Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the worldwide disseminated causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV is a member of the Lentivirus genus of Retroviridae family and is grouped in two types named HIV-1 and HIV-2. These viruses have a notable ability to mutate and adapt to the new conditions of human environment. A large incidence of errors at the transcriptional level results in changes on the genetic bases during the reproductive cycle. The elevated genomic variability of HIV has carried important implications for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention as well as epidemiologic investigations. The present review describes important definitions and geographical distribution of subtypes, circulating recombinant forms and other genomic variations of HIV. The present study aimed at leading students of Biomedical Sciences and public health laboratory staff guidance to general and specific knowledge about the genomic variability of the HIV.

A dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Dot-ELISA) for pneumococcal antigen detection was standardized in view of the need for a rapid and accurate immunodiagnosis of acute pneumococcal pneumonia. A total of 442 pleural fluid effusion samples (PFES) from children with clinical and laboratory diagnoses of acute bacterial pneumonia, plus 38 control PFES from tuberculosis patients and 20 negative control serum samples from healthy children were evaluated by Dot-ELISA. The samples were previously treated with 0.1M EDTA pH 7.5 at 90 degrees C for 10 min and dotted on nitrocellulose membrane. Pneumococcal omniserum diluted at 1:200 was employed in this assay for antigen detection. When compared with standard bacterial culture, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and latex agglutination techniques, the Dot-ELISA results showed relative indices of 0.940 to sensitivity, 0.830 to specificity and 0.760 to agreement. Pneumococcal omniserum proved to be an optimal polyvalent antiserum for the detection of pneumococcal antigen by Dot-ELISA. Dot-ELISA proved to be a practical alternative technique for the diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

A diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia requires isolation of the pathogen from blood, lung or tracheal aspirate; however, cultures of blood and pleural fluid samples are usually insensitive. Thus, in the majority of patients the etiology is rarely determined. A total of 840 pleural fluid effusion samples from children with clinical and laboratory diagnoses of acute bacterial pneumonia were evaluated by Dot-ELISA. This method was standardized in order to detect polysaccharide capsular bacterial antigen in pleural fluid samples previously treated with 0.1 M EDTA and dotted on nitrocellulose membrane strips. Pneumococcal omniserum and H. influenzae type b antiserum diluted 1:200 were employed for detection of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae type b antigens, respectively. Dot-ELISA showed relative indices of 0.913 for sensitivity and 0.552 for specificity, and a total positivity of 75.6 per cent, being 53.21 per cent for S. pneumoniae and of 22.38 per cent for H. influenzae.

Qualitative determination of C-reactive protein (CRP) was evaluated as a diagnostic method for community-acquired pneumonia. Paired serum and pleural fluid samples from child patients were examined with a CRP test, compared to bacterial cultures, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and immunoassay. The CRP test gave excellent parameters of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for the diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia.

Immunological assays such as CIE, LA, and Dot-ELISA were compared in order to diagnose community-acquired pneumonia. Serum, pleural fluid and urine samples were comparatively employed for bacterial antigen detection. Dot-ELISA proved to be an original and practical alternative procedure for detecting bacterial polysaccharide antigens from pleural fluid and/or concentrated urine samples, providing a rapid diagnosis for pediatric patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

A doença meningocócica continua sendo um grande problema de saúde pública em todos os continentes, e as vacinas anti-meningocócicas têm sido indicadas na prevenção e controle de epidemias. As vacinas polissacarídicas A e C são relativamente eficazes, com comportamentos imunológicos distintos frente às faixas etárias; no entanto, para o sorogrupo B, embora existam numerosos estudos internacionais até agora já desenvolvidos, ainda não se tem uma vacina altamente segura e eficaz de ampla aceitação. O polissacáride capsular do meningococo B não é imunogênico devido ao seu mimetismo com componentes celulares do hospedeiro. Tentativas de se introduzir carreadores protéicos vêm sendo feitas para se obter uma vacina que seja imunogênica em todas as faixas etárias e de preferência protetora contra todos os meningococos. Foi feita revisão da literatura com o objetivo de estudar o comportamento imunológico de todas as vacinas, até então desenvolvidas, e mostrar os esforços que estão sendo empreendidos no sentido de se buscar um produto seguro e eficaz para o controle da doença meningocócica

Comparison of the use of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), immunochromatography assay (ICA-BD

A diagnosis of bacterial meningitis requires isolation of the pathogen from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, cultures of CSF are usually insensitive, thus, in the majority of patients, the etiology is rarely determined. A total of 90 CSF samples from pediatric patients with clinical diagnosis of bacterial meningitis were evaluated by Dot-ELISA. This method was standardized in order to detect pneumococcal polysaccharide antigen in CSF samples previously treated with 0.1 M EDTA and dotted on nitrocellulose membrane strips. Pneumococcal omniserum diluted 1:200 was employed for pneumococcal antigen detection. Dot-ELISA showed relative indices of 100 and 90 per cent for sensitivity and specificity, respectively. This method is cheaper than counter immunoelectrophoresis for pneumococcal antigen detection.