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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBacterial Outer Membrane ProteinsCricetinaeFibrinolysinLeptospiraLeptospira interrogansLeptospirosisPlasminogenProtein BindingRecombinant ProteinsConceptsOuter 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 tissues
2022
Evaluation 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 variance
2021
Genetic 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 communitiesCommunityEpidemiologyA 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 ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBacterial VaccinesCross ProtectionFemaleLeptospira interrogansLeptospirosisMaleMesocricetusMiceMice, Inbred C57BLVaccines, AttenuatedConceptsCross-protective immunityPathogenic Leptospira speciesTerms of morbidityLeptospira speciesTransient bacteremiaSingle doseAntibody responseImmune responseApplicable vaccinesVaccine candidatesAnimal modelsEffective preventionAttenuated mutantsZoonotic diseaseLeptospira genusPotential correlatesDisease transmissionDiseaseLeptospirosisImmunityBacteremiaMorbidityImmunizationVaccineRelevant proteins
2019
Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Rodent Reservoirs of Leptospirosis in an Urban Community of Puerto Rico, 2015
Briskin EA, Casanovas-Massana A, Ryff KR, Morales-Estrada S, Hamond C, Perez-Rodriguez NM, Benavidez KM, Weinberger DM, Castro-Arellano I, Wunder EA, Sharp TM, Rivera-Garcia B, Ko AI. Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Rodent Reservoirs of Leptospirosis in an Urban Community of Puerto Rico, 2015. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2019, 220: 1489-1497. PMID: 31342075, PMCID: PMC6761939, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz339.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRisk factorsAnti-Leptospira antibodiesBurden of leptospirosisRisk of infectionMicroscopic agglutination testCross-sectional surveyQuantitative polymerase chain reactionSeropositive individualsPrevious infectionPolymerase chain reactionLeptospira infectionLeptospira carriageSerogroup IcterohaemorrhagiaeHigh titersStudy participantsAgglutination testLeptospira exposurePathogenic LeptospiraInfectionRodent reservoirsChain reactionAntibodiesRodent trappingSeroprevalenceCommunity sites
2001
Identification of New Repetitive Element inLeptospira interrogans Serovar Copenhageni and Its Application to PCR-Based Differentiation ofLeptospira Serogroups
Barocchi M, Ko A, Ferrer S, Faria M, Reis M, Riley L. Identification of New Repetitive Element inLeptospira interrogans Serovar Copenhageni and Its Application to PCR-Based Differentiation ofLeptospira Serogroups. Journal Of Clinical Microbiology 2001, 39: 191-195. PMID: 11136769, PMCID: PMC87700, DOI: 10.1128/jcm.39.1.191-195.2001.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
1999
Urban epidemic of severe leptospirosis in Brazil
Ko A, Reis M, Dourado C, Johnson W, Riley L, Group S. Urban epidemic of severe leptospirosis in Brazil. The Lancet 1999, 354: 820-825. PMID: 10485724, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)80012-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultBrazilDengueDiagnosis, DifferentialDisease OutbreaksFemaleHumansLeptospira interrogansMalePopulation SurveillanceUrban HealthWeil DiseaseConceptsDengue feverInfectious disease referral hospitalAggressive supportive careEpidemic of leptospirosisStrong independent predictorPositive blood culturesLarge urban outbreaksIdentification of leptospiresRenal insufficiencyRespiratory insufficiencySevere leptospirosisSupportive careIndependent predictorsReferral hospitalOutpatient clinicSevere anemiaSevere manifestationsActive surveillanceMental statusRisk factorsBlood culturesDiagnostic confusionUrban epidemicMicroagglutination testUrban outbreaks