BACKGROUND Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the dhfr and dhps genes are associated with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) treatment failure and gametocyte carriage. This may result in enhanced transmission of mutant malaria parasites, as previously shown for chloroquine resistant parasites. In the present study, we determine the association between parasite mutations, submicroscopic P. f...

Kudoa septempunctata is a newly identified causative agent of foodborne diseases associated with consuming raw olive flounder. Qualitative PCR and quantitative real-time PCR have been used as notification methods to identify K. septempunctata in Japan. However, these methods require expensive equipment and are time-consuming (2-3 h for screening). To address these problems, in this study, we de...

The development and introduction of effective treatment for influenza A in the form of neuraminidase inhibitors have made the rapid diagnosis of infection important especially in high-risk populations. The aim of this study was to develop a real-time nucleic acid sequenced based amplification (NASBA) using a molecular beacon that could detect a wide range of influenza A subtypes and strains in ...

INTRODUCTION Investigating the incidence and dynamics of HIV-2 and false-negative HIV test results in a highly sexually active population where frequent opportunities exist for acquiring and transmitting infections provides additional understanding of the epidemiology of the virus in Africa. METHODOLOGY The HIV status of 900 active female sex workers (FSWs) was determined using two lateral fl...

To the Editor: The rapid rate of HIV-I replication in vivo (10' virions per day), coupled with the poor fidelity of reverse transcription of the HIV-1 genome, results in the production of new virus variants (1). This makes it easy to understand how multiple clades of HIV-1 have emerged throughout the world and explains the development of genetic diversity even within clades (2). Numerous report...

Staphylococcus aureus infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in health care settings. S. aureus clinical isolates vary in the function of the accessory gene regulator (agr), which governs the expression of virulence determinants, including surface and exoproteins, while agr activity has been correlated with patient outcome and treatment efficiency. Here we describe a dupl...