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Malar J 2019 Jan 15;18(1). Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.

Background: Malaria can be transmitted by blood transfusion from human to human and it is responsible for the majority of transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, it had been estimated that almost a quarter of blood donations contain malaria parasites. Since rapid diagnostic tests and thick blood smear microscopy lack sensitivity for low density parasitaemia, particularly in asymptomatic adults, the most reliable method to assess the problem of transfusion-transmitted malaria are nucleic acid-based molecular approaches such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Read More

Transfusion 2019 Jan 27;59(1):295-302. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Background: Three probable cases of transfusion-transmitted (TT) parvovirus B19 (B19V) occurred in Australia between 2014 and 2017. This study aimed to determine the B19V DNA prevalence among blood donors, to model the risk to recipients of fresh components, and to assess risk management options.

Study Design And Methods: Plasma samples from 4232 donors were tested for B19V DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Read More

AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2018 Dec 19. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Abbott Laboratories, Scientific Affairs, Singapore, Singapore.

Background: Infection with HTLV, though asymptomatic in most cases, can lead to severe illnesses, such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma or myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis. HTLV can be transmitted by whole blood (WB) transfusion. The prevalence of HTLV amongst blood donor populations has not been characterized in Vietnam, though the screening has been partially implemented on voluntary basis since 2016. Read More

Vox Sang 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Background And Objectives: Globally, blood safety interventions have been successful in mitigating risk of the major transfusion-transmitted (TT) viruses. However, strategies that address risk from parasites are comparatively limited. TT parasites are often regional in nature, posing unique challenges; we sought to understand their impact on blood safety. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 26;9:2741. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States.

Leptin, a pleiotropic protein has long been recognized to play an important role in the regulation of energy homeostasis, metabolism, neuroendocrine function, and other physiological functions through its effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues. Leptin is secreted by adipose tissue and encoded by the obese () gene. Leptin acts as a central mediator which regulates immunity as well as nutrition. Read More

Blood Adv 2018 Dec;2(23):3462-3478

Laboratory of Complement Biology and.

The intraerythrocytic parasite is the number 1 cause of transfusion-transmitted infection and can induce serious, often life-threatening complications in immunocompromised individuals including transfusion-dependent patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite the existence of strong long-lasting immunological protection against a second infection in mouse models, little is known about the cell types or the kinetics of protective adaptive immunity mounted following infection, especially in infection-prone SCD that are thought to have an impaired immune system. Here, we show, using a mouse infection model, that infected wild-type (WT) mice mount a very strong adaptive immune response, characterized by (1) coordinated induction of a robust germinal center (GC) reaction; (2) development of follicular helper T (T) cells that comprise ∼30% of splenic CD4 T cells at peak expansion by 10 days postinfection; and (3) high levels of effector T-cell cytokines, including interleukin 21 and interferon γ, with an increase in the secretion of antigen (Ag)-specific antibodies (Abs). Read More

Int J Organ Transplant Med 2018 1;9(3):126-131. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

Gametogenesis Research center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.

Background: Transfusion-transmitted virus (TTV) is a single-stranded DNA virus. Renal transplant patients have a higher risk of TTV infection.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of TTV and its correlation with post-renal transplantation complications in a population of Iranian patients. Read More

Biotechniques 2018 Dec;65(6):331-338

Division of Emerging & Transfusion-Transmitted Diseases, Laboratory of Bacterial & Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Agents, Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, Office of Blood Research & Review, US Food & Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common transfusion-associated pathogen contaminating platelet concentrates. Methods to reduce or eliminate contaminating bacteria from platelet units are critical for improving the safety of blood transfusions. We used rapid isolation of DNA aptamers (RIDA) to identify single-stranded (ss)DNA aptamers as ligands that specifically bind to S. Read More

Transfusion 2019 Jan 26;59(1):287-294. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and is endemic in Latin America. In nonendemic countries, including Japan, Chagas disease is primarily a problem in the context of transfusion transmission. Approximately 250,000 immigrants from Latin America reside in Japan, and many of those individuals serve as active blood donors. Read More

J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2018 Jul-Sep;30(3):351-355

Department of Community Dentistry, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Donor notification of reactive status is important to prevent the spread of disease. Response of reactive donors to seek confirmation and treatment is a direct reflection of their knowledge and attitudes towards transfusion transmittable infections.

Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted from August 2014 to July 2015 at the blood bank of a tertiary care hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Read More

Indian J Med Microbiol 2018 Jul-Sep;36(3):352-356

Department of Gastroenterology, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Purpose: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV being a ribonucleic acid virus has considerable sequence variability. Assessment of viral load and genotype is necessary for designing treatment strategies and monitoring for viral resistance among HCV-infected cases. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.

Introduction: The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Hemovigilance Module (HM) collects data on the frequency, severity, and imputability of transfusion-associated adverse events. These events contribute to significant morbidity and mortality among transfusion patients. We report results from the first systematic assessment of eight attributes of the HM. Read More

Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2018 Oct;76(10):705-712

Laboratory of Bacterial and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Agents, Division of Emerging and Transfusion-Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Protein misfolding diseases are usually associated with deposits of single "key" proteins that somehow drive the pathology; β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau accumulate in Alzheimer's disease, α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease, or abnormal prion protein (PrPTSE) in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs or prion diseases). However, in some diseases more than two proteins accumulate in the same brain. These diseases might be considered "complex" proteinopathies. Read More

Int J Parasitol 2018 Oct 24. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Cell Surface Signalling Laboratory, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Cambridge CB10 1SA, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne parasitic disease and blood transfusion-transmitted infection primarily caused by the apicomplexan parasite, Babesia microti. There is no licensed vaccine for B. microti and the development of a reliable serological screening test would contribute to ensuring the safety of the donated blood supply. Read More

Int J Parasitol 2018 Oct 24. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA. Electronic address:

The incidence of babesiosis, Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases has increased steadily in Europe and North America during the last five decades. Babesia microti is transmitted by species of Ixodes, the same ticks that transmit the Lyme disease-causing spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. B. Read More

Pak J Med Sci 2018 Sep-Oct;34(5):1204-1208

Tahir Sultan Shamsi, FRC Path. National Institute of Blood Diseases & Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan.

Background And Objective: Blood transfusion is an essential and life-saving medical intervention. Despite multiple preventive measures transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection continues to be a major healthcare issue in Pakistan. This study was conducted at National Institute of Blood Diseases & Bone Marrow Transplantation to evaluate the frequency of active HCV infection with or without co-infection in blood donors and also to determine comparative efficacy of Multisure HCV antibody assay (MHAA); a new serological device. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Dec 19;58(12):2894-2902. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Central Blood Institute, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission to very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) sometimes induces serious clinical symptoms. Although breast milk is considered a major source of transmission, transfusion-transmitted CMV (TT-CMV) infection is often suspected when CMV disease develops after transfusion. Thus, it is clinically important to distinguish between transfusion-transmitted and breast milk-transmitted CMV infections. Read More

Rinsho Ketsueki 2018;59(10):2343-2348

Division of Hematology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine.

"Guidelines for the use of red blood cell products, platelet transfusion concentrates and fresh frozen plasma based on scientific evidence" was published by the Japan Society of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy. Each transfused blood product carries a certain risk of an acute or late adverse event. Hematologists must be familiar with transfusion-associated adverse events, such as transfusion-related acute lung injury, transfusion-associated circulatory overload, post-transfusion graft-versus-host disease, transfusion-transmitted viral infection, etc. Read More

PLoS One 2018 8;13(10):e0205248. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Center for Dengue Fever Control and Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic dengue virus-infected blood donors during the largest dengue outbreak in Taiwan history occurred in 2015, we examined the evidence of dengue virus (DENV) infection by the detection of DENV RNA genome using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR), DENV NS1 antigen using rapid diagnosis test (RDT) and anti-dengue antibody using IgM/IgG capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (capture ELISA) and RDT in eight thousand serum samples from blood donations to the blood centers of the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation (TBSF) in Kaohsiung City and Tainan City during the largest dengue outbreak in Taiwan history occurred in 2015. Only one serum sample was positive for DENV RNA detection by using dengue-specific real-time RT-PCR, the virus was DENV-2 determined by serotype-specific real-time RT-PCR and sequencing, and the DENVs in the serum were confirmed as being infectious by a plaque assay. The recipient of this blood did not develop any dengue fever symptom on follow-up. Read More

Malar J 2018 Oct 1;17(1):344. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Laboratório de Genética Humana e Médica, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, CEP: 66075-110, Brazil.

Background: Malaria can be transmitted by blood transfusion through donations collected from asymptomatic or parasitic donors. The parasites are released into the bloodstream during its life cycle and will therefore be present in donated blood by infected individuals. All cases of transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) notified since 2005 in Brazil were fatal. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Nov 27;58(11):2611-2616. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: The risk for tickborne exposure to Babesia microti infection exists statewide in Massachusetts. Broad exposure complicates investigations of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB). We summarize 8 years of the epidemiology of TTB and highlight the role of public health in prevention and control. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2018 Sep 20. Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Infectious Diseases Division, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda MD.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), due to Leishmania infantum, is a persistent intracellular parasitic infection transmitted by the bite of infected sand flies. Symptomatic VL has been reported in U.S. Read More

Transfus Apher Sci 2018 Oct 11;57(5):683-688. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. Electronic address:

Blood transfusion safety has been increasingly improving during the past two decades. However, threats from both known and emerging pathogens require continual improvement and re-assessment of blood safety measures. In this respect, we are currently witnessing the broader implementation of Pathogen reduction technology (PRT) for blood complements. Read More

Orv Hetil 2018 Sep;159(37):1495-1500

Haematologiai Tanszék, Debreceni Egyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar és Klinikai Központ Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98., 4032.

Preparative and clinical transfusiology and transfusion, a majestic part of clinical medicine saved the life of hundred millions. However, bloodborne or transmitted infections became a serious issue in France in the 1980s, when many haemophiliacs were infected by HIV or hepatitis C virus by receiving plazma FactorVIII concentrates. This resulted in a quick and powerful development of screening as well as pathogen-inactivating methods, which reduced pathogen contamination and transmission to minimal levels. Read More

Korean J Pediatr 2018 Sep 6;61(9):265-270. Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Department of Pediatrics, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea.

Neonates, especially extremely low birth weight infants, are among the groups of patients undergoing transfusion frequently. Since they are exposed to higher specific transfusion risks compared to the patients of other age groups, there are many special aspects that must be considered for transfusion therapy in neonates. The transfusion risks in neonates include adverse outcomes specific for preterm infants as well as increased metabolic, immunologic, and infectious complications. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Sep 3;58(9):2115-2121. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Background: Transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) is a rare occurrence with serious consequences for the recipient. A case study is presented as an example of best practices for conducting a TTM investigation.

Case Report: A 15-year-old male with a history of sickle cell disease developed fever after a blood transfusion. Read More

Transfusion 2018 Aug 28;58(8):1933-1939. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

Johns Hopkins Hospital and Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland.

Background: Bacterial contamination and associated septic transfusion reactions (STRs) remain the leading infectious risk to the blood supply. We sought to characterize the risk and clinical presentation of blood culture-positive transfusion reactions (BCPTRs) and STRs at our institution.

Study Design And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of all suspected transfusion reactions reported to the transfusion service at a 1000-bed tertiary academic medical center from January 2009 to September 2016. Read More

Indian Pediatr 2018 07;55(7):582-590

St Johns Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India.

Justification: Despite having standard principles of management of hemophilia, treatment differs in various countries depending on available resources. Guideline for management of hemophilia in Indian setting is essential.

Process: Indian Academy of Pediatrics conducted a consultative meeting on Hemophilia on 18th September, 2016 in New Delhi, which was attended by experts in the field working across India. Read More

Parasitol Res 2018 Oct 14;117(10):3215-3228. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

Molecular Parasitology, National Institute of Pathology (ICMR), Safdarjung Hospital Campus, New Delhi, India.

The morphological and biochemical alterations between the two life stages of Leishmania are governed by stage-regulated expression of several genes. Amastigote-specific genes are believed to have a role in the survival and replication of the parasite in the hostile environment of the mammalian host. Previously, we have reported the upregulated expression of A1 gene (LdA1) at the amastigote stage at RNA level. Read More

Indian J Med Res 2018 05;147(5):445-455

National Institute of Biologicals, Noida, India.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a blood borne and transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI). It has emerged as one of the major health challenges worldwide. In India, around 12-18 million peoples are infected with HCV, but in terms of prevalence percentage, its looks moderate due to large population. Read More

Cardiol Young 2018 Nov 2;28(11):1289-1294. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

3ICU pharmacy,University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital,Ituku-Ozalla,Enugu,Nigeria.

Background: In Nigeria, access to open heart surgery (OHS) is adversely affected by insufficient blood and blood products, including the challenges because of the lack of patient-focused blood management strategies owing to the absent requisite point-of-care tests in the operating theatre (OR)/ICU. In addition, the limited availability of altruistic blood donors including the detection of transfusion transmitted infections more commonly among non-altruistic blood donors is another burden affecting the management of excessive bleeding during and after open heart surgery in our country.

Objective: The objective of this study was to review our local experience in the use of blood and blood products during open heart surgery and compare the same with the literature. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Aug 1;8(1):11568. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA.

The Plasmodium life cycle within the mosquito involves the gamete, zygote, motile ookinete, and the oocyst stage that supports sporogony and sporozoite formation. We mapped the P. falciparum transcriptome as the parasite progresses through the oocyst stage of development on days 2, 4, 6, and 8 post-P. Read More

Med Arch 2018 Jun;72(3):182-186

General hospital " Prim dr Abdulah Nakas", Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Introduction: Prior to the 1990s, the most common sources of HCV infections were blood transfusions, unsafe injections and I.V drug use. Screening of blood products for HCV has eradicated transfusion-transmitted hepatitis C in most countries since 1992-in Bosnia and Herzegovina, however, since 1995, due to the war. Read More

PLoS One 2018 25;13(7):e0201043. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States of America.

Macrophages express a wide array of invariant receptors that facilitate host defense and mediate pathogenesis during pathogen invasion. We report on a novel population of CD11bhighCD14+F4/80+ macrophages that express TCRβ. This population expands dramatically during a Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection and sequesters in the brain during experimental cerebral malaria. Read More

Transfus Clin Biol 2018 Sep 21;25(3):165-171. Epub 2018 Jul 21.

University Clinic Hospital, Institute of Hematologic and Oncologic Diseases, Haemotherapy and Haemostasis Department, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona Catalonia, Spain; University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona Catalonia, Spain.

Pathogen inactivation or reduction technologies for platelet components have been proposed to secure the microbial safety of this component, and particularly the microbial contamination. Transfusion-transmitted bacterial infections were substantially reduced by additive steps applied at different levels of the transfusion chain, but still killed one recipient each year or every other year in a country like France. Besides, pathogen inactivation and reduction stand for eliminating most viral and protozoa infections persisting in the separated blood component. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2018 08;24(8):1548-1550

We report a death from transfusion-transmitted anaplasmosis in a 78-year-old man. The patient died of septic shock 2 weeks after a perioperative transfusion with erythrocytes harboring Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The patient's blood specimens were positive for A. Read More

Vox Sang 2018 Jul 13. Epub 2018 Jul 13.

Division of Infectious Disease Surveillance, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Korea.

Background And Objectives: Despite safety measures to minimize the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, a residual risk remains. To trace and review some such cases, we ask donors to notify the blood centre if they are diagnosed with an infection after they donate blood.

Materials And Methods: We analysed all data on postdonation cases of hepatitis A reported between 2007 and 2012. Read More

Genome Announc 2018 Jul 5;6(27). Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Laboratory of Emerging Pathogens, Office of Blood Research and Review, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

We report here the complete genome sequences of two Zika virus strains (FSS13025 and PRVABC59) used for formulation of CBER/FDA RNA reference reagents and lot release panels for use with nucleic acid technology (NAT) testing. Read More

Gut 2019 02 29;68(2):313-321. Epub 2018 Jun 29.

Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Objective: HBV infection by blood components is currently prevented in most developed countries by combining sensitive HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) assays, nucleic acid testing (NAT) and in a few of them antibodies against the HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) screening. HBV transmissions by blood components from three repeat donors tested negative for HBsAg and HBV DNA with a highly sensitive screening test (limit of detection (LOD): 3.4 IU/mL) were investigated. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 4;9:1176. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States.

The protozoan parasite has evolved several strategies to undermine host defense mechanisms by inducing Th2-type adaptive immunity and suppressing effector functions of Th1 phenotype. In our earlier studies, using centrin gene-deleted (LdCen) parasites as an immunogen, we have shown induction of an effective Th1-type immunity and robust memory responses that mediate protection against virulent challenge. However, role of inhibitory signals in vaccine induced immunity in general, and LdCen in particular has not been studied. Read More

PLoS One 2018 14;13(6):e0198199. Epub 2018 Jun 14.

Laboratory of Clinical Parasitology, Graduate Program in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Transfusion-transmitted leishmaniasis has been a concern in regions endemic for the disease. Whether immediate or delayed, the risks posed by this mode of transmission call for careful assessment. The purpose of this study was to detect Leishmania infection in blood donors living in an endemic area and to investigate progression to the disease in these individuals. Read More

Handb Clin Neurol 2018 ;153:1-17

Laboratory of Bacterial and Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Agents, Division of Emerging and Transfusion-Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, United States.

The first of several pivotal moments leading to current understanding of human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) occurred in 1959 when veterinary pathologist W.J. Hadlow first recognized several similarities between scrapie-a slow infection of sheep caused by an unusual infectious agent-and kuru, a fatal exotic neurodegenerative disease affecting only people of a single language group in the remote mountainous interior of New Guinea, described two years earlier by D. Read More

J Clin Virol 2018 Aug 21;105:18-25. Epub 2018 May 21.

Diagnostics Research, Abbott Laboratories, 100 Abbott Park Road, Abbott Park, IL,60064, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Critical to the identification of HBV infection and the prevention of transfusion transmitted disease is the sensitive and accurate detection of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg). Improvements in HBsAg assay sensitivity approaching the performance of nucleic acid testing (NAT) are essential to further reduce the detection window for acute HBV infection in regions where NAT is not widely available.

Objectives And Study Design: An improved HBsAg assay on the fully-automated Abbott ARCHITECT platform was developed to improve sensitivity, mutant and genotype detection. Read More

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res 2018 08 23;1865(8):1148-1159. Epub 2018 May 23.

JH-Institute of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India. Electronic address:

Expression of the intracellular form amastigote specific genes in the Leishmania donovani parasite plays a major role in parasite replication in the macrophage. In the current work, we have characterized a novel hypothetical gene, Ld30b that is specifically transcribed in the intracellular stage of the parasite. The recombinant Ld30b protein exists as a pentamer in solution as identified by native-PAGE and size exclusion gel chromatography. Read More

Vox Sang 2018 May 21. Epub 2018 May 21.

Association ARMESA, Strasbourg, France.

Background: Auto-immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a morbid multi-organ disorder. Cardiac involvement not recognized in initial disease descriptions is a major cause of morbidity. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) requires exposure to multiple plasma donors with risk of transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI). Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2018 May 14. Epub 2018 May 14.

Medical Neurology department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

Background: Children with β-thalassemia major who regularly receive blood transfusion are at risk of developing transfusion-transmitted infection. Toxoplasmosis is a common and a serious parasitic disease with high prevalence and could be transmitted through blood transfusion from healthy asymptomatic donors. However, screening Toxoplasma gondii before blood donation has not been considered. Read More

Parasit Vectors 2018 05 10;11(1):292. Epub 2018 May 10.

Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background: Cytauxzoonosis is an emerging tick-borne disease of domestic and wild felids. Cytauxzoon felis induces severe and often fatal disease in domestic cats. In Europe, clinical and subclinical infections caused by Cytauxzoon sp. Read More

PLoS One 2018 10;13(5):e0196748. Epub 2018 May 10.

Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, United States of America.

Background: Tick-borne infections have been increasing steadily over the years, with co-infections with Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti/divergens emerging as a serious health problem. B. burgdorferi is a spirochetal bacterium that causes Lyme disease while protozoan pathogens belonging to Babesia species are responsible for babesiosis. Read More

Praxis (Bern 1994) 2018 Apr;107(9-10):521-529

1 Interregionale Blutspende SRK, Bern.

Infect Immun 2018 Jul 21;86(7). Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Laboratory of Mucosal Pathogens and Cellular Immunology, Division of Bacterial, Parasitic, and Allergenic Products, Office of Vaccine Research and Review, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

Recent studies have demonstrated that a subpopulation of neutrophils express the TCRαβ combinatorial immunoreceptor in humans and mice. Here, we report that a ANKA murine malaria infection induces expansion of TCRβ expressing CD11b Ly6G neutrophils in the spleen during the early phase of infection. Measurement of TCRβ transcript and protein levels of neutrophils in wild-type versus nude and knockout mice establishes that the observed expression is not a consequence of nonspecific antibody staining or passive receptor expression due to phagocytosis or trogocytosis of peripheral T cells. Read More