Leila Sabrina Ullmann

Bio: Leila Sabrina Ullmann is an academic researcher from Sao Paulo State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Leptospirosis & Leptospira. The author has an hindex of 14, co-authored 64 publications receiving 575 citations.

Exploring the virome of diseased horses.

Abstract: Metagenomics was used to characterize viral genomes in clinical specimens of horses with various organ-specific diseases of unknown aetiology. A novel parvovirus as well as a previously described hepacivirus closely related to human hepatitis C virus and equid herpesvirus 2 were identified in the cerebrospinal fluid of horses with neurological signs. Four co-infecting picobirnaviruses, including an unusual genome with fused RNA segments, and a divergent anellovirus were found in the plasma of two febrile horses. A novel cyclovirus genome was characterized from the nasal secretion of another febrile animal. Lastly, a small circular DNA genome with a Rep gene, from a virus we called kirkovirus, was identified in the liver and spleen of a horse with fatal idiopathic hepatopathy. This study expands the number of viruses found in horses, and characterizes their genomes to assist future epidemiological studies of their transmission and potential association with various equine diseases.

Evidence of natural Zika virus infection in neotropical non-human primates in Brazil

Abstract: In Africa, Old World Primates are involved in the maintenance of sylvatic circulation of ZIKV. However, in Brazil, the hosts for the sylvatic cycle remain unknown. We hypothesized that free-living NHPs might play a role in urban/periurban ZIKV dynamics, thus we undertook an NHP ZIKV investigation in two cities in Brazil. We identified ZIKV-positive NHPs and sequences obtained were phylogenetically related to the American lineage of ZIKV. Additionally, we inoculated four C. penicillata with ZIKV and our results demonstrated that marmosets had a sustained viremia. The natural and experimental infection of NHPs with ZIKV, support the hypothesis that NHPs may be a vertebrate host in the maintainance of ZIKV transmission/circulation in urban tropical settings. Further studies are needed to understand the role they may play in maintaining the urban cycle of the ZIKV and how they may be a conduit in establishing an enzootic transmission cycle in tropical Latin America.

Interactions between environment, wild animals and human leptospirosis

Abstract: Leptospirosis, a worldwide distributed zoononis caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira (antigenically classified into serovars), may be direct or indirectly transmitted through infected urine or environment. Several domestic and wild animals are leptospirosis reservoirs. The disease presents occupational character since it is widely reported in professionals that work in humid environments - such as sewage workers and fishermen - and in places where rodents or susceptible animals are found, like slaughterhouses and veterinary clinics. In developing countries, outbreaks are related to lack of sanitation, overcrowding in inadequate housing and climatic conditions. In developed countries, sporadic cases occur in aquatic recreational activities including swimming and triathlon. The diagnosis of leptospirosis is complex due to the variety of symptoms, disease severity and the lack of techniques that are able to early detect the infection. Thus, leptospirosis causes numerous public health problems and educational activities are very important to its control.

High frequency of genital carriers of Leptospira sp. in sheep slaughtered in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil.

Abstract: Although some studies in sheep have indicated leptospire colonization of the genital tract, further studies are needed to clarify the role of genital carriers in this species. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the colonization of pathogenic leptospires in the genital and urinary tract of slaughtered sheep. Fifty-seven adult, female woolless sheep destined for slaughter were used. Renal (n = 57), bladder (n = 57), ovary (n = 34), uterine tube (n = 44), and uterus (n = 33) samples were collected for molecular detection of Leptospira sp. DNA, and blood samples (n = 57) for serological testing. The molecular testing was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the serological testing was performed using microscopic serum agglutination test (MAT). Samples with amplifying DNA were subjected to genetic sequencing. In total, leptospiral DNA was found in the tissues of 44 (77.2%) sheep, whereas only nine animals were positive on both PCR and MAT; there was slight agreement between PCR and MAT techniques (k = 0.0268; p = 0.684). In 61 (54.9%) genital tract and in five (4.4%) urinary tract samples, the leptospiral DNA was detected, with significant difference (p < 0.001). The genes of one sample from the uterine tube and another from the bladder were sequenced and demonstrated 99% similarity to Leptospira interrogans. Anti-Leptospira antibodies were detected in 11 (19.3%) of the tested animals. The results reinforce the importance of the genital tract as an extra-renal site of colonization, suggesting the possibility of venereal transmission in sheep.

SPAdes, a new genome assembly algorithm and its applications to single-cell sequencing ( 7th Annual SFAF Meeting, 2012)

Abstract: The lion's share of bacteria in various environments cannot be cloned in the laboratory and thus cannot be sequenced using existing technologies. A major goal of single-cell genomics is to complement gene-centric metagenomic data with whole-genome assemblies of uncultivated organisms. Assembly of single-cell data is challenging because of highly non-uniform read coverage as well as elevated levels of sequencing errors and chimeric reads. We describe SPAdes, a new assembler for both single-cell and standard (multicell) assembly, and demonstrate that it improves on the recently released E+V-SC assembler (specialized for single-cell data) and on popular assemblers Velvet and SoapDeNovo (for multicell data). SPAdes generates single-cell assemblies, providing information about genomes of uncultivatable bacteria that vastly exceeds what may be obtained via traditional metagenomics studies. SPAdes is available online ( http://bioinf.spbau.ru/spades ). It is distributed as open source software.

專題討論－細螺旋體病（Leptospirosis）

Abstract: Asevere type of jaundice that appeared in epidemic form was described by Adolf W eil of " eisbaden in 1880, and from this time for some years there was a tendency to refer to all cases ? severe jaundice that appeared in epidemic !?nn as Weil's disease. In 1915 some Japanese Investigators associated a slender coiled oiganwith a severe febrile attack, usually accompanied by jaundice, that occurred in both cPiclemic and sporadic form in Japan, this 0rganism they recovered from the blood and **** ^ Patients during life, and from the livci 'n(> kidneys post mortem.

Toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in Brazil: high prevalence, high burden of disease, and epidemiology.

Abstract: SUMMARY Infections by the protozoan parasiteToxoplasma gondiiarewidely prevalent in humans and animals in Brazil The burden of clinical toxoplasmosis in humans is considered to be very high The high prevalence and encouragement of the Brazilian Governmentprovidesauniqueopportunityforinternationalgroupstostudytheepidemiologyandcontroloftoxoplasmosis in Brazil Many early papers on toxoplasmosis in Brazil were published in Portuguese and often not available to scientists in English-speaking countries In the present paper we review prevalence, clinical spectrum, molecular epidemiology, and control of T gondii in humans and animals in Brazil This knowledge should be useful to biologists, public health workers, veterinarians, and physicians Brazil has a very high rate of T gondii infection in humans Up to 50% of elementary school children and 50–80% of women of child-bearing age have antibodies to T gondii The risks for uninfected women to acquire toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and fetal transmission are high because the environment is highly contaminated with oocysts The burden of toxoplasmosis in congenitally infected children is also very high From limited data on screening of infants for T gondii IgM at birth, 5–23 children are born infected per 10000 live births in Brazil Based on an estimate of 1 infected child per 1000 births, 2649 children with congenital toxoplasmosis are likely to be born annually in Brazil Most of these infected children are likely to develop symptoms or signs of clinical toxoplasmosis Among the congenitally infected childrenwhoseclinicaldataaredescribedinthisreview,severaldiedsoonafterbirth,35%hadneurologicaldiseaseincluding hydrocephalus, microcephaly and mental retardation, 80% had ocular lesions, and in one report 40% of children had hearing loss The severity of clinical toxoplasmosis in Brazilian children may be associated with the genetic characteristics of T gondii isolates prevailing in animals and humans in Brazil

Viral Metagenomics Revealed Sendai Virus and Coronavirus Infection of Malayan Pangolins ( Manis javanica )

Abstract: Pangolins are endangered animals in urgent need of protection. Identifying and cataloguing the viruses carried by pangolins is a logical approach to evaluate the range of potential pathogens and help with conservation. This study provides insight into viral communities of Malayan Pangolins (Manis javanica) as well as the molecular epidemiology of dominant pathogenic viruses between Malayan Pangolin and other hosts. A total of 62,508 de novo assembled contigs were constructed, and a BLAST search revealed 3600 ones (≥300 nt) were related to viral sequences, of which 68 contigs had a high level of sequence similarity to known viruses, while dominant viruses were the Sendai virus and Coronavirus. This is the first report on the viral diversity of pangolins, expanding our understanding of the virome in endangered species, and providing insight into the overall diversity of viruses that may be capable of directly or indirectly crossing over into other mammals.