The detection by molecular methods of the HLA-B*27 allele has become in recent years in Cuba in a tool that supports the diagnosis of some diseases generally known as spondyloarthropathies (SpA).In order to determine the percentage of the gene positivity in individuals with clinical suspicion of SpA and uveitis, we studied 236 DNA samples characterized in gender, age and skin color, of patients with HLA-B*27 indication.The genotyping was performed by Real Time - PCR with the LightMix HLA-B*27 SimpleProbe kit (TIBMOLBIOL). The 42.7% of the cases were older than 40 years, with a mean of 39 years old and a male - female ratio of 0.84; however, patients debuting with HLA-B*27-related diseases should be predominantly males between the second and third decade of life. Our results showed that 188 (78.4%) were negative and only 51 (21.6%) were positive however, according to the type of pathology, the frequency of this gene should be between 36.0% and 90.0%.The statistical differences were only associate to gender but not in the groups of different skin color and presumptive diagnosis. The 18.0% of the laboratory test request forms had no diagnostic impression and these cases had the lowest positivity rates. The present results show that the requests for HLA-B*27 generated in the Cuban health system do not follow uniform criteria of clinical suspicion of SpA and uveitis; and that request forms do not include the necessary data to allow a correct interpretation of this immunogenetic test.

La detección por métodos moleculares del alelo HLA-B*27 se ha convertido en los últimos años en Cuba, en una herramienta que apoya el diagnóstico de enfermedades conocidas, de manera general, como espondiloartropatías (SpA). Con el objetivo de determinar el porcentaje de positividad del alelo en individuos con sospecha clínica de SpA y uveitis, se estudiaron muestras de ADN pertenecientes a 236 pacientes caracterizados en género, edad y color de la piel. Para la genotipificación se utilizó el PCR en tiempo real con el estuche comercial LightMix HLA-B*27 SimpleProbe (TIBMOLBIOL). El 42,7% de los casos fueron mayores de 40 años, con un promedio de edad de 39 años y una relación de masculino - femenino de 0,84; sin embargo, los pacientes que debutan con enfermedades relacionadas con el HLA-B*27 deberían ser fundamentalmente varones entre la segunda y tercera década de vida. De las muestras estudiadas solamente 51 (21,6%) resultaron positivas para el alelo en cuestión. Sin embargo, según el tipo de enfermedad, la frecuencia del gen debería encontrarse entre el 36,0 y el 90,0%. Solo se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las comparaciones por géneros. El 18,0% de las indicaciones no contaban con impresión diagnóstica y estos casos presentaron la positividad más baja. Los presentes resultados evidencian que las solicitudes de HLA-B*27 que se generan en el sistema de salud cubano no siguen criterios uniformes de sospecha clínica de las SpA y uveítis; y que en las peticiones de exámenes no se incluyen los datos necesarios que permitan una correcta interpretación de esta prueba inmunogenética.

Secondary complications due to infections caused by Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) are the major infectious causes of morbidity and mortality in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) grafts. Detection of specific antibodies against each of those viruses in the pre-transplant period allows the prevention of the primary infection during the immune suppressive therapy.The aim of the investigation was to determine seroprevalence of antibodies against CMV and EBV and also to identify the patients in risk of a primary infection in the post-transplant period.The investigation was conducted between January 2013 and January 2016 by the Histocompatibility Department of Instiute of Hematology and Immunology. Antibodies IgM and IgG against CMV and EBV were tested by ELISA in 110 patients with the indication for histocompatibility testing for a HSC graft.Seroprevalence of antibodies against CMV in this population was 84.5% and seroprevalence of antibodies against EBV was 90.9%. The 70.6% of children less than 9 years old had positive IgG CMV antibodies and the 64.7% of them had positive IgG EBV antibodies. An increase of seroprevalence with age was found. The seroprevalence of antibodies against CMV and EBV in patients waiting for a HSC transplant in Cuba is similar to the populations in other countries. This result suggests the need of avoiding the transmissiontoseronegative recipients.

Las complicaciones secundarias a las infecciones por citomegalovirus (CMV) y virus de Epstein Barr (EBV) constituyen las principales causas de morbilidad y mortalidad por infecciones en los pacientes que reciben injertos de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas (CPH). La detección de anticuerpos específicos contra cada uno de estos virus en el periodo pretrasplante permite prevenir la primoinfección durante la inmunosupresión terapéutica.La investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-CMV y anti-EBV e identificar aquellos pacientes con riesgo de adquirir una infección primaria postrasplante.Se realizó la detección de anticuerpos IgM e IgG anti-CMV y anti-EBV por ELISA, a 110 pacientescon indicación de pruebas de histocompatibilidad para trasplante de CPH, entre enero del 2013 y enero del 2016, en el Departamento de Histocompatibilidad del Instituto de Hematología e Inmunología de La Habana.La seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-CMV en la población estudiada fue del 84,5 % y anti-EBV, del 90,9 %. Los menores de 9 años presentaron un porcentaje de positivad del 70,6 y 64,7 % para IgG anti-CMV y EBV respectivamente, encontrándose un incremento de la seroprevalencia con la edad.La seroprevalenciade anticuerpos anti-CMV y anti-EBV en los pacientes en espera de trasplante de CPH en Cuba es semejante a otras poblaciones; lo que sugiere la necesidad evitar el contagio por transmisión a los casos seronegativos.

INTRODUCTION Pneumococcal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality and are associated with considerable economic burden on health systems. To prevent pneumococcal infections, 7-valent conjugate vaccines have been available for over a decade; more recently, 10- and 13-valent conjugate vaccines have been formulated, which are more immunogenic than vaccines with capsular polysaccharides only. In Cuba, a new vaccine candidate has been developed, PCV7-TT, a conjugate of tetanus toxoid with antigens of seven of the serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae with highest circulation in Cuba and in the world: 1, 5, 6B, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F. OBJECTIVE Assess the safety of the vaccine candidate PCV7-TT in healthy adults and conduct a preliminary assessment of its immunogenicity. METHODS A phase I, double-blind clinical trial was performed at the National Toxicology Center in Havana, Cuba. Healthy male volunteers aged 18–35 years were randomly assigned to two groups: 20 received the vaccine candidate PCV7-TT and 20 the polyvalent antipneumococcal vaccine PNEUMO-23 used as control, each in a single intramuscular dose. To assess safety, the occurrence of adverse events was monitored for 30 days following inoculation. To explore immunogenicity, concentrations of serotype-specific antibodies was quantified before and 30 days after inoculation, as well titers of opsonophagocytic antibodies. (National Clinical Trial Registry RPCEC00000133) RESULTS Local adverse events were pain, redness, induration, increased sensitivity to touch, and warmth in the injection area. Pain was registered in 70% of individuals who received PCV7-TT and in 75% of those vaccinated with PNEUMO-23. Reported systemic adverse events were general malaise, headache and drowsiness. All adverse events appeared in the first 72 hours post inoculation and lasted no longer than 3 days. One event was reported that was classified as severe in intensity and serious in consequences, but it was unrelated to vaccination—acute appendicitis in one individual inoculated with the control vaccine. Before vaccination, all participants but one had antibody concentrations ≥0.20 μg/ml against the vaccine strains; after vaccination 100% of individuals were positive and the concentrations of antibodies increased in previously positive volunteers. Some individuals had opsonophagocytic antibodies against serotypes 1, 14, 19F and 23F before vaccination, with highest concentrations against serotypes 14 and 19F. After vaccination, the percent of individuals with opsonophagocytic titers ≥1:8 for all serotypes in the vaccine was >50% in both groups. CONCLUSIONS A single dose of candidate vaccine PCV7-TT was safe when used in healthy adults. Preliminary results showed that it was able to activate an immune response against the serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae used.