Application of quantitative Real-Time PCR for monitoring parasitemia in immunocompromised patients with Chagas Disease (positive HIV and kidney transplant) and in patients submitted to specific treatment with benznidazole

Abstract

The research group, employees and students will develop this new project proposal in the Diagnosis Laboratory of Infectious Diseases by Molecular Biology Techniques (LDDITBM), Internal Medicine Department, School of Medical Sciences, UNICAMP, in association with Oswaldo Cruz Mato Grosso do Sul Foundation (FIOCRUZ / MS) and FIOCRUZ /RJ. This project aims to implement and evaluate the methodology of real-time PCR (QPCR) in that laboratory, whose data may help clinicians in monitoring the parasitemia in cases of Chagas' disease (CD) in patients for specific treatment, in immunosuppressed HIV patients and in patients undergoing renal transplant (RT). It is also our goal to demonstrate the genetic profile of T. cruzi isolated from patients undergoing RT and HIV-positive. We have undoubtedly scientific results of the utmost importance, as a fast, sensitive and reliable technique will be applied (QPCR) to track the number of parasites in a given period of time, using equipment and technology, in addition to expanding collaborations with other centers. The team of researchers involved has experience in the related field, and has, in recent years, standardizing, implementing and validating techniques that help clinical management in cases of infectious and parasitic diseases, such as HIV, CMV, Streptococcus and Trypanosoma cruzi. We believe that this project will provide the results that may follow the evolution of etiological treatment of Chagas disease, even if new drugs are launched. In cases of immunosuppression (transplant and HIV-positive), the clinician's decision so that there is reactivation may be based primarily on that QPCR technique. Within this study are inserted the following projects: "Quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi by qPCR in a row kidney transplant in the Unicamp's Clinical Hospital", "Real-time PCR monitoring of positive parasitemia of HIV patients with Chagas disease" and "Rating by real-time PCR monitoring of patients with parasitological Chagas disease treated with benznidazole ". (AU)