Brain development is an exquisitely coordinated process of progenitor cell proliferation followed by the migration of progeny to their final location in the developing brain. There are a myriad of points at which this process can be disturbed, and the examination of these perturbations help us further understand basic science, as well as epidemics sweeping through the world around us. Microcephaly, which is defined as a head circumference greater than 2 standard deviations below the mean, can occur through genetic, infectious, vascular, or metabolic etiologies, and the studies herein examine two forms by which microcephaly occurs. First, we investigate the role of the dynein regulatory protein Nde1 in the development of the neocortex, which is the outer region of the forebrain. NDE1 mutations are associated with severe microcephaly, and we find that unlike most microcephaly genes whose products have one role in the cell cycle, Nde1 is required at three discrete points in neuronal progenitors, termed radial glia progenitors (RGPs). We initially find that Nde1 is required to recruit dynein to the nuclear envelope to allow for interkinetic nuclear migration (INM) during G2. Additionally, Nde1 helps to initiate primary cilia resorption at the G1-to-S transition. Finally, there is a necessity for Nde1 at the G2-to-M transition after the completion of INM and prior to nuclear envelope breakdown. These three distinct roles for Nde1 illustrate the breadth of functions that the protein has during RGP proliferation, and help to explain why patients with NDE1 mutations have such severe microcephaly. As this work was ongoing there was a global outbreak of a new pathogen that had previously been dormant throughout Africa and Asia, only to emerge at epidemic proportions in the Western Hemisphere. This pathogen, the Zika Virus (ZIKV), is particularly alarming because of its subclinical course in adults but devastating consequences for fetal development, with the hallmark symptom being microcephaly. Using our organotypic brain slice model system, we demonstrate the ability of a variety of ZIKV isolates to infect and replicate in embryonic brain tissue. All ZIKV isolates that infect the organotypic slices lead to increases in apoptosis, though these increases are particularly pronounced in isolates from the Asian/American lineages. Notably, one isolate from a patient in Nigeria (termed 30656) does not replicate in mouse neuronal tissue, but electroporation of the 30656 ZIKV genome allows for a single cycle replication, suggesting that this isolate is unable to enter RGPs. All infectious isolates are pathogenic in early- and mid- gestation embryonic tissue, but only one isolate infects and replicates in late- gestation embryonic tissue. This was the most recently isolated sample tested, and it demonstrates a predilection for neurons, suggesting that ZIKV may be mutating as it spreads. These results provide foundational insight into the pathogenesis of ZIKV- associated microcephaly, and illustrate how studies of genetic forms of microcephaly can enhance and facilitate our understanding of infectious causes of the disease.

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2018-04-03T14:49:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 HaryelleNarymaConfessorFerreira_DISSERT.pdf: 903183 bytes, checksum: 512cec0622808aed442e5d8b7f4b59a6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-04-10T20:46:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 HaryelleNarymaConfessorFerreira_DISSERT.pdf: 903183 bytes, checksum: 512cec0622808aed442e5d8b7f4b59a6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-10T20:46:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 HaryelleNarymaConfessorFerreira_DISSERT.pdf: 903183 bytes, checksum: 512cec0622808aed442e5d8b7f4b59a6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-26 / Introduction: The increase in the number of cases of microcephaly in Brazil and its association with the Zika virus (ZIKV) is a global public health problem. The International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) model is a powerful tool and extremely relevant in managing disability. Objective: Describe the functioning profile of children with microcephaly associated with ZIKV in two states of northeastern Brazil. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sociodemographic characteristics, head circumference and other clinical data were collected from medical charts, physical examinations, measuring instruments and interviews with the children and their parents. The Brazilian Portuguese version of the ICF core set for cerebral palsy (CP) was used. Each ICF category was assigned a qualifier, which ranged from 0 to 4 (no disability, mild disability, moderate disability, severe disability and complete disability). For environmental factors, 0 represents no barrier and 4 total barrier; +0, no facilitator +4, total facilitator. Results: A total of 34 children with microcephaly caused by ZIKV were recruited (18 girls and 16 boys) at four rehabilitation facilities in Rio Grande do Norte and Para?ba states, Brazil. The average age of the participants was 21 months and head circumference z-scores ranged from 0.92 to -5.51. The functioning profile revealed complete disability in most of the body function categories (b). The activity and participation areas (d) were highly impacted, particularly in mobility-related categories. With respect to environmental factors (e), most of the sample reported a total facilitator for the nuclear family, friends and health services, systems and policies, as well as a total barrier to social attitudes. Conclusion: This is the first study that describes the functioning profile of children with microcephaly associated with ZIKV, using a tool based on the ICF in Brazil. Our findings reinforce the need to maximize health care and access to information ? based on the ICF ? for multiprofessional teams, administrators, family members and children.

Introduction: At the end of 2015, zika virus became the protagonist of an epidemic of congenital anomalies never observed. The northeastern region of Brazil was the most affected. Congenital Zika Syndrome is characterized by severe microcephaly, critical brain damage, ophthalmologic, auditory, cardiac and orthopedic anomalies, as well as severe developmental delay with irritability, spasticity and convulsions. Owning to the fact that it is a new pathology, little is known about its long-term evolution, since affected children are aged around 3 years. Goal: To follow-up of a cohort of infants born with microcephaly and / or anomalies associated with congenital zika virus infection, from birth to 18 months of age, evaluating their growth, development, feeding and occurrence of associated morbidities. Methodology: This was a longitudinal, observational and descriptive study of a cohort of infants born in Sergipe during the outbreak of microcephaly and referred to two public health services. The children were followed up through 18 months of age in childcare consultations, together with expert evaluations and complementary examinations. The data was collected from August / 2017 to January / 2018 with using a research form. Statistical analyzes were carried out in R Core Team 2018 software. Results: The cohort comprised 84 children with Congenital Zika Syndrome. There was a predominance of females (53.8%) and only 9 newborns had no diagnosis of microcephaly but had other alterations compatible with Congenital Zika Syndrome. The Z scores for head circumference, weight and length remained stable over time, remaining below the expected standard for the three anthropometric indexes. The evolution of Z scores for weight / length showed a downward trend, although the average remained in the eutrophic pattern. In addition to the occurrence of other neurological impairments, such as seizures (69%), spasticity (48,8%), and irritability (64,3%), the infants presented severe developmental delays with delayed acquisition of all markers. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months was law (14.3%) and a significant percentage of feeding difficulty (57,1%). This aspect reflected the delay in the introduction of complementary feeding (mean age of 7.1 months) and non-progression to the family diet in 22.6%. As to the complementary evaluation, cerebral malformations compatible with congenital Zika infection were detected in all children, ocular involvement was diagnosed in 42 infants (54.5%), and in half (50.7%) cardiac anomalies were observed. The main clinical morbidity observed was upper airways infection, followed by intestinal constipation. Conclusions: Infants with Congenital Zika Syndrome exhibited anthropometric growth impairment, as well as a severe delay in the acquisition of neuromotor development markers. It was found low prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, with a high frequency of feeding difficulties. There was also a significant number of infants who presented irritability, convulsion and spasticity. This study reinforces the need for specialized multiprofessional follow-up aimed at rehabilitation therapies and support to the family members involved. / Introdução: Ao final de 2015, o Zika vírus tornou-se protagonista de uma epidemia de anomalias congênitas jamais observada, sendo a região nordeste do Brasil a mais atingida. A Síndrome da Zika Congênita caracteriza-se por microcefalia com grave dano ao tecido cerebral, alterações oftalmológicas, auditivas, cardíacas e ortopédicas, além de crítico atraso do desenvolvimento, com irritabilidade, espasticidade e convulsões. Tratando-se de nova condição clínica, pouco se sabe sobre sua evolução em longo prazo, uma vez que as crianças acometidas estão com média de 3 anos de idade. Objetivo: Realizar o acompanhamento de uma coorte de bebês com Síndrome da Zika Congênita, do nascimento aos 18 meses de vida, avaliando seu crescimento, desenvolvimento, evolução da alimentação e ocorrência de morbidades. Metodologia: Trata-se de estudo longitudinal, observacional e descritivo do acompanhamento de uma coorte de lactentes nascidos em Sergipe durante o surto de microcefalia e referenciados para dois serviços públicos de saúde. As crianças foram avaliadas até os 18 meses de vida em consultas de puericultura somadas a interconsultas com especialistas e realização de exames complementares. Os dados foram coletados de agosto/2017 a janeiro/2018 através de um formulário de pesquisa. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com o auxílio do software R Core 2018. Resultados: Compuseram a coorte 84 crianças com características clínicas da Síndrome da Zika Congênita. Houve predomínio do sexo feminino (53,8%) e somente 9 recém-nascidos não tiveram diagnóstico de microcefalia, mas apresentavam outras alterações compatíveis com a Síndrome da Zika Congênita. Os escores Z para perímetro cefálico (PC), peso e comprimento apresentaram pouca variação ao longo do tempo. As médias de escore Z na primeira e última consulta foram as seguintes: PC (-6,0; -5,9); Peso (-1,9; -1,6) e Comprimento (-2,5; -1,7). A evolução dos escores Z para peso/comprimento, revelou tendência de queda, apesar da média ter se mantido no padrão de eutrofia. As crianças manifestaram grave atraso do desenvolvimento com retardo na aquisição de todos os marcos pesquisados, além da ocorrência de outros comprometimentos neurológicos tais quais convulsão (69%), espasticidade (48,8%) e irritabilidade (64,3%). Encontrou-se baixa prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo até os 6 meses (14,3%) e percentual significativo de relatos de dificuldade alimentar (57,1%), aspecto que refletiu no atraso da introdução da alimentação complementar (idade média de 7,1 meses) e na não progressão para a alimentação da família em 22,6%. Quanto aos exames e avaliações complementares, em todos os lactentes foram detectadas malformações cerebrais compatíveis com a infecção congênita pelo Zika vírus, em 54,5% foi diagnosticado comprometimento ocular e em metade (50,7%) foi observado alguma alteração cardíaca. A principal morbidade clínica apresentada pelas crianças foram as infecções das vias aéreas superiores, seguido de constipação intestinal. Conclusões: Os lactentes com Síndrome da Zika Congênita exibiram comprometimento do crescimento antropométrico, além de grave atraso na aquisição de marcos do desenvolvimento neuromotor. Constatou-se baixa prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo até os 6 meses, com alta frequência de dificuldades alimentares. Observou-se também número significativo de lactentes que evoluíram com irritabilidade, convulsão e espasticidade. Os achados deste estudo reforçam a necessidade de acompanhamento multiprofissional especializado para estas crianças, voltado para terapias de reabilitação e apoio aos familiares envolvidos. / Aracaju

Introduction The rapid expansion of the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has raised serious public health concerns due to the possibility of misdiagnosis in regions where arboviral diseases are endemic. We performed the first study in northern Peru to describe the detection of SARSCoV-2 IgM antibodies in febrile patients with a suspected diagnosis of dengue and chikungunya fever. Materials and methods A consecutive cross-sectional study was performed in febrile patients attending primary healthcare centers from April 2020 through March 2021. Patients enrolled underwent serum sample collection for the molecular and serological detection of DENV and CHIKV. Also, serological detection of IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was performed. Results 464 patients were included during the study period, of which (40.51%) were positive for one pathogen, meanwhile (6.90%) presented co-infections between 2 or more pathogens. The majority of patients with monoinfections were positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgM with (73.40%), followed by DENV 18.09% and CHIKV (8.51%). The most frequent co-infection was DENV + SARS-CoV-2 with (65.63%), followed by DENV + CHIKV and DENV + CHIKV + SARSCoV-2, both with (12.50%). The presence of polyarthralgias in hands (43.75%, p<0.01) and feet (31.25%, p = 0.05) were more frequently reported in patients with CHIKV monoinfection. Also, conjunctivitis was more common in patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 IgM (11.45%, p<0.01). The rest of the symptoms were similar among all the study groups. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibodies were frequently detected in acute sera from febrile patients with a clinical suspicion of arboviral disease. The presence of polyarthralgias in hands and feet may be suggestive of CHIKV infection. These results reaffirm the need to consider SARS-CoV-2 infection as a main differential diagnosis of acute febrile illness in arboviruses endemic areas, as well as to consider co-infections between these pathogens. Copyright: / Revisión por pares

Over the past decade, and accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increasing adoption of decentralized diagnostic testing, where the testing is brought closer to the patient. This trend has largely been fueled by the development of more accurate diagnostic tools and faster and more reliable data connectivity. Decentralized testing has been shown to greatly reduce turnaround times while increasing accessibility to users in remote regions. However, there are challenges that limit its widespread adoption. In this dissertation, we detail the development of tools and technologies to overcome these barriers and expedite the shift towards decentralized diagnostic testing. First, we demonstrate the ability to develop point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests with performance that rivals that of traditional lab-based methods. We developed a rapid, multiplexed, microfluidic serological test for Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium. The recommended testing, the standard 2-tiered (STT) approach, is not sensitive for early-stage infections, is labor-intensive, has long turnaround times, and requires the use of two immunoassays (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the Western Blot). We developed a standalone multiplexed sandwich ELISA assay and adapted it to the mChip microfluidic platform. We validated the assay on a rigorously characterized panel of human serum samples and demonstrated that our approach outperforms the STT algorithm on sensitivity while matching its specificity. The form factor of this technology is amenable to use in physician’s offices and urgent care clinics. We also showed exploratory work towards adapting the mChip platform for diagnosis of Zika disease, a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Zika virus, and acute kidney injury, a syndrome characterized by loss of kidney excretory function. Next, we worked on increasing the adoption of rapid diagnostic tests for self- and partner-testing designed to be used in at-home settings. We developed a smartphone application to be used alongside the INSTI Multiplex test for detecting HIV and syphilis infections. The application was designed to provide users with i) instructions on running the test, ii) an automated deep-learning-based image interpretation algorithm to interpret the rapid test results from a smartphone image, iii) a way to save test results and display/share them, and iv) resources for follow-up care. We adopted a user-centered, iterative design process where we worked with a cohort of study participants composed of men who have sex with men and transgender women at high risk for contracting sexually transmitted infections. We then field tested the application with 48 participants over a duration of three months and found high acceptability for the application, both in terms of functionality and helpfulness. Finally, we sought to address a key limitation with deep-learning-based image classification techniques, specifically, the requirement for large numbers of annotated images for training. We developed a deep-learning image interpretation algorithm that could be quickly adapted to new rapid test kits using only a fraction of the images that would otherwise be needed for training the model. The interpretation algorithm followed a three-step, modular process. First, the rapid test kit and the membrane were extracted from the smartphone image. Second, the constituent zones were cropped from the extracted membrane. Finally, a classifier detected the presence or absence of a line in the individual zones. Fast adaptation was demonstrated by adapting a base model, trained using images of a single COVID-19 rapid test kit, to four different rapid test kits, each with different form factors, using few-shot domain adaptation. After training with 20 or fewer images, the classification accuracies of all the adapted models were > 95%. This approach can provide a digital health platform for improved pandemic preparedness and enable quality assurance and linkage to care for consumers operating new LFAs in widespread decentralized settings. Together, these methods provide a suite of tools that could expedite the shift towards decentralized, POC testing.

Zikaviruset är ett virus som fått stor uppmärksamhet i framför allt Sydamerika från 2015 och framåt då allt fler fall uppmärksammats. Detta arbete har utförts som en litteraturstudie med mål att sammanfatta kunskapsläget kring Zikavirusets morfologi, spridning, historia, komplikationer, diagnostik samt rådande behandlingsmöjligheter. Som källor används information från Folkhälsomyndigheten, CDC, PAHO och WHO samt MeSH-sökningar via PubMed. Viruset tillhör familjen Flaviviridae. Liknande andra virus i samma grupp kan infektionen ge feber, makulopapulösa hudutslag, konjunktivit, ledvärk, huvudvärk och myalgi. Det beskrevs först redan på slutet av 1940-talet i Afrika och har sedan rapporterats ha spridit sig till Asien, Oceanien, Stilla havsöarna och nu senast med utbrott i Sydamerika. Virusinfektionen har blivit mycket omdiskuterad då allt mer bevis kunnat läggas fram för att den kan leda till Guillain-Barrés syndrom samt även utöva teratogena effekter med mikrocefali som följd. Man har kartlagt spridning framför allt via myggarten Aedes men bevis finns även för att sexuell spridning kan ske samt att sjukdomen förefaller även kunna spridas från mor till foster. Diagnostiken baseras på RT-PCR och serologiska tester. I nuläget finns ingen aktiv behandling. Sammanfattningsvis har Zikavirus spridit sig snabbt genom Syd- och latinamerika sista åren och visat sig utgöra ett hot mot folkhälsan i dessa områden varför ett framtagande av ett fungerande vaccin är önskvärt.