Current and Future Therapeutic Strategies for Lentiviral Eradication from Macrophage Reservoirs

Boar fertility is controlled through systematic changes of mitochondrial protein expression during sperm capacitation

Vigorous activation of mitochondria in spermatozoa during capacitation induces the biological and morphological changes of spermatozoa to acquire fertilizing ability. To in-depth understand the dynamic roles of mitochondrial and male fertility, this study was to identify how the mitochondrial proteins are changed during sperm capacitation and regulate male fertility using boar spermatozoa. The mitochondrial proteins were differentially changed during sperm capacitation according to fertility status, i.e., superior litter size (SL) and normal litter size (NL). Following sperm capacitation, ubiquitin-cytochrome c reductase core protein (UQCRC1) and ATP synthase F1 (ATP5F1) increased in NL, while cytochrome c oxidase subunit 5B (COX5B), and cytochrome c1 (CYC1) proteins decreased. In contrast, only and ubiquinone oxidoreductase core subunit 8 (NDUFS8) protein was increased in SL following capacitation. The protein expression difference value of CYC1, COX5B, and NDUFS8 following sperm capacitation was lower in NL than SL boars. Based on these complicated changes during sperm capacitation, the accuracy for predicting male fertility of NDUFS8 was increased to 87 %. Overall, considering the systematic orchestration of mitochondrial protein expression according to sperm capacitation status, it will be possible to better understand male fertility.

Genetic stability of SIV Gag/Tat gene inserted into Del-II in modified vaccinia virus ankara after serial passage of recombinant vector in pCEFs cells

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is an attenuated vaccinia virus with restricted replication in human cells. The virus serves as an ideal vaccine vector suitable for safe use even in immune-compromised individuals. With its inherently large packaging capacity, expression cassettes encoding bulky genes can be inserted into deletion regions within the MVA genome. These deletion sites develop during the process of the attenuation of the virus by passage in Chicken Embryo Fibroblasts (pCEFs). Transgene stability in MVA is important to assure immunogenicity and efficacy. In the present study, we assessed the effect of substantial passage of recombinant MVA vectors on the stability of expression cassette encoding SIV Gag/Tat genes inserted at the Del-II site, as part of generating a vaccine to protect from HIV. Our data indicated that after 15 passages there was a significant loss or mutation of the inserted genes.

Editor's Commentary for Special Issue: "The Role of Macrophages in HIV Persistence"

Macrophages as reservoirs for persistent HIV infection has gained renewed importance, with an intense research focus dedicated to eradication strategies. Clearance of both latent and productive HIV from these important reservoirs is essential for successful eradication. This spe cial theme issue contains 11 papers, including 6 Invited Reviews, 1 Brief Report and 4 Original Articles, that focus on the various aspects of the macrophage as pertains to HIV persistence, latency and cure. These topics include: functional latency of macrophages and microglia, the link between peripheral monocytes and pathogenesis, macrophages as sources of HIV RNA and DNA in virally suppressed patients, brain imaging of neuroinflammation, macrophages as drug delivery vehicles, therapeutic strategies of infected macrophages for cure, and the role of drugs of abuse in enhancing macrophage viral persistence.