Carla Utescher - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Carla Utescher
Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Jun 13, 2024
Epidemiology and Infection, Dec 31, 2022
Systematic and Applied Acarology, 2011
The antimicrobial activity of substances present in the egg wax of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabriciu... more The antimicrobial activity of substances present in the egg wax of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) was studied, focusing on bacteria, fungi and yeast. Wax was extracted using chloroform/methanol (2:1), and antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the solid culture diffusion assay method, with evaluations at 24, 48 and 72 hours after inoculation. The best results were obtained against yeasts, fungi and Gram-positive bacteria. For enteroviruses, no cytophatic effect in Vero cell cultures was observed for at least 48 hours, and the cell morphology was preserved, suggesting a very interesting potential virustatic activity.
Scientific Reports
The new outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected and caused the death of mill... more The new outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected and caused the death of millions of people worldwide. Intensive efforts are underway around the world to establish effective treatments. Immunoglobulin from immunized animals or plasma from convalescent patients might constitute a specific treatment to guarantee the neutralization of the virus in the early stages of infection, especially in patients with risk factors and a high probability of progressing to severe disease. Worldwide, a few clinical trials using anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins from horses immunized with the entire spike protein or fragments of it in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 are underway. Here, we describe the development of an anti-SARS-CoV-2 equine F(ab′)2 immunoglobulin using a newly developed SARS-CoV-2 viral antigen that was purified and inactivated by radiation. Cell-based and preclinical assays showed that the F(ab′)2 immunoglobulin successfully neutralizes the virus, is safe in...
The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscular (im) i... more The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscular (im) injection at the same place of the im inoculation, of the C. d. terrificus venom was evaluated in mice. In three experiments two DL50 of the venom were inoculated and the antivenom was administered in three differents ways: half of the ED50 by intraperitoneal (ip) administration and half by injection, at the same place, immediatelly after the venom inoculation and thirty minutes after the im venom inoculation; four fifth of ED50 by ip administration and one fifth by injection, at the same place and thirty minutes after the venom inoculation. The antivenom that was administred by intraperitoneal route provided a higher protection to mice (a lower death rate in a 48 hours period) than when it was administred in parts, by intramuscular injection, at the same place of the venom inoculation (pA eficácia do antiveneno crotálico por via intramuscular (im) no local da inoculação, também im, do ve...
Journal of Clinical Virology, 2010
Background: Standard preparations for HBsAg are required for quality control of test kits and cli... more Background: Standard preparations for HBsAg are required for quality control of test kits and clinical studies on HBsAg quantitation. WHO provides purified heat inactivated HBsAg diluted in negative defribinated plasma as 2nd International Standard (IS) for quality control of tests. Objective: Study of possible alterations of antigenicity, protein composition, size and density of the heat inactivated source material (SM) for the 2nd IS. Study design: Native HBsAg and SM were examined by quantitative immune electrophoresis (QIE), SDS-PAGE, ultracentrifugation and gel chromatography. HBV DNA was sequenced and the HBsAg geno/subtype derived. Results: The SM contained 97,600 International Units HBsAg/ml in QIE which agreed very well with the previous evaluations by WHO using 10 different assays. In SDS-PAGE, SM showed on a strong background the small HBs proteins but no preS proteins. SM had a more heterogeneous density than native HBsAg and contained particle aggregates. The HBsAg geno/subtype of SM was A2/adw2. Conclusions: The IS has very good HBs antigenicity, but it lacks the preS domains, has modified HBs proteins and is partially aggregated. While it has been proven very useful for quality control of tests, certain inconsistencies due to the altered structure of its HBsAg cannot be excluded.
Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
The use of a commercial kit for the monocyte-activation test (MAT) was evaluated for assessing py... more The use of a commercial kit for the monocyte-activation test (MAT) was evaluated for assessing pyrogenic contamination of hyperimmune sera. Three batches of sera, two pyrogen free and one pyrogenic, were tested. Endotoxin spike recover indicated that sample dilutions from 1/2 to 1/10 are suitable. Kit transport and storage conditions were also evaluated, proving that an adequate cold chain must be assured to achieve good results. Furthermore, the commercial MAT kit seemed suitable to replace the rabbit pyrogen test (RPT) for pyrogen testing of hyperimmune sera, although further tests are needed to a full validation.
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, Dec 1, 2007
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, Oct 1, 2007
The aim of the present work was to evaluate an environmental monitoring program for clean rooms, ... more The aim of the present work was to evaluate an environmental monitoring program for clean rooms, or classified environments, involved in the filling and quality control of biological products produced by Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. This monitoring established the quantification, characterization and seasonality of the microorganisms in air and operators and, moreover, determined the alert and action limits. The total detectable microbial number showed some contrasts in installed air purification systems and in the operational impact on adopted procedures. The typical microbial population consisted of Staphylococcus sp, Micrococcus sp, Bacillus sp and Penicillium sp. The highest microorganism concentration occurred during summer and springtime. The established internal alert and action limits supported the operational procedures. Therefore, the environmental monitoring program is recommended for other laboratories involved in the production of vaccines, hyperimmune sera and biopharmaceuticals.
Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. São Paulo, 1993
Resumo: The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscula... more Resumo: The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscular (im) injection at the same place of the im inoculation, of the C. d. terrificus venom was evaluated in mice. In three experiments two DL50 of the venom were ...
Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo, 1994
Revista do Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Jun 13, 2024
Epidemiology and Infection, Dec 31, 2022
Systematic and Applied Acarology, 2011
The antimicrobial activity of substances present in the egg wax of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabriciu... more The antimicrobial activity of substances present in the egg wax of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius) was studied, focusing on bacteria, fungi and yeast. Wax was extracted using chloroform/methanol (2:1), and antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the solid culture diffusion assay method, with evaluations at 24, 48 and 72 hours after inoculation. The best results were obtained against yeasts, fungi and Gram-positive bacteria. For enteroviruses, no cytophatic effect in Vero cell cultures was observed for at least 48 hours, and the cell morphology was preserved, suggesting a very interesting potential virustatic activity.
Scientific Reports
The new outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected and caused the death of mill... more The new outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected and caused the death of millions of people worldwide. Intensive efforts are underway around the world to establish effective treatments. Immunoglobulin from immunized animals or plasma from convalescent patients might constitute a specific treatment to guarantee the neutralization of the virus in the early stages of infection, especially in patients with risk factors and a high probability of progressing to severe disease. Worldwide, a few clinical trials using anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins from horses immunized with the entire spike protein or fragments of it in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 are underway. Here, we describe the development of an anti-SARS-CoV-2 equine F(ab′)2 immunoglobulin using a newly developed SARS-CoV-2 viral antigen that was purified and inactivated by radiation. Cell-based and preclinical assays showed that the F(ab′)2 immunoglobulin successfully neutralizes the virus, is safe in...
The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscular (im) i... more The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscular (im) injection at the same place of the im inoculation, of the C. d. terrificus venom was evaluated in mice. In three experiments two DL50 of the venom were inoculated and the antivenom was administered in three differents ways: half of the ED50 by intraperitoneal (ip) administration and half by injection, at the same place, immediatelly after the venom inoculation and thirty minutes after the im venom inoculation; four fifth of ED50 by ip administration and one fifth by injection, at the same place and thirty minutes after the venom inoculation. The antivenom that was administred by intraperitoneal route provided a higher protection to mice (a lower death rate in a 48 hours period) than when it was administred in parts, by intramuscular injection, at the same place of the venom inoculation (pA eficácia do antiveneno crotálico por via intramuscular (im) no local da inoculação, também im, do ve...
Journal of Clinical Virology, 2010
Background: Standard preparations for HBsAg are required for quality control of test kits and cli... more Background: Standard preparations for HBsAg are required for quality control of test kits and clinical studies on HBsAg quantitation. WHO provides purified heat inactivated HBsAg diluted in negative defribinated plasma as 2nd International Standard (IS) for quality control of tests. Objective: Study of possible alterations of antigenicity, protein composition, size and density of the heat inactivated source material (SM) for the 2nd IS. Study design: Native HBsAg and SM were examined by quantitative immune electrophoresis (QIE), SDS-PAGE, ultracentrifugation and gel chromatography. HBV DNA was sequenced and the HBsAg geno/subtype derived. Results: The SM contained 97,600 International Units HBsAg/ml in QIE which agreed very well with the previous evaluations by WHO using 10 different assays. In SDS-PAGE, SM showed on a strong background the small HBs proteins but no preS proteins. SM had a more heterogeneous density than native HBsAg and contained particle aggregates. The HBsAg geno/subtype of SM was A2/adw2. Conclusions: The IS has very good HBs antigenicity, but it lacks the preS domains, has modified HBs proteins and is partially aggregated. While it has been proven very useful for quality control of tests, certain inconsistencies due to the altered structure of its HBsAg cannot be excluded.
Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
The use of a commercial kit for the monocyte-activation test (MAT) was evaluated for assessing py... more The use of a commercial kit for the monocyte-activation test (MAT) was evaluated for assessing pyrogenic contamination of hyperimmune sera. Three batches of sera, two pyrogen free and one pyrogenic, were tested. Endotoxin spike recover indicated that sample dilutions from 1/2 to 1/10 are suitable. Kit transport and storage conditions were also evaluated, proving that an adequate cold chain must be assured to achieve good results. Furthermore, the commercial MAT kit seemed suitable to replace the rabbit pyrogen test (RPT) for pyrogen testing of hyperimmune sera, although further tests are needed to a full validation.
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, Dec 1, 2007
Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, Oct 1, 2007
The aim of the present work was to evaluate an environmental monitoring program for clean rooms, ... more The aim of the present work was to evaluate an environmental monitoring program for clean rooms, or classified environments, involved in the filling and quality control of biological products produced by Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. This monitoring established the quantification, characterization and seasonality of the microorganisms in air and operators and, moreover, determined the alert and action limits. The total detectable microbial number showed some contrasts in installed air purification systems and in the operational impact on adopted procedures. The typical microbial population consisted of Staphylococcus sp, Micrococcus sp, Bacillus sp and Penicillium sp. The highest microorganism concentration occurred during summer and springtime. The established internal alert and action limits supported the operational procedures. Therefore, the environmental monitoring program is recommended for other laboratories involved in the production of vaccines, hyperimmune sera and biopharmaceuticals.
Rev. Inst. Med. Trop. São Paulo, 1993
Resumo: The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscula... more Resumo: The efficacy of the Crotalus durissus terrificus antivenom administration by intramuscular (im) injection at the same place of the im inoculation, of the C. d. terrificus venom was evaluated in mice. In three experiments two DL50 of the venom were ...
Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo, 1994