Article
Biology
Abdirahman Abdi, Fiona Achcar, Lauriane Sollelis, Joao Luiz Silva-Filho, Kioko Mwikali, Michelle Muthui, Shaban Mwangi, Hannah W. Kimingi, Benedict Orindi, Cheryl Andisi Kivisi, Manon Alkema, Amrita Chandrasekar, Peter C. Bull, Philip Bejon, Katarzyna Modrzynska, Teun Bousema, Matthias Marti
Summary: The malaria parasite life cycle involves asexual replication in human blood and differentiation into gametocytes for transmission to mosquitoes. Host factors influence the commitment to differentiate into gametocytes, but the exact mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed data from 828 children in Kenya over 18 years to understand the relationship between host immunity, parasite growth, and transmission investment. We found that reduced plasma lysophosphatidylcholine levels, which are associated with inflammatory responses, are correlated with increased transmission investment and reduced asexual replication.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nelli T. Suominen, Michel Roger, Marie-Claude Faucher, Kari J. Syrjaenen, Seija E. Grenman, Stina M. Syrjaenen, Karolina Louvanto
Summary: This study evaluated the importance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G alleles in father-to-child human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission during the perinatal period. The results showed that HLA-G allele concordance was associated with the father's urethral and child's oral high-risk HPV concordance at birth. In addition, HLA-G allele concordance increased the risk of father's oral and child's postpartum oral any- and high-risk HPV concordance.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Kazutoyo Osoegawa, Lisa E. Creary, Gonzalo Montero-Martin, Kalyan C. Mallempati, Sridevi Gangavarapu, Stacy J. Caillier, Adam Santaniello, Noriko Isobe, Jill A. Hollenbach, Stephen L. Hauser, Jorge R. Oksenberg, Marcelo A. Fernandez-Vina
Summary: This study identified HLA alleles and haplotypes associated with susceptibility and protection to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), including DRB5*01:01:01 and DPB1*104:01.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Patricia Castro-Santos, Angel Carracedo, Roberto Diaz-Pena
Summary: The recent study in Nature by Augusto et al. reveals a strong association between HLA-B*15:01 and asymptomatic COVID-19, making an important contribution to genetics in COVID-19 research.
TRENDS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Andrew S. Bray, Richard D. Smith, Andrew W. Hudson, Giovanna E. Hernandez, Taylor M. Young, Hannah E. George, Robert K. Ernst, M. Ammar Zafar
Summary: This study investigates the biological cost of colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae. It finds that while colistin resistance reduces the ability of the bacteria to colonize the gut, it enhances their survival outside the host and therefore increases their transmission between hosts.
Article
Ecology
Lena Wilfert
Summary: This paper examines the adaptation of a honeybee virus to vector-based transmission via the mite Varroa destructor. The study shows that high versus low levels of the viral vector can impact viral load and competition between different strains of the virus. The research highlights the importance of understanding the evolutionary ecology of viruses in response to vector-borne transmission.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Tatiana Doriane Lallogo, Florencia W. Djigma, Pegdwende Abel Sorgho, Jeremy James Martinson, Tegwinde Rebeca Compaore, Lassina Traore, Prosper Bado, Bapio Valerie Elvira Jean Telesphore Bazie, Lanyo Jospin Amegnona, Therese S. Kagone, Rogomenoma Alice Ouedraogo, Denise P. Ilboudo, Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, Albert T. Yonli, Jacques Simpore
Summary: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, but variations in genetic and immunological factors are associated with protection against HIV infection. This study characterized certain HLA and KIR genes in HIV-1 serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso and found that certain genes were associated with protection against HIV-1 infection.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Thorunn A. Olafsdottir, Kristbjorg Bjarnadottir, Gudmundur L. Norddahl, Gisli H. Halldorsson, Pall Melsted, Kristbjorg Gunnarsdottir, Erna Ivarsdottir, Thorhildur Olafsdottir, Asgeir O. Arnthorsson, Fannar Theodors, Elias Eythorsson, Dadi Helgason, Hannes P. Eggertsson, Gisli Masson, Solveig Bjarnadottir, Saedis Saevarsdottir, Hrafnhildur L. Runolfsdottir, Isleifur Olafsson, Jona Saemundsdottir, Martin Sigurdsson, Ragnar F. Ingvarsson, Runolfur Palsson, Gudmundur Thorgeirsson, Bjarni Halldorsson, Hilma Holm, Mar Kristjansson, Patrick Sulem, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir, Ingileif Jonsdottir, Daniel F. Gudbjartsson, Kari Stefansson
Summary: A study of convalescent SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals in Iceland reveals that T-cell responses remain broad and stable for 3-8 months after infection, regardless of disease severity. HLA alleles, disease severity, and age contribute to the heterogeneity of cellular immunity.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Saori Sakaue, Saisriram Gurajala, Michelle Curtis, Yang Luo, Wanson Choi, Kazuyoshi Ishigaki, Joyce B. Kang, Laurie Rumker, Aaron J. Deutsch, Sebastian Schoenherr, Lukas Forer, Jonathon LeFaive, Christian Fuchsberger, Buhm Han, Tobias L. Lenz, Paul I. W. de Bakker, Yukinori Okada, Albert V. Smith, Soumya Raychaudhuri
Summary: The HLA locus is associated with more complex diseases than any other locus in the human genome, and it explains more heritability in many diseases than all other known loci combined. In silico HLA imputation methods allow for rapid and accurate estimation of HLA alleles in genotyped individuals. This tutorial provides guidance on performing HLA imputation, association testing, and fine mapping, and aims to contribute to understanding the role of HLA in human diseases.
Review
Immunology
Caixia Ye, Lianhua Zhang, Lili Tang, Yongjun Duan, Ji Liu, Hongli Zhou
Summary: This review analyzes the impact of host genetic factors on parasite adaptation and establishes an interactive network to illustrate the complex relationship between host genetic factors and parasite-host adaptation. In addition, the review discusses future research directions and priorities in the parasite-host adaptation field, highlighting the need for comprehensive and systematic investigation of the underlying mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeremy Di Mattia, Babil Torralba, Michel Yvon, Jean-Louis Zeddam, Stephane Blanc, Yannis Michalakis
Summary: Multipartite viruses can reduce the cost of genome integrity by transmitting and complementing different genome segments between hosts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Lisanne E. N. Manson, Wilbert B. van den Hout, Henk-Jan Guchelaar
Summary: Implementing genotyping for HLA risk alleles in the Netherlands can potentially prevent drug hypersensitivity reactions and associated deaths in allopurinol and flucloxacillin initiators. However, genotyping before initiating antiepileptic drugs or flucloxacillin is not cost-effective.
Article
Cell Biology
Irantzu Anzar, Angelina Sverchkova, Pubudu Samarakoon, Espen Basmo Ellingsen, Gustav Gaudernack, Richard Stratford, Trevor Clancy
Summary: This study presents a personalized HLA typing approach applied to WES data, which combines germline and somatic variant calling to discover novel HLA alleles and accurately detect tumor-specific HLA variants. This approach significantly improves somatic variant detection accuracy and provides valuable insights into the relationship between somatic variation in the HLA region and immunosurveillance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Altea Targa, Katherine E. Larrimore, Cheng Kit Wong, Yu Lin Chong, Ronald Fung, Joseph Lee, Hyungwon Choi, Giulia Rancatil
Summary: This research explores the mechanisms of early physiological adaptation and long-term adaptive evolution in cells under stress by generating hypomorphic alleles of the essential nuclear pore complex gene NUP58. The study demonstrates that early physiological adaptation is linked to transcriptome rewiring and upregulation of interacting genes, while long-term adaptation occurs through focal amplification of NUP58 and restoration of mutant protein expression. These findings suggest a model for mimicking targeted drug therapy and dissecting mechanisms of adaptation in human cells.
Article
Immunology
Dan Koning, Esther D. Quakkelaar, Ingrid M. M. Schellens, Eric Spierings, Debbie van Baarle
Summary: CD8(+) T cells play a significant role in controlling untreated HIV infection. HLA-B*27 and B*57 are associated with delayed HIV disease progression, but the specific factors providing superior immunity against HIV are unclear. This study found that there were no differences in TCR diversity between progressors and slow progressors, and both HLA alleles recruited biased T cell repertoires. These findings suggest that progressors and slow progressors have highly similar T cell repertoires in terms of TCR diversity, usage, and cross-reactivity.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sangtae Kim, Konrad Scheffler, Aaron L. Halpern, Mitchell A. Bekritsky, Eunho Noh, Morten Kallberg, Xiaoyu Chen, Yeonbin Kim, Doruk Beyter, Peter Krusche, Christopher T. Saunders
Article
Infectious Diseases
Anna Larsen, Vuyolwethu Magasana, Thu-Ha Dinh, Nobubelo Ngandu, Carl Lombard, Mireille Cheyip, Kassahun Ayalew, Witness Chirinda, Gurpreet Kindra, Debra Jackson, Ameena Goga
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ameena E. Goga, Thu-Ha Dinh, Shaffiq Essajee, Witness Chirinda, Anna Larsen, Mary Mogashoa, Debra Jackson, Mireille Cheyip, Nobubelo Ngandu, Surbhi Modi, Sanjana Bhardwaj, Esnat Chirwa, Yogan Pillay, Mary Mahy
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nobubelo Kwanele Ngandu, Vincent Maduna, Gayle Sherman, Nobuntu Noveve, Witness Chirinda, Vundli Ramokolo, Carl Lombard, Ameena Ebrahim Goga
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gillian M. Hunt, Johanna Ledwaba, Anna Salimo, Monalisa Kalimashe, Thu-Ha Dinh, Debra Jackson, Gayle Sherman, Adrian Puren, Nobubelo K. Ngandu, Carl Lombard, Lynn Morris, Ameena Goga
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nobubelo Kwanele Ngandu, Debra Jackson, Carl Lombard, Duduzile Faith Nsibande, Thu-Ha Dinh, Vuyolwethu Magasana, Mary Mogashoa, Ameena Ebrahim Goga
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2019)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ameena Ebrahim Goga, Carl Lombard, Debra Jackson, Vundli Ramokolo, Nobubelo Kwanele Ngandu, Gayle Sherman, Adrian Puren, Witness Chirinda, Sanjana Bhardwaj, Nobuntu Makhari, Trisha Ramraj, Vuyolwethu Magasana, Yagespari Singh, Yogan Pillay, Thu-Ha Dinh
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2020)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Audrey Monnin, Nicolas Nagot, Marianne Peries, Roselyne Vallo, Nicolas Meda, Mandisa Singata-Madliki, James K. Tumwine, Chipepo Kankasa, Nobubelo Ngandu, Ameena Goga, Pascal Reynier, Thorkild Tylleskar, Philippe Van de Perre, Jean-Pierre Moles
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jonathan Pekar, Michael Worobey, Niema Moshiri, Konrad Scheffler, Joel O. Wertheim
Summary: The study found that SARS-CoV-2 may have emerged in Hubei province, China between mid-October and mid-November 2019. The dynamics of the virus before discovery showed that over two-thirds of SARS-CoV-2-like zoonotic events would self-limit, without causing a pandemic. The study highlights shortcomings in current zoonosis surveillance methods.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Philippe Van de Perre, Ameena Goga, Nobubelo Ngandu, Nicolas Nagot, Dhayendre Moodley, Rachel King, Jean-Pierre Moles, Beatriz Mosqueira, Witness Chirinda, Gabriella Scarlatti, Thorkild Tylleskar, Francois Dabis, Glenda Gray
Summary: The rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breastfeeding is increasing, while current strategies may not be sufficient to eliminate this mode of transmission. Additional preventive biomedical strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, postnatal reinforcement, and immunoprophylaxis may be needed to effectively reduce the risk of MTCT from breastfeeding.
Meeting Abstract
Immunology
N. K. Ngandu, T. Mbira, D. Nsibande, T. Ramraj, G. Sherman, A. Goga
JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
T. Chetty, B. B. Daniels, N. K. Ngandu, A. Goga
SAMJ SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Trisha Ramraj, Ameena E. Goga, Anna Larsen, Vundli Ramokolo, Sanjana Bhardwar, Witness Chirinda, Debra Jackson, Duduzile Nsibande, Kassahun Ayalew, Yogan Pillay, Carl J. Lombard, Nobubelo K. Ngandu
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL HEALTH
(2018)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
A. Goga, W. Chirinda, N. K. Ngandu, K. Ngoma, S. Bhardwaj, U. Feucht, N. Davies, M. Ntloana, O. Mhlongo, T. Silere-Maqetseba, F. Moyo, G. Sherman
SAMJ SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2018)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
D. F. Nsibande, A. Goga, R. Laubscher, C. Lombard, M. Cheyip, D. Jackson, A. Larsen, M. Mogashoa, T-H Dinh, N. K. Ngandu
SAMJ SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2020)