Browsing by Author "Kalergis Parra, Alexis Mikes"

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    Differential Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2-Specific Humoral Response in Inactivated Virus-Vaccinated, Convalescent, and Breakthrough-Infected Subjects
    (OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC, 2023) Duarte Peñaloza, Luisa Fernanda; Vazquez Hernandez Yaneisi; Diethelm Varela, Benjamin Manuel; Pavez, Valentina; Berrios-Rojas, Roslye; Riedel, Claudia A.; Mendez, Constanza; White, Jessica A.; Kalergis Parra, Alexis Mikes; Bueno Ramírez, Susan Marcela; González Muñoz, Pablo Alberto
    Background. We sought to identify potential antigens for discerning between humoral responses elicited after vaccination with CoronaVac (a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] inactivated vaccine), natural infection, or breakthrough infection., Methods. Serum samples obtained from volunteers immunized with CoronaVac (2 and 3 doses), breakthrough case patients, and from convalescent individuals were analyzed to determine the immunoglobulin (Ig) G responses against 3 structural and 8 nonstructural SARS-CoV-2 antigens., Results. Immunization with CoronaVac induced higher levels of antibodies against the viral membrane (M) protein compared with convalescent subjects both after primary vaccination and after a booster dose. Individuals receiving a booster dose displayed equivalent levels of IgG antibodies against the nucleocapsid (N) protein, similar to convalescent subjects. Breakthrough case patients produced the highest antibody levels against the N and M proteins. Antibodies against nonstructural viral proteins were present in >50% of the convalescent subjects., Conclusions. Vaccinated individuals elicited a different humoral response compared to convalescent subjects. The analysis of particular SARS-CoV-2 antigens could be used as biomarkers for determining infection in subjects previously vaccinated with CoronaVac.
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    Risk Factors from Pregnancy to Adulthood in Multiple Sclerosis Outcome
    (2022) Gonzalez-Madrid, Enrique; Rangel-Ramirez, Ma. Andreina; Mendoza-Leon, Maria Jose; Alvarez-Mardones, Oscar; González Muñoz, Pablo Alberto; Kalergis Parra, Alexis Mikes; Opazo, Ma. Cecilia; Riedel, Claudia A.
    Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a robust inflammatory response against myelin sheath antigens, which causes astrocyte and microglial activation and demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). Multiple genetic predispositions and environmental factors are known to influence the immune response in autoimmune diseases, such as MS, and in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. Although the predisposition to suffer from MS seems to be a multifactorial process, a highly sensitive period is pregnancy due to factors that alter the development and differentiation of the CNS and the immune system, which increases the offspring's susceptibility to develop MS. In this regard, there is evidence that thyroid hormone deficiency during gestation, such as hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia, may increase susceptibility to autoimmune diseases such as MS. In this review, we discuss the relevance of the gestational period for the development of MS in adulthood.