Review
Immunology
Weile Xie, Longlong Wang, Dan Luo, Vijay Soni, Eric H. Rosenn, Zhe Wang
Summary: Mycobacterium smegmatis (M.sm) is a widely used alternative model organism for studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). It has high sequence homology with M.tb but is considered non-pathogenic in humans. Recent advancements in vaccinomics tools that support the efficacy of a M.sm-based vaccine vector are reviewed in this article, highlighting the potential for developing next-generation recombinant vaccines against rapidly developing diseases through the integration of systems biology and molecular omics techniques.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Mikaela Mutru, Sanna Isosomppi, Inka Aho, Kirsi Liitsola, Henrikki Brummer-Korvenkontio, Jukka Ollgren, Oskari Luomala, Pia Kivela
Summary: The Finnish HIV Quality of Care Register (FINHIV) was created to estimate the number of people living with HIV in Finland, evaluate the use of antiretroviral medication and viral suppression, examine changes in the HIV epidemic, and evaluate the health of PLWH. The register includes all diagnosed and treated individuals since 1984 and currently consists of 4218 PLWH. Finland has achieved the UNAIDS targets for 2020, but there is an increasing proportion of late-stage HIV diagnoses.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
McEwen Khundi, James R. Carpenter, Marriott Nliwasa, Ted Cohen, Elizabeth L. Corbett, Peter MacPherson
Summary: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of spatially targeted community public health interventions for HIV, tuberculosis, leprosy, and malaria. The results showed that studies investigating spatially targeted interventions were limited in number and often had methodological limitations, impacting the interpretation of intervention impacts. Applying advanced epidemiological methodologies supporting robust hotspot identification and larger or more intensive interventions would strengthen the evidence base for this important approach.
Review
Immunology
Laura Matarazzo, Paulo J. G. Bettencourt
Summary: The success of mRNA-based vaccines against COVID-19 has sparked interest in mRNA technology for vaccinology. Since 2020, there has been a significant increase in the development of mRNA vaccines, with improvements in formulation design, delivery methods, and manufacturing processes. However, challenges such as high raw material costs, lack of standardization, and delivery optimization remain. mRNA technology holds promise for addressing emerging infectious diseases and hard-to-treat diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Debora Inacio Leite, Stefany de Castro Bazan Moura, Maria da Conceicao Avelino Dias, Carolina Catta Preta Costa, Gustavo Peixoto Machado, Luiz Claudio Ferreira Pimentel, Frederico Silva Castelo Branco, Rui Moreira, Monica Macedo Bastos, Nubia Boechat
Summary: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). An increase in viral load leads to a decline in T lymphocytes, compromising the immune system. Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common opportunistic disease in HIV-positive patients. Treatment for HIV-TB coinfection is challenging due to drug interactions, toxicity, non-adherence, and resistance. Recent approaches involve using molecules that target multiple distinct sites to improve therapy. This review discusses the importance of multitarget strategies and the development of structural entities for simultaneous treatment of HIV-TB.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Edwin Wouters, Andre Janse van Rensburg, Michelle Engelbrecht, Veerle Buffel, Linda Campbell, Nina Sommerland, Asta Rau, G. Kigozi, Josefien van Olmen, Caroline Masquillier
Summary: Tuberculosis has become a health hazard for healthcare workers in South African hospitals, who are also confronted with HIV and its stigma. This study confirms that the link between HIV and TB, as well as the perceived stigmatization of HIV by colleagues, create a double stigma which leads to a lower willingness to use occupational health units for TB screening and treatment.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jennifer Price, Yifei Ma, Adaora Adimora, Margaret Fischl, Audrey L. French, Elizabeth T. Golub, Deborah Konkle-Parker, Mark H. Kuniholm, Ighovwerha Ofotokun, Michael Plankey, Anjali Sharma, Phyllis C. Tien
Summary: The LIVRA study investigates the impact of HIV, HCV, and ageing on liver disease progression in women. The study found a high prevalence of steatosis and fibrosis among the participants. Factors such as waist circumference and insulin resistance were associated with steatosis, while HIV/HCV seropositivity and HCV seropositivity alone were associated with a lower risk of steatosis.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Asaad Sharhani, Zahra Jorjoran Shushtari, Azam Rahmani, Bahram Armoon, Mehdi Noroozi, Elaheh Ahounbar, Salah Eddin Karimi, Peter Higgs
Summary: This study aims to estimate the incidence of HIV and HCV among people who inject drugs using mathematical modelling. Various studies will be reviewed and analyzed to answer research questions, with assessments on bias, clinical heterogeneity, and subgroup analyses. The findings will be disseminated through publication in scientific journals and presentations at conferences.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Brian Zanoni, Moherndran Archary, Thobekile Sibaya, Tatiana Ramos, Geri Donenberg, Maryam Shahmanesh, Connie Celum, Audrey Pettifor, Linda Gail Bekker, Jessica Haberer
Summary: Compared with adults, adolescents in South Africa have lower levels of viral suppression in each step of the HIV continuum of care. Our study identified interventions such as in-home and HIV self-testing, community-based adherence support, and provision of adolescent-friendly services as the most impactful and scalable approaches to address the adolescent HIV continuum of care in South Africa. Future interventions should be comprehensive and tailored to the specific needs of adolescents.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Emmanuel Osei Bonsu, Isaac Yeboah Addo, Benjamin Noble Adjei, Muhib Mohammed Alhassan, Emmanuel Kweku Nakua
Summary: This study retrospectively reviewed the TB case register for the Kwabre East Municipality from 2010 to 2020 and found that 18% of TB patients were coinfected with HIV. The prevalence of TB-HIV coinfection was highest in 2015, accounting for 40% of all registered TB cases. Patients' age and TB treatment outcomes were significantly associated with TB-HIV coinfection.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chandre Liebenberg, Laneke Luies, Aurelia A. Williams
Summary: The HIV/AIDS and TB pandemics are perpetuated by a substantial global burden of HIV/TB co-infection, with immunological deterioration and metabolic mechanisms playing important roles in their synergy during co-infection. Metabolomics as a tool for studying HIV/TB co-infection offers insights into infection- and treatment-induced metabolic adaptations, but further research is needed to fully understand this complex interaction.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Samantha Donnellan, Shaun H. Pennington, Alessandra Ruggiero, Carmen Martinez-Rodriguez, Marion Pouget, Jordan Thomas, Steve A. Ward, Georgios Pollakis, Giancarlo A. Biagini, William A. Paxton
Summary: The coinfection of tuberculosis and HIV is a major global health concern. This study used fluorescent labeled viral particles and bacteria to investigate the pathogenesis and treatment of coinfection. It was found that HIV infection inhibited the replication of tuberculosis, and antiviral and antimicrobial treatments showed therapeutic efficacy. This method can be used for mechanistic studies to develop novel treatment strategies.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Saeed Shoar, Calvin D. Dao, Noel M. Higgason, Nasrin Shoar
Summary: HIV infection is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of myocardial fibrosis (MF) among people living with HIV (PLWH) and determine the factors associated with higher odds of MF development compared with HIV-negative population. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ali A. Rabaan, Mohammed Garout, Mohammed Aljeldah, Basim R. Al Shammari, Abdulsalam Alawfi, Amer Alshengeti, Mustafa A. Najim, Mohammed Alrouji, Yasir Almuhanna, Mohammed Alissa, Mutaib M. Mashraqi, Ameen S. S. Alwashmi, Mashael Alhajri, Souad Mohammed Alateah, Ramadan Abdelmoez Farahat, Ranjan K. Mohapatra
Summary: This study used a computational drug design pipeline to screen potential compounds from the NP-lib database for their inhibitory effect on the RpfB protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Molecular dynamics simulation and principal component analysis confirmed the effectiveness of the top 5 hits, with three compounds showing significant binding to the functional site of the RpfB protein. The results suggest promising potential for these compounds as anti-tuberculosis drugs, but further experimental validation is needed.
MOLECULAR DIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Dong-Mei Wang, Qing-Feng Li, Ma Zhu, Yuan-Hong Xu, Yi Liao
Summary: This study analyzed the clinical characteristics, common sites, and drug resistance profile of culture-confirmed extrapulmonary tuberculosis/human immunodeficiency virus (EPTB/HIV) co-infection patients in Southwest China from 2017 to 2020. The study found that the majority of patients were young males, and the most common sites of EPTB were meningeal and lymphatic. The common symptoms were diarrhea, headache, and fever. High rates of drug resistance were observed.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)
