas para SARS-CoV-2, pelo método RT-LAMP em comparação ao método RT-qPCR padrão. Resultados: o método LAMP detectou ~18 cópias do gene N, em 30 min., demonstrando um limite de detecção semelhante ao obtido com o método padrão, em um tempo menor e uma concordância no RT-LAMP de 100% com os resultados. Conclusões: RT-LAMP é um método sensível, específico e rápido que pode ser usado para o diagnóstico da doença de COVID-19.
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Malaria is a deadly disease that takes the lives of more than 420,000 people a year and is responsible for more than 229 million clinical cases globally. In 2019, 95% of malaria morbidity occurred in African countries. The development of a highly protective vaccine is an urgent task that remains to be solved. Many vaccine candidates have been developed, from the use of the entire attenuated and irradiated pre-erythrocytic parasite forms (or recombinantly expressed antigens thereof) to synthetic candidates formulated in a variety of adjuvants and delivery systems, however these have unfortunately proven a limited efficacy. At present, some vaccine candidates are finishing safety and protective efficacy trials, such as the PfSPZ and the RTS,S/AS01 which are being introduced in Africa. We propose a strategy for introducing non-natural elements into target antigens representing key epitopes of Plasmodium spp. Accordingly, chemical strategies and knowledge of host immunity to Plasmodium spp. have served as the basis. Evidence is obtained after being tested in experimental rodent models for malaria infection and recognized for human sera from malaria-endemic regions. This encourages us to propose such an immune-potentiating strategy to be further considered in the search for new vaccine candidates.
