Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Sofia"
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- FORSCells: 40-days fixed prepared reagent for detection of anti-Forssman in humansPublication . Ferreira, Sofia; Mourato, Cristiana; Corpuz, Alyssa; Galvão, Sofia; Hesse, Camilla; Rocha, Clara; Jesus, Carlos; Mendes, Fernando, 1973-In 2012, the FORS system was accepted by the International Society of Blood Transfusion as the 31st blood group system. Forssman (Fs) antigen (Ag) expression is most commonly found on sheep red blood cells (RBC) but rare in human RBC. Anti-Fs antibodies (Ab) are naturally occurring in human sera and are predominantly IgM but they can also be IgG. To this day, the global prevalence of the FORS system is unknown. Currently, there is a lack of natural FORS1-positive RBC available to use for anti-Fs screening in large populations. This study was designed to produce FORS1-positive cells viable for 40 days use in the anti-Fs screening. Three to 5% FORS1-positive cells were produced using sheep's blood and CellStab stabilizer solution. The quality of the FORS1-positive cells was investigated in more than three independent experiments of ABO titration, osmotic fragility test and supernatant haemolysis. For each batch of FORS1-positive cells produced, an extended antibody panel was performed. To demonstrate that the FORS1-positive cells can be used for up to 40 days, anti-Fs screening and classification were carried out in a patient and donor population. Antigenic expression and membrane integrity of FORS1-positive cells remained stable for 40 days. Good FORS1 Ag preservation was established, and minimal haemolysis was observed. In conclusion, a novel and easy-to-produce reagent has been developed and submitted to a patent with stable FORS1 Ag expression. With this FORS1-positive cell suspension, it is now possible to screen and classify anti-Fs Ab in large populations.
- Plano Nacional de Prevenção e Controlo de Doenças Transmitidas por VetoresPublication . Silva, Andreia Jorge; George, Francisco; Falcão, Isabel Marinho; Vasconcelos, Paula; Silva, Pedro Ribeiro da; Ferreira, Sofia; Pereira, Natália; Freitas, Graça; Santos, Cristina AbreuAs doenças transmitidas por vetores representam uma ameaça global de carácter emergente ou re-emergente em várias regiões do mundo. Existem diversos vetores, tais como flebótomos, ixodídeos, entre outros, que serão abordados em eixo próprio, visto que a presente Estratégia assenta na prevenção e controlo das doenças transmitidas por mosquitos. Nestes termos, a Estratégia para o Plano de Prevenção e Controlo de Doenças Transmitidas por Vetores, ora apresentada, define os eixos de intervenção relativos às capacidades e mecanismos de preparação e respostas para garantir a prevenção e controlo para estas doenças. Incluem o conjunto de mecanismos que garantem a vigilância entomológica e, em especial, a deteção precoce das populações de mosquitos invasores. Centra-se, também, na deteção precoce de doenças transmitidas por mosquitos e na coordenação de resposta intersetorial necessária à operacionalização das medidas consideradas oportunas.