Article
Cell Biology
Ines Frank, Mariasole Cigoli, Muhammad S. Arif, Marissa D. Fahlberg, Stephanie Maldonado, Giulia Calenda, Amarendra Pegu, Eun Sung Yang, Reda Rawi, Gwo-Yu Chuang, Hui Geng, Cuiping Liu, Tongqing Zhou, Peter D. Kwong, James Arthos, Claudia Cicala, Brooke F. Grasperge, James L. Blanchard, Agegnehu Gettie, Christine M. Fennessey, Brandon F. Keele, Monica Vaccari, Thomas J. Hope, Anthony S. Fauci, John R. Mascola, Elena Martinelli
Summary: In this study, it was found that combining bNAbs with Rh-α(4)β(7) integrin blockade delayed viral rebound in SHIVSF162P3-infected macaques compared to treatment with bNAbs alone. The combination therapy showed a modest prolongation of virologic control in some macaques, indicating the potential benefit of targeting both bNAbs and integrin alpha(4)beta(7) in antiviral therapy.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Virology
John M. Coffin, Stephen H. Hughes
Summary: HIV infection forms a latent reservoir during ART treatment, with most cells being large clones rather than the traditional resting cells. These expanding or destined-to-expand cells are primarily antigen-driven, with a majority carrying defective proviruses but some carrying intact infectious proviruses. While most proviruses remain transcriptionally silent, a small fraction can produce low levels of infectious virus.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carolyn Allen, Alexandre Ellis, Ruibin Liang, Ailam Lim, Sandra Newbury
Summary: Canine distemper virus (CDV) is still a significant cause of illness and death in animal shelters. RT-PCR is commonly used for diagnosis and monitoring of CDV in dogs. This retrospective study investigated the duration and characteristics of viral RNA excretion in shelter dogs with CDV, and explored the relationship between viral RNA excretion and infectious potential using virus isolation data.
Article
Immunology
Brianna C. Davey, Mary S. Pampusch, Emily K. Cartwright, Hadia M. Abdelaal, Eva G. Rakasz, Aaron Rendahl, Edward A. Berger, Pamela J. Skinner
Summary: T cells expressing a SIV-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and CXCR5 were infused into SIV-infected rhesus macaques on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to assess their ability to control the virus. These cells showed evidence of functionality but failed to persist in the animals beyond 28 days, possibly due to the development of anti-CAR antibodies. The study suggests that the CD4 and CD28 domains of the CAR are immunogenic and could impact the long-term persistence of CAR immunotherapies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Massimiliano Bissa, Veronica Galli, Luca Schifanella, Monica Vaccari, Mohammad Arif Rahman, Giacomo Gorini, Nicolo Binello, Sarkis Sarkis, Anna Gutowska, Isabela Silva de Castro, Melvin N. Doster, Ramona Moles, Guido Ferrari, Xiaoying Shen, Georgia D. Tomaras, David C. Montefiori, Kombo F. N'guessan, Dominic Paquin-Proulx, Pamela A. Kozlowski, David J. Venzon, Hyoyoung Choo-Wosoba, Matthew W. Breed, Joshua Kramer, Genoveffa Franchini
Summary: The efficacy of the DNA/ALVAC/gp120/alum vaccine in the absence of neutralizing antibodies is attributed to a delicate balance of pro-and anti-inflammatory immune responses, which effectively reduces the risk of SIVmac251 acquisition in macaques. This efficacy is associated with antibodies recognizing the V2 helical conformation, DC-10 tolerogenic dendritic cells promoting the clearance of apoptotic cells through efferocytosis, and downregulation of CCR5 on vaccine-induced gut homing CD4(+) cells. IGF-1, a potent RAS activator, was found to alter epitope recognition and affect ADCC and efferocytosis, but it also compensates for these negative effects by reducing CCR5 expression on CD4(+) gut-homing T-cells, resulting in equivalent vaccine efficacy (71% with IGF-1 and 69% without).
Article
Virology
Hang Liu, Jin-Biao Liu, Feng-Zhen Meng, Xi-Qiu Xu, Yong Wang, Qiao-Yang Xian, Run-Hong Zhou, Qian-Hao Xiao, Zhi-Xiang Huang, Li Zhou, Jie-Liang Li, Xiang-Dong Li, Xu Wang, Wen-Zhe Ho, Ke Zhuang
Summary: An experiment on monkeys showed that antibody-mediated acute CD4(+) T cell depletion had minimal impact on plasma viral load and disease progression in chronically SHIV-infected cynomolgus monkeys, with little change in viral load and almost no effect on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines associated with disease progression.
Article
Virology
Jingliang Chen, Yaozu He, Huolin Zhong, Fengyu Hu, Yonghong Li, Yeyang Zhang, Xia Zhang, Weiyin Lin, Quanmin Li, Feilong Xu, Shaozhen Chen, Hui Zhang, Weiping Cai, Linghua Li
Summary: Some HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) develop low-level viremia (LLV), which is associated with virologic failure. The characteristics of CD4+ T cells in LLV are largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome profiling of CD4+ T cells from healthy controls, HIV-infected patients with virologic suppression, and those with LLV. We found that CD4+ T cells in LLV expressed higher levels of Th1 signature transcription factors, toll-like receptors, anti-HIV entry chemokines, and antiIL-1& beta; factors compared to virologic suppression. We also identified pathways that could promote HIV-1 replication in LLV. Finally, we evaluated the effects of upregulated transcription factors on HIV-1 promoter activity and found that CXXC5 increased, while SOX5 suppressed HIV-1 transcription.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Cheng-Te Lee, Hsin-Pai Chen, Hsi-Hsun Lin, Meng-Yu Ke, Ping-Feng Wu
Summary: The relationship between low-level viremia and CD4(+) T-cell count plays a significant role in patients with HIV/AIDS. Patients with a history of malignancy, high copy-year viremia, and lower nadir CD4(+) cell counts should be carefully monitored in clinical settings.
JOURNAL OF THE CHINESE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sarah E. Lovelace, Sabrina Helmold Hait, Eun Sung Yang, Madison L. Fox, Cuiping Liu, Misook Choe, Xuejun Chen, Elizabeth McCarthy, John-Paul Todd, Ruth A. Woodward, Richard A. Koup, John R. Mascola, Amarendra Pegu
Summary: Depletion of B cells using anti-CD20 antibodies successfully inhibited the emergence of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) in a SHIV-infected rhesus macaque model, improving the assessment of the anti-viral efficacy of bNAbs.
Article
Virology
Xinjie Li, Liyan Zhu, Yue Yin, Xueying Fan, Linting Lv, Yuqi Zhang, Yijin Pan, Yangxuanyu Yan, Hua Liang, Jing Xue, Tao Shen
Summary: This study investigates the impact of NK cells on the viral levels of SIV-infected macaques and finds a significant positive correlation between the frequency of NK cells and the ratios of cellular SIV DNA/RNA. However, the limited abundance of NK cells in lymph nodes restricts their cytotoxicity effect on the latent SIV viral load.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ehsan Feizollahi, Urmila Basu, Rudolph Fredua-Agyeman, Brasathe Jeganathan, Lusine Tonoyan, Stephen E. Strelkov, Thava Vasanthan, Arno G. Siraki, M. S. Roopesh
Summary: This study investigated the potential of plasma-activated water (PAW) bubbles for the steeping of naturally infected barley (NIB) during the malting process. The PAW bubbles produced by bubble spark discharge (BSD) treatment at low temperature resulted in the greatest concentration of oxygen-nitrogen reactive species (RONS) and achieved 57.3% degradation of deoxynivalenol (DON). However, this treatment significantly reduced germination. Continuous jet atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) treatment performed better in terms of both DON reduction and germination improvement. Higher temperature of PAW bubbles significantly reduced the concentration of RONS. The PAW bubble treatment did not significantly reduce infection of NIB according to quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis and fungal culture tests.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Edda Russo, Giulia Nannini, Gaetana Sterrantino, Seble Tekle Kiros, Vincenzo Di Pilato, Marco Coppi, Simone Baldi, Elena Niccolai, Federica Ricci, Matteo Ramazzotti, Marco Pallecchi, Filippo Lagi, Gian Maria Rossolini, Alessandro Bartoloni, Gianluca Bartolucci, Amedeo Amedei
Summary: Our study compared the differences in fecal microbial composition, serum and fecal microbial metabolites, and serum cytokine profile between treatment-naive patients before starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) and after achieving virological suppression after 24 weeks of ART. We found modest alterations in microbiota composition and changes in serum metabolites and cytokine levels in the viral suppression condition. In addition, we detected differences in microbiota composition and metabolites between immunological responders (IRs) and immunological non-responders (INRs).
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Atsuhiko Hasegawa, Megumi Murata, Tomoka Fujikawa, Kuniko Katagiri, Yoshiko Nagano, Takao Masuda, Madoka Kuramitsu, Shinsuke Nakajima, Jun-ichi Fujisawa, Kazu Okuma, Poonam Grover, Maureen Kidiga, Hirofumi Akari, Mari Kannagi
Summary: Using Japanese monkeys as a model, this study showed that short-term-cultured autologous PBMCs can activate impaired CTLs in HTLV-1-infected individuals, demonstrating their potential as an anti-ATL vaccine.
Article
Immunology
Isobel Okoye, Lai Xu, Olaide Oyegbami, Shima Shahbaz, Desmond Pink, Priscilla Gao, Xuejun Sun, Shokrollah Elahi
Summary: The study suggests that plasma extracellular vesicles can enhance HIV infection and reactivate latent virus through the regulation of miR-139-5p. This miRNA can impact cell activation by modulating the expression levels of transcription factors and immune-related genes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Giovanna De Matteis, Maria Carmela Scata, Michele Zampieri, Francesco Grandoni, Mahmoud M. Elnaggar, Lorena Schiavo, Giovanna Cappelli, Monica Cagiola, Esterina De Carlo, William C. Davis, Alessandra Martucciello
Summary: Tuberculosis has negative economic impact on buffalo farming and poses a potential threat to human health. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) plays a central role in protection against mycobacterial diseases, and the expression of Caspase-3 in M. tuberculosis-specific IFN-gamma+CD4+ T cells has been used as a marker to distinguish active from latent tuberculosis infection in humans. This study developed a whole blood flow cytometric assay to detect the production of IFN-gamma and the activation of Caspase-3 in CD4+ T lymphocytes from water buffalo, providing insights into the cellular immune response to M. bovis infection in buffalo species.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Andrew T. Gustin, Andrea R. Thurman, Neelima Chandra, Luca Schifanella, Maria Alcaide, Raina Fichorova, Gustavo F. Doncel, Michael Gale, Nichole R. Klatt
Summary: Bacterial vaginosis is a condition that increases the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections and other reproductive tract complications. Antibiotic treatment often fails to restore the microbiome to a healthy state. This study aimed to identify the community signatures associated with treatment failure. The results showed that diverse microbiota communities were linked to enhanced resilience of bacterial vaginosis to standard metronidazole treatment. Soluble immune factors improved temporarily following a shift to a Lactobacillus-dominant microbiome, but these changes did not prevent recurrence.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Marian Kacerovsky, Jaroslav Stranik, Rudolf Kukla, Radka Bolehovska, Pavel Bostik, Jana Matulova, Martin Stepan, Jan Hladky, Bo Jacobsson, Ivana Musilova
Summary: In women with preterm labor, both intra-amniotic infection and sterile intra-amniotic inflammation were associated with a higher prevalence of Ureaplasma spp. DNA in the cervical fluid. Intra-amniotic infection was related to a higher rate of concurrent Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis DNA in the cervical fluid.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Marian Kacerovsky, Jana Matulova, Ctirad Andrys, Jan Mls, Helena Hornychova, Rudolf Kukla, Pavel Bostik, Hana Burckova, Richard Spacek, Bo Jacobsson, Ivana Musilova
Summary: In pregnancies with PPROM without microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and intra-amniotic inflammation, a higher intensity of intra-amniotic inflammatory response, as measured by IL-6 concentrations, is associated with an increased rate of acute inflammatory lesions in the placenta, but not with fetal inflammatory response or short-term neonatal outcomes.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Statistics & Probability
Tianhao Wang, Sarah J. Ratcliffe, Wensheng Guo
Summary: In this paper, a flexible semiparametric curve registration model is introduced to estimate the time origin in observational studies. The model assumes a flexible common shape function for the longitudinal trajectories, characterized by a random curve registration function that represents person-specific disease progression patterns. The unknown time origin is modeled as a random start time, which is used to jointly model the longitudinal and survival data. The proposed models are proved to be asymptotically consistent and semiparametrically efficient. Simulation studies and real data applications demonstrate the effectiveness of this new approach.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Virology
Miroslav Fajfr, Radek Sleha, Sylva Janovska, Vladimir Koblizek, Mikulas Skala, Stanislav Plisek, Petr Prasil, Petr Smahel, Pavel Bostik
Summary: This study analyzed antibody responses in outpatient and inpatient cohorts of COVID-19 patients in the Czech Republic and assessed the potential of antibodies as a diagnostic tool. The results showed that antibody positivity levels gradually increased from 2 weeks after infection and remained highly positive over a 12-month period. IgG levels correlated significantly with virus neutralization titers.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Rudolf Kukla, Renata Kracmarova, Lenka Ryskova, Jan Bavlovic, Vera Pellantova, Radka Bolehovska, Miroslav Fajfr, Ivo Pavlik, Pavel Bostik
Summary: Although Francisella tularensis is a well-known zoonotic pathogen, its importance in Central Europe is relatively minor. However, the annual incidence of tularaemia is higher in the Czech Republic compared to neighboring countries. The common mode of transmission in Central Europe is through handling infected animals, rather than tick bites. This study reports two rare cases of tick bite-associated ulceroglandular tularaemia in young children, indicating possible changes in the epidemiology of tularaemia in the Czech Republic.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marian Kacerovsky, Jaroslav Stranik, Jana Matulova, Martina Chalupska, Jan Mls, Tomas Faist, Helena Hornychova, Rudolf Kukla, Radka Bolehovska, Pavel Bostik, Bo Jacobsson, Ivana Musilova
Summary: This study examined the clinical characteristics of preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) complicated by colonization of the amniotic cavity. The presence of colonization, mainly caused by microorganisms from the lower genital tract, was associated with a weaker intra-amniotic inflammatory response.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marian Kacerovsky, Rudolf Kukla, Radka Bolehovska, Pavel Bostik, Jana Matulova, Jan Mls, Jaroslav Stranik, Bo Jacobsson, Ivana Musilova
Summary: In women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM), the presence and load of Ureaplasma spp. DNA in cervical fluid are associated with intra-amniotic infection, sterile intra-amniotic inflammation, and colonization of the amniotic fluid.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lenka Ryskova, Radka Bolehovska, Rudolf Kukla, Michal Svarc, Alzbeta Zavrelova, Hubert Vanicek, Ivo Pavlik, Pavel Bostik
Summary: The incidence of mycobacterioses caused by Mycobacterium abscessus is increasing, and correct identification of subspecies and determination of antibiotic sensitivity are crucial for disease management.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Lisa Letzkus, Karen Fairchild, Genevieve Lyons, Harshini Pyata, Sarah Ratcliffe, Doug Lake
Summary: This study found that atypical heart rate (HR) patterns in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients can predict the eventual diagnosis of cerebral palsy (CP), while patterns of pulse oximetry (SpO (2) ) are not associated with CP prediction.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Prerna Sharma, Kajal Shah, Johanna Loomba, Arti Patel, Indika Mallawaarachchi, Olivia Blazek, Sarah Ratcliffe, Khadijah Breathett, Amber E. Johnson, Angela M. Taylor, Michael Salerno, Michael Ragosta, Nishtha Sodhi, Daniel Addison, Selma Mohammed, Kenneth C. Bilchick, Sula Mazimba
Summary: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of COVID-19 positive patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing early invasive treatment strategies. The results showed that COVID-19 positive patients who underwent coronary angiography had a higher risk of respiratory failure compared to COVID-19 negative patients, and the odds of prolonged length of stay were also higher in patients who underwent coronary angiography and CABG.
CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
A. Dashti, S. Sukkestad, A. M. Horner, M. Neja, A. Lin, N. Schoof, M. Mavigner, J. D. Lifson, S. D. Falcinelli, J. Sacha, H. King, R. D. Mason, R. M. Dunham, N. M. Archin, J. T. Safrit, D. M. Margolis, M. Roederer, G. Silvestri, A. Chahroudi
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Surgery
Nathan S. Haywood, Sarah J. Ratcliffe, Xinyan Zheng, Jialin Mao, Behzad Farivar, Margaret C. Tracci, Mahmoud B. Malas, Philip P. Goodney, W. Darrin Clouse
JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Shane D. Falcinelli, Jackson J. Peterson, Anne-Marie W. Turner, David Irlbeck, Jenna Read, Samuel L. M. Raines, Katherine S. James, Cameron Sutton, Anthony Sanchez, Ann Emery, Gavin Sampey, Robert Ferris, Brigitte Allard, Simon Ghofrani, Jennifer L. Kirchherr, Caroline Baker, JoAnn D. Kuruc, Cynthia L. Gay, Lindsey I. James, Guoxin Wu, Paul Zuck, Inmaculada Rioja, Rebecca C. Furze, Rab K. Prinjha, Bonnie J. Howell, Ronald Swanstrom, Edward P. Browne, Brian D. Strahl, Richard M. Dunham, Nancie M. Archin, David M. Margolis
Summary: This study demonstrates the synergy in latent reservoir activation when using inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) antagonists in combination with bromodomain and extraterminal domain protein inhibitors (BETi). It also highlights the importance of HIV transcriptional elongation and splicing as barriers to latent HIV protein expression, providing a rationale for further exploration of IAPi+BETi in animal models of HIV latency.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Megan Whitham, Shannon Barter, Gabrielle Smith, L. Brett Whalen, Alexis Allihien, Amanda Urban, Sarah Ratcliffe, Donald J. Dudley
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)