Papers by Nicolás Morando
Genes, Apr 29, 2024
, a class of small, non-coding RNAs, play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression at the pos... more , a class of small, non-coding RNAs, play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. These regulatory molecules are integral to many biological processes and have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. This review aims to cover the current understanding of the multifaceted roles miRNAs assume in the context of HIV infection and pathogenesis. The discourse is structured around three primary focal points: (i) elucidation of the mechanisms through which miRNAs regulate HIV replication, encompassing both direct targeting of viral transcripts and indirect modulation of host factors critical for viral replication; (ii) examination of the modulation of miRNA expression by HIV, mediated through either viral proteins or the activation of cellular pathways consequent to viral infection; and (iii) assessment of the impact of miRNAs on the immune response and the progression of disease in HIV-infected individuals. Further, this review delves into the potential utility of miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic agents in HIV infection, underscoring the challenges and prospects inherent to this line of inquiry. The synthesis of current evidence positions miRNAs as significant modulators of the host-virus interplay, offering promising avenues for enhancing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HIV infection.
Multilocus sequence typing of <i>Treponema pallidum pallidum</i> in children with acquired syphilis by nonsexual contact
Future Microbiology, Nov 1, 2022
Background: There are scarce data of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) characterization in... more Background: There are scarce data of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) characterization in children with syphilis. Nonsexually acquired transmission (NSAT) of TPA is possible in infants through close contact. Methods: A descriptive study in five families with NSAT of syphilis was conducted. Polymerase chain reaction detection of TPA in pediatric index cases (n = 6) and their relatives (n = 44) were conducted followed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Results: TPA was detected in swab samples in 16 cases and 12 were characterized by MLST. Nichols lineage was identified in two of five families and SS14-lineage in three of five. In four families, MLST profiles linked index cases to relatives. Conclusion: This is the first report of TPA characterization in children infected by NSAT.
Scientific Reports
Globally, 94% of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) clinical strains belong to the SS14-lik... more Globally, 94% of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) clinical strains belong to the SS14-like group and 6% to the Nichols-like group, with a prevalence of macrolide resistance of 90%. Our goal was to determine whether local TPA strain distribution and macrolide resistance frequency have changed significantly since our last report, which revealed that Buenos Aires had a high frequency of Nichols-like strains (27%) and low levels of macrolide resistance (14%). Swab samples from patients with suspected syphilis were collected during 2015–2019 and loci TP0136, TP0548, TP0705 were sequenced in order to perform multilocus sequence typing. Strains were classified as Nichols-like or SS14-like. The presence of macrolide resistance-associated mutations was determined by examination of the 23S rDNA gene sequence. Of 46 typeable samples, 37% were classified as Nichols-like and 63% as SS14-like. Macrolide resistance prevalence was 45.7%. Seven allelic profiles were found, five were SS14-lik...
Future Microbiology, 2022
Background: There are scarce data of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) characterization in... more Background: There are scarce data of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) characterization in children with syphilis. Nonsexually acquired transmission (NSAT) of TPA is possible in infants through close contact. Methods: A descriptive study in five families with NSAT of syphilis was conducted. Polymerase chain reaction detection of TPA in pediatric index cases (n = 6) and their relatives (n = 44) were conducted followed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Results: TPA was detected in swab samples in 16 cases and 12 were characterized by MLST. Nichols lineage was identified in two of five families and SS14-lineage in three of five. In four families, MLST profiles linked index cases to relatives. Conclusion: This is the first report of TPA characterization in children infected by NSAT. Plain language summary: Syphilis is a disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA). Although it is considered a sexually transmitted disease, syphilis can also be transmitted by nonsexual close contact with active lesions. There are clinical reports of this route of transmissions in children; however, there are no molecular characterizations of TPA in this population. A multidisciplinary study (epidemiological, clinical, social and molecular) was performed in six children from five families with clinical diagnosis of nonsexually transmitted syphilis. As a result, 18 infected persons were detected. In 16 individuals the presence of the bacterium genetic material was confirmed by molecular biology techniques, and in 12, its strain was analyzed. When we compared the data, we observed that in four families, the child's strain coincided with the one found in close contact, while in one family, this could not be determined. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TPA characterization in children, which underscore the importance of including molecular biology techniques in complex clinical scenarios such as these.
Scientific Reports, 2022
Globally, 94% of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) clinical strains belong to the SS14-lik... more Globally, 94% of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) clinical strains belong to the SS14-like group and 6% to the Nichols-like group, with a prevalence of macrolide resistance of 90%. Our goal was to determine whether local TPA strain distribution and macrolide resistance frequency have changed significantly since our last report, which revealed that Buenos Aires had a high frequency of Nichols-like strains (27%) and low levels of macrolide resistance (14%). Swab samples from patients with suspected syphilis were collected during 2015-2019 and loci TP0136, TP0548, TP0705 were sequenced in order to perform multilocus sequence typing. Strains were classified as Nichols-like or SS14-like. The presence of macrolide resistance-associated mutations was determined by examination of the 23S rDNA gene sequence. Of 46 typeable samples, 37% were classified as Nichols-like and 63% as SS14-like. Macrolide resistance prevalence was 45.7%. Seven allelic profiles were found, five were SS14-like and two were Nichols-like. The frequency of Nichols-like strains increased between studies (26.8% vs. 37%, p = 0.36). A dramatic increase was found in the frequency of macrolide resistant strains between studies (14.3% vs. 45.7%, p = 0.005). Our results are in agreement with international trends and underscore the need to pursue further TPA molecular typing studies in South America.
Our study aimed to understand how COVID-19 impacted the wellbeing of men who have sex with men (M... more Our study aimed to understand how COVID-19 impacted the wellbeing of men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV. In this mixed-methods study we conducted a quantitative survey among 97 MSM living with HIV as well as in-depth qualitative 9 interviews with MSM living with HIV and health representatives. Results revealed that a high frequency of participants perceived some degree of impact on sexual activity due to COVID-19, with most of the MSM engaging in sex less frequently. Our results also indicate that an increase in precarious food, housing, and medical care access caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on mental health. The qualitative findings demonstrated the benefit of communication at each level of care from patient, to care navigator, care provider, and the Ministry of Health in improving the care among PLWH.
Revista Argentina de Microbiología, 2020
Improving access to diagnosis constitutes a key step in the control of the Human immunodeficiency... more Improving access to diagnosis constitutes a key step in the control of the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS epidemic. Rapid testing is increasingly gaining interest as a powerful diagnostic tool to achieve this goal. The purpose of this study was to implement the rapid HIV test (RHT) in a clinical setting in order to evaluate its effectiveness in increasing HIV diagnosis and patient linkage to the healthcare system. The RHT was offered to all patients attending a sexually-transmitted disease clinic in the City of Buenos Aires between March and December 2015. A total of 593 RHT were performed. The implementation of the RHT yielded an increase in frequency of diagnosis from 6.9% to 31.4% (p < 0.001). The first steps of the care cascade showed high retention rates around 90%. RHT yielded an HIV prevalence of 6.3% (95% CI: 4.2-8.5) in this population. HIV prevalence tended to be higher in individuals with no previous HIV testing (p = 0.09). Linkage to the healthcare system was associated with a higher probability of having been tested for HIV (p = 0.008). The incorporation of the RHT resulted in a high retention of patients and an increase in both frequency of diagnosis and results reception when compared to the classic methodology.
Scientific reports, Jan 15, 2018
Even though syphilis can be easily diagnosed by simple and low-cost laboratory methods, it contin... more Even though syphilis can be easily diagnosed by simple and low-cost laboratory methods, it continues to be an important health problem. Rapid tests (RT) for the detection of treponemal antibodies can facilitate earlier diagnosis, access to treatment and linkage to care. The aim of this study was to analyse the usefulness of the incorporation of a RT in the detection of patients infected with T. pallidum in a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) clinic. Between March and December 2015, a syphilis RT was offered to patients who spontaneously attended the clinic. Conventional serology testing was additionally indicated to every participant. The RT for syphilis was offered to 1887 patients, of whom 31.1% agreed to get tested. VDRL test was performed in 84.0% of patients that were also tested with syphilis RT, with a significantly higher frequency observed among participants with reactive RT (94.3% vs. 79.8%, p < 0.001). These results showed that 33.7% of the participants were reactive ...
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
There is a paucity of reports on the characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronav... more There is a paucity of reports on the characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in infants, because most studies have grouped infants with older children. We analyzed the viral loads of 45318 SARS-CoV-2–positive nasopharyngeal swab samples obtained in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Infants younger than 6 months presented higher viral loads than any other age group. Children older than 6 months showed significantly lower viral loads, similar to those founds in adults. This observation raises new questions regarding the role of infants in the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Evaluación de intervenciones durante la pandemia COVID-19: desarrollo de un modelo basado en subpoblaciones con distintas tasas de contacto
Revista Argentina de Microbiología
Revista Argentina de Microbiología, 2020
Improving access to diagnosis constitutes a key step in the control of the Human immunodeficiency... more Improving access to diagnosis constitutes a key step in the control of the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS epidemic. Rapid testing is increasingly gaining interest as a powerful diagnostic tool to achieve this goal. The purpose of this study was to implement the rapid HIV test (RHT) in a clinical setting in order to evaluate its effectiveness in increasing HIV diagnosis and patient linkage to the healthcare system. The RHT was offered to all patients attending a sexually-transmitted disease clinic in the City of Buenos Aires between March and December 2015. A total of 593 RHT were performed. The implementation of the RHT yielded an increase in frequency of diagnosis from 6.9% to 31.4% (p<0.001). The first steps of the care cascade showed high retention rates around 90%. RHT yielded an HIV prevalence of 6.3% (95% CI: 4.2-8.5) in this population. HIV prevalence tended to be higher in individuals with no previous HIV testing (p=0.09). Linkage to the healthcare system was associated with a higher probability of having been tested for HIV (p=0.008). The incorporation of the RHT resulted in a high retention of patients and an increase in both frequency of diagnosis and results reception when compared to the classic methodology.
Scientific Reports, 2018
Even though syphilis can be easily diagnosed by simple and low-cost laboratory methods, it contin... more Even though syphilis can be easily diagnosed by simple and low-cost laboratory methods, it continues to be an important health problem. Rapid tests (RT) for the detection of treponemal antibodies can facilitate earlier diagnosis, access to treatment and linkage to care. The aim of this study was to analyse the usefulness of the incorporation of a RT in the detection of patients infected with T. pallidum in a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) clinic. Between March and December 2015, a syphilis RT was offered to patients who spontaneously attended the clinic. Conventional serology testing was additionally indicated to every participant. The RT for syphilis was offered to 1887 patients, of whom 31.1% agreed to get tested. VDRL test was performed in 84.0% of patients that were also tested with syphilis RT, with a significantly higher frequency observed among participants with reactive RT (94.3% vs. 79.8%, p < 0.001). These results showed that 33.7% of the participants were reactive for the RT and 27.0% were reactive for the VDRL test. Both tests were reactive in 24.9% and non-reactive in 64.3%. A high prevalence of active syphilis was detected in patients attending the clinic. The use of a syphilis RT had a positive impact, which in combination with the VDRL test increased the number of patients that were effectively diagnosed.
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Papers by Nicolás Morando