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Quinn Peters M, Domenjo-Vila E, Carlson M, Armistead B, Edlefsen PT, Gasper M, Dabee S, Whidbey C, Jaspan HB, Prlic M, Harrington WE. A non-invasive method to sample immune cells in the lower female genital tract using menstrual discs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.16.567469. [PMID: 38370684 PMCID: PMC10871271 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.16.567469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
T cells in the human female genital tract (FGT) 2 are key mediators of susceptibility to and protection from infection, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. There is a critical need for increased understanding of the distribution and activation of T cell populations in the FGT, but current sampling methods require a healthcare provider and are expensive, limiting the ability to study these populations longitudinally. To address these challenges, we have developed a method to sample immune cells from the FGT utilizing disposable menstrual discs which are non-invasive, self-applied, and low-cost. To demonstrate reproducibility, we sampled the cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) 3 of healthy, reproductive-aged individuals using menstrual discs over three sequential days. CVF was processed for cervicovaginal cells, and high parameter flow cytometry was used to characterize immune populations. We identified large numbers of live, CD45+ leukocytes, as well as distinct populations of T cells and B cells. Within the T cell compartment, activation and suppression status of T cell subsets were consistent with previous studies of the FGT utilizing current approaches, including identification of both tissue resident and migratory populations. In addition, the T cell population structure was highly conserved across days within individuals but divergent across individuals. Our approach to sample immune cells in the FGT with menstrual discs will decrease barriers to participation and empower longitudinal sampling in future research studies.
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Peters MQ, Domenjo-Vila E, Carlson M, Armistead B, Edlefsen PT, Gasper M, Dabee S, Whidbey C, Jaspan HB, Prlic M, Harrington WE. A Noninvasive Method to Sample Immune Cells in the Lower Female Genital Tract Using Menstrual Discs. Immunohorizons 2024; 8:182-192. [PMID: 38386594 PMCID: PMC10916362 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2300105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
T cells in the human female genital tract (FGT) are key mediators of susceptibility to and protection from infection, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. There is a critical need for increased understanding of the distribution and activation of T cell populations in the FGT, but current sampling methods require a healthcare provider and are expensive, limiting the ability to study these populations longitudinally. To address these challenges, we have developed a method to sample immune cells from the FGT utilizing disposable menstrual discs which are noninvasive, self-applied, and low in cost. To demonstrate reproducibility, we sampled the cervicovaginal fluid of healthy, reproductive-aged individuals using menstrual discs across 3 sequential days. Cervicovaginal fluid was processed for cervicovaginal cells, and high-parameter flow cytometry was used to characterize immune populations. We identified large numbers of live, CD45+ leukocytes, as well as distinct populations of T cells and B cells. Within the T cell compartment, activation and suppression status of T cell subsets were consistent with previous studies of the FGT utilizing current approaches, including identification of both tissue-resident and migratory populations. In addition, the T cell population structure was highly conserved across days within individuals but divergent across individuals. Our approach to sample immune cells in the FGT with menstrual discs will decrease barriers to participation and empower longitudinal sampling in future research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Quinn Peters
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - Eva Domenjo-Vila
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Marc Carlson
- Research Scientific Computing, Enterprise Analytics, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - Blair Armistead
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - Paul T. Edlefsen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Melanie Gasper
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | - Smritee Dabee
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Heather B. Jaspan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Martin Prlic
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Whitney E. Harrington
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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Waltmann A, Thomas C, Duncan JA. The role of the genital microbiota in the acquisition and pathogenesis of sexually transmitted infections. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2023; 36:35-48. [PMID: 36729748 PMCID: PMC10500551 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There are an estimated 374 million new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide every year. Our review article examines the current evidence of how STI acquisition, transmission, and pathogenesis is impacted upon by the genital microbiota, with a focus on epidemiological, biochemical, and immunological features. RECENT FINDINGS At least in women, a genital microbiota dominated by lactobacilli has long been considered optimal for reproductive health, while depletion of lactobacilli may lead to a genital microenvironment dominated by anaerobic pathogens, which can manifest clinically as bacterial vaginosis. Recent research efforts have characterized genital microbiota composition in greater resolution, sometimes at species-level, using proteomics, metabolomics, and deep sequencing. This has enhanced our understanding of how specific microbiota members influence acquisition or clinical manifestation of STI pathogen infection. Other advances include a steady, though still slow, increase in the number of studies that sought to determine the genital (penile or urethral) microbiota of males and how it may impact that of their female partners' genital microbiota and risk of STI acquisition. Altogether, these data enabled us to explore the concept that genital microbiota may be sexually transmitted and influence pathogenesis and clinical presentation of other STI. SUMMARY With STI infection rates increasing worldwide, it is important now more than ever to find novel STI prevention strategies. Understanding if and how the genital microbiota is a modifiable risk factor for STI transmission, acquisition, and clinical manifestation may prove to be an important strategy in our efforts to curb morbidity in at risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Waltmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Cynthia Thomas
- Graduate Program, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Joseph A Duncan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Gholiof M, Adamson-De Luca E, Wessels JM. The female reproductive tract microbiotas, inflammation, and gynecological conditions. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2022; 4:963752. [PMID: 36303679 PMCID: PMC9580710 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2022.963752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The intricate interactions between the host cells, bacteria, and immune components that reside in the female reproductive tract (FRT) are essential in maintaining reproductive tract homeostasis. Much of our current knowledge surrounding the FRT microbiota relates to the vaginal microbiota, where ‘health’ has long been associated with low bacterial diversity and Lactobacillus dominance. This concept has recently been challenged as women can have a diverse vaginal microbial composition in the absence of symptomatic disease. The structures of the upper FRT (the endocervix, uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries) have distinct, lower biomass microbiotas than the vagina; however, the existence of permanent microbiotas at these sites is disputed. During homeostasis, a balance exists between the FRT bacteria and the immune system that maintains immune quiescence. Alterations in the bacteria, immune system, or local environment may result in perturbances to the FRT microbiota, defined as dysbiosis. The inflammatory signature of a perturbed or “dysbiotic” FRT microbiota is characterized by elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cervical and vaginal fluid. It appears that vaginal homeostasis can be disrupted by two different mechanisms: first, a shift toward increased bacterial diversity can trigger vaginal inflammation, and second, local immunity is altered in some manner, which disrupts the microbiota in response to an environmental change. FRT dysbiosis can have negative effects on reproductive health. This review will examine the increasing evidence for the involvement of the FRT microbiotas and inflammation in gynecologic conditions such as endometriosis, infertility, and endometrial and ovarian cancer; however, the precise mechanisms by which bacteria are involved in these conditions remains speculative at present. While only in their infancy, the use of antibiotics and probiotics to therapeutically alter the FRT microbiota is being studied and is discussed herein. Our current understanding of the intimate relationship between immunity and the FRT microbiota is in its early days, and more research is needed to deepen our mechanistic understanding of this relationship and to assess how our present knowledge can be harnessed to assist in diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Gholiof
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Emma Adamson-De Luca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- AIMA Laboratories Inc., Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jocelyn M. Wessels
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- AIMA Laboratories Inc., Hamilton, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jocelyn M. Wessels
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Morojele NK, Shenoi SV, Shuper PA, Braithwaite RS, Rehm J. Alcohol Use and the Risk of Communicable Diseases. Nutrients 2021; 13:3317. [PMID: 34684318 PMCID: PMC8540096 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The body of knowledge on alcohol use and communicable diseases has been growing in recent years. Using a narrative review approach, this paper discusses alcohol's role in the acquisition of and treatment outcomes from four different communicable diseases: these include three conditions included in comparative risk assessments to date-Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and lower respiratory infections/pneumonia-as well as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) because of its recent and rapid ascension as a global health concern. Alcohol-attributable TB, HIV, and pneumonia combined were responsible for approximately 360,000 deaths and 13 million disability-adjusted life years lost (DALYs) in 2016, with alcohol-attributable TB deaths and DALYs predominating. There is strong evidence that alcohol is associated with increased incidence of and poorer treatment outcomes from HIV, TB, and pneumonia, via both behavioral and biological mechanisms. Preliminary studies suggest that heavy drinkers and those with alcohol use disorders are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection and severe illness. Aside from HIV research, limited research exists that can guide interventions for addressing alcohol-attributable TB and pneumonia or COVID-19. Implementation of effective individual-level interventions and alcohol control policies as a means of reducing the burden of communicable diseases is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neo K. Morojele
- Department of Psychology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
| | - Sheela V. Shenoi
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA;
- Yale Institute for Global Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Paul A. Shuper
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada; (P.A.S.); (J.R.)
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
- Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
- Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Ronald Scott Braithwaite
- Division of Comparative Effectiveness and Decision Science, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10013, USA;
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada; (P.A.S.); (J.R.)
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Program on Substance Abuse, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of International Health Projects, Institute for Leadership and Health Management, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
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6
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Gustin A, Cromarty R, Schifanella L, Klatt NR. Microbial mismanagement: how inadequate treatments for vaginal dysbiosis drive the HIV epidemic in women. Semin Immunol 2021; 51:101482. [PMID: 34120819 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2021.101482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Women and girls represent a key population driving new HIV infections and persistence of the HIV pandemic. A key determinant of HIV susceptibility is the composition of the vaginal microbiome, which can influence the local immune cell population, inflammation status, and HIV prevention drug levels. While a low-diversity composition dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus is associated with a decreased risk of HIV acquisition, high diversity environments associated with bacterial vaginosis increase risk of HIV. Given the important role of the vaginal microbiome in determining HIV susceptibility, altering the microbiome towards a Lactobacillus-dominated state is an attractive complementary strategy to reduce HIV incidence rates. Here, we provide an overview of the mechanisms by which the vaginal microbiome may contribute to HIV acquisition risk. Furthermore, we address the advantages and limitations of historical treatments and emerging technologies under investigation to modify the vaginal microbiome, including: antibiotics, bacteriophages, probiotics, topicals, and engineered bacteria. By addressing the current state of vaginal microbiome knowledge and strategies for manipulation, we hope to amplify the growing calls for increased resources and research into vaginal microbial health, which will be essential to accelerating preventative efforts amongst the world's most vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Gustin
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ross Cromarty
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Outcomes and Precision Medicine Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Luca Schifanella
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Outcomes and Precision Medicine Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Nichole R Klatt
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Outcomes and Precision Medicine Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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7
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Dabee S, Passmore JAS, Heffron R, Jaspan HB. The Complex Link between the Female Genital Microbiota, Genital Infections, and Inflammation. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e00487-20. [PMID: 33558324 PMCID: PMC8091093 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00487-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The female genital tract microbiota is part of a complex ecosystem influenced by several physiological, genetic, and behavioral factors. It is uniquely linked to a woman's mucosal immunity and plays a critical role in the regulation of genital inflammation. A vaginal microbiota characterized by a high abundance of lactobacilli and low overall bacterial diversity is associated with lower inflammation. On the other hand, a more diverse microbiota is linked to high mucosal inflammation levels, a compromised genital epithelial barrier, and an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and other conditions. Several bacterial taxa such as Gardnerella spp., Prevotella spp., Sneathia spp., and Atopobium spp. are well known to have adverse effects; however, the definitive cause of this microbial dysbiosis is yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this review is to discuss the multiple ways in which the microbiota influences the overall genital inflammatory milieu and to explore the causes and consequences of this inflammatory response. While there is abundant evidence linking a diverse genital microbiota to elevated inflammation, understanding the risk factors and mechanisms through which it affects genital health is essential. A robust appreciation of these factors is important for identifying effective prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smritee Dabee
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jo-Ann S Passmore
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- CAPRISA Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Heather B Jaspan
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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8
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HIV susceptibility in women: The roles of genital inflammation, sexually transmitted infections and the genital microbiome. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 145:103291. [PMID: 33647576 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Given that heterosexual transmission of HIV across the genital mucosa is the most common route of infection in women, an in-depth understanding of the biological mechanisms associated with HIV risk in the female genital tract (FGT) is essential for effective control of the epidemic. Genital pro-inflammatory cytokines are well-described biological co-factors to HIV risk. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the FGT have been associated with a 3-fold higher-risk of acquiring HIV, presumably through involvement in barrier compromise and the recruitment of highly activated HIV target cells to the site of initial viral infection and replication. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are suggested possible contributors to genital inflammation in the FGT, and this, coupled with the relationship between genital inflammation and HIV risk, underscores the importance of effective treatment of STI and BV in the promotion of women's health. In most low- and middle-income countries, STIs are treated syndromically, a practice providing rapid treatment without identifying the infection source. However, this approach has been associated with over-diagnosis and the overuse of drugs. Further, because many women with STIs are asymptomatic, syndromic management also fails to treat a vast proportion of infected women. Although several studies have explored the role of STIs and the vaginal microbiome on genital inflammation and HIV risk, the impact of STI and BV management on genital inflammation remains poorly understood. This review aimed to collate the evidence on how BV and STI management efforts affect genital inflammation and the genital microbiome in women.
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9
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Lacroix G, Gouyer V, Gottrand F, Desseyn JL. The Cervicovaginal Mucus Barrier. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218266. [PMID: 33158227 PMCID: PMC7663572 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm births are a global health priority that affects 15 million babies every year worldwide. There are no effective prognostic and therapeutic strategies relating to preterm delivery, but uterine infections appear to be a major cause. The vaginal epithelium is covered by the cervicovaginal mucus, which is essential to health because of its direct involvement in reproduction and functions as a selective barrier by sheltering the beneficial lactobacilli while helping to clear pathogens. During pregnancy, the cervical canal is sealed with a cervical mucus plug that prevents the vaginal flora from ascending toward the uterine compartment, which protects the fetus from pathogens. Abnormalities of the cervical mucus plug and bacterial vaginosis are associated with a higher risk of preterm delivery. This review addresses the current understanding of the cervicovaginal mucus and the cervical mucus plug and their interactions with the microbial communities in both the physiological state and bacterial vaginosis, with a focus on gel-forming mucins. We also review the current state of knowledge of gel-forming mucins contained in mouse cervicovaginal mucus and the mouse models used to study bacterial vaginosis.
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10
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Britto AMA, Goes LR, Sivro A, Policarpo C, Meirelles ÂR, Furtado Y, Almeida G, Arthos J, Cicala C, Soares MA, Machado ES, Giannini ALM. HPV Induces Changes in Innate Immune and Adhesion Molecule Markers in Cervical Mucosa With Potential Impact on HIV Infection. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2078. [PMID: 33013878 PMCID: PMC7494736 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
While most HPV infections are asymptomatic and clear spontaneously, persistent infection with high-risk HPVs is associated with cervical cancer and with increased risk of HIV acquisition. Although several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, none has been confirmed. Our aim was to investigate the expression of host factors involved in the susceptibility to HIV infection among HPV-infected women. Cervical samples were collected to characterize the expression levels of HIV susceptibility markers in the mucosa of HPV-infected compared with HPV-uninfected women. No differences in the frequency of CCR5+, integrin α4β7+, activated and memory CD4+ T-cell were detected between the groups. We additionally evaluated the expression levels of genes involved in innate immune responses and in cell adhesion. HPV infected patients expressed higher levels of TLR9 and lower levels of pattern recognition receptors that recognize RNA (TLR3, TLR7, and MDA5/IFIH1). We also detected an impaired IFN pathway, with an increased Type I IFN and a decreased IFNα2 receptor expression. HPV+ samples displayed reduced expression of genes for adherens and tight junctions. Taken together, these results suggest that although HPV infection does not result in the recruitment/activation of susceptible CD4+ T-cell in the female genital tract, it leads to changes in the innate antiviral immune responses and in cell adhesion that are likely to favor HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Messala A Britto
- Programa de Oncovirologia, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Transdução de Sinal, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Livia R Goes
- Programa de Oncovirologia, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Aida Sivro
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Cintia Policarpo
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Transdução de Sinal, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ângela R Meirelles
- Instituto de Ginecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yara Furtado
- Instituto de Ginecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gutemberg Almeida
- Instituto de Ginecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - James Arthos
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Claudia Cicala
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Marcelo A Soares
- Programa de Oncovirologia, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth S Machado
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Transdução de Sinal, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Lúcia M Giannini
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Transdução de Sinal, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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11
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Kahwati LC, Clark R, Berkman N, Urrutia R, Patel SV, Zeng J, Viswanathan M. Screening for Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnant Adolescents and Women to Prevent Preterm Delivery: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2020; 323:1293-1309. [PMID: 32259235 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.0233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Preterm delivery results in adverse outcomes; identifying and treating bacterial vaginosis may reduce its occurrence. OBJECTIVE To update the evidence on screening and treatment of asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy for the US Preventive Services Task Force. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and trial registries through May 29, 2019; bibliographies from retrieved articles, experts, and surveillance of the literature through December 31, 2019. STUDY SELECTION Fair- or good-quality English-language studies evaluating diagnostic accuracy of tests feasible within primary care; randomized clinical trials (RCTs); nonrandomized controlled intervention studies (for harms only); or meta-analyses of metronidazole or clindamycin. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two reviewers independently assessed titles/abstracts and full-text articles, extracted data, and assessed study quality; when at least 3 similar studies were available, meta-analyses were conducted. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Sensitivity, specificity, preterm delivery, maternal adverse effects, congenital birth defects, childhood cancer. RESULTS Forty-four studies (48 publications) were included. No studies evaluated the benefits or harms of screening. Twenty-five studies (n = 15 785) evaluated the accuracy of screening tests; across individual studies and tests, sensitivity ranged from 0.36 to 1.0 and specificity ranged from 0.49 to 1.0. Among trials reporting findings from general obstetric populations (n = 7953), no significant association was observed between treatment and spontaneous delivery before 37 weeks (pooled absolute risk difference [ARD], -1.44% [95% CI, -3.31% to 0.43%]; 8 RCTs, n = 7571) or any delivery before 37 weeks (pooled ARD, 0.20% [95% CI, -1.13% to 1.53%]; 6 RCTs, n = 6307). Among 5 trials reporting findings among women with a prior preterm delivery, findings were inconsistent; 3 showed a significant beneficial effect, while 2 did not. Maternal adverse events from treatment were infrequent and minor (eg, candidiasis) but were slightly more common with active treatment compared with placebo across 8 RCTs. Two meta-analyses of observational studies reported no significant association between metronidazole exposure and congenital malformations (odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.75 to 1.22]; odds ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.90 to 1.29]). One cohort study reported no significantly increased incidence of childhood cancer among metronidazole-exposed children (adjusted relative risk, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.41 to 1.59]). However, studies of in utero exposure had important limitations. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Accuracy of screening tests for bacterial vaginosis varies. The evidence suggests no difference in the incidence of preterm delivery and related outcomes from treatment for asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis in a general obstetric population but was inconclusive for women with a prior preterm delivery. Maternal adverse events from treatment appear to be infrequent and minor, but the evidence about harms from in utero exposure was inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila C Kahwati
- RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Rachel Clark
- RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Nancy Berkman
- RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Rachel Urrutia
- RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Sheila V Patel
- RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Jennifer Zeng
- RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center
- School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Meera Viswanathan
- RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
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12
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Vaginal dysbiosis associated-bacteria Megasphaera elsdenii and Prevotella timonensis induce immune activation via dendritic cells. J Reprod Immunol 2020; 138:103085. [PMID: 32004804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2020.103085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome as a result of overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria leads to bacterial vaginosis (BV) which is associated with increased inflammation in the genital mucosa. Moreover, BV increases susceptibility to sexual transmitted infections (STIs) and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. It remains unclear how specific vaginal aerobic and anaerobic bacteria affect health and disease. We selected different vaginal bacteria ranging from true commensals to species associated with dysbiosis and investigated their effects on activation of dendritic cells (DCs). Commensal Lactobacilli crispatus did not induce DC maturation nor led to production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, BV-associated bacteria Megasphaera elsdenii and Prevotella timonensis induced DC maturation and increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Notably, DCs stimulated with Prevotella timonensis suppressed Th2 responses and induced Th1 skewing, typically associated with preterm birth. In contrast, Lactobacillus crispatus and Megasphaera elsdenii did not affect Th cell polarization. These results strongly indicate that the interaction of vaginal bacteria with mucosal DCs determines mucosal inflammation and we have identified the anaerobic bacterium Prevotella timonensis as a strong inducer of inflammatory responses. Specifically targeting these inflammation-inducing bacteria might be a therapeutic strategy to prevent BV and associated risks in STI susceptibility and preterm birth.
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13
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Zhang L, Mosoian A, Schwartz ME, Florman SS, Gunasekaran G, Schiano T, Fiel MI, Jiang W, Shen Q, Branch AD, Bansal MB. HIV infection modulates IL-1β response to LPS stimulation through a TLR4-NLRP3 pathway in human liver macrophages. J Leukoc Biol 2019; 105:783-795. [PMID: 30776150 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.4a1018-381r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-1β is an important mediator of innate inflammatory responses and has been shown to contribute to liver injury in a number of etiologies. HIV patients have increased necroinflammation and more rapid fibrosis progression in chronic liver injury compared to non-HIV-infected patients. As the resident liver macrophage is critical to the IL-1β response to microbial translocation in chronic liver disease, we aim to examine the impact of HIV-1 and LPS stimulation on the IL-1β response of the resident hepatic macrophages. We isolated primary human liver macrophages from liver resection specimens, treated them with HIV-1BaL and/or LPS ex vivo, examined the IL-1β response, and then studied underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we examined IL-1β expression in liver tissues derived from HIV-1 patients compared to those with no underlying liver disease. HIV-1 up-regulated TLR4 and CD14 expression on isolated primary CD68+ human liver macrophages and contributed to the IL-1β response to LPS stimulation as evidenced by TLR4 blocking. Nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) was shown to be involved in the IL-1β response of liver macrophages to HIV-1 infection and NLRP3 blocking experiments in primary CD68+ liver macrophages confirmed the contribution of the NLRP3-caspase 1 inflammatory signaling pathway in the IL-1β response. High in situ IL-1β expression was found in CD68+ cells in human liver tissues from HIV-1-infected patients, suggesting a critical role of IL-1β responses in patients infected by HIV. HIV infection sensitizes the IL-1β response of liver macrophages to LPS through up-regulation of CD14 and TLR4 expression and downstream activation of the NLRP3-caspase 1 pathway. These findings have implications for enhanced immune activation in HIV+ patients and mechanisms for rapid fibrosis progression in patients with chronic liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lumin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Arevik Mosoian
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Myron E Schwartz
- Recanti-Miler Transplant Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sander S Florman
- Recanti-Miler Transplant Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ganesh Gunasekaran
- Recanti-Miler Transplant Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Thomas Schiano
- Recanti-Miler Transplant Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - M Isabel Fiel
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Qi Shen
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Andrea D Branch
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Meena B Bansal
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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14
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Abstract
: Bacterial vaginosis, characterized by the replacement of the Lactobacillus-dominant microbiota with anaerobic bacteria and facultative Gram-negative rods, has been associated with adverse reproductive health outcomes including HIV acquisition. With the advent of newer molecular techniques, the vaginal microbiota can be investigated in more detail and the association with HIV examined more thoroughly. This review examines recent evidence suggesting that vaginal dysbiosis with increased microbial diversity, specific vaginal bacterial communities, and the presence and concentrations of some individual bacterial species, may increase HIV susceptibility. Potential mechanisms through which vaginal microbiota could impact HIV susceptibility are discussed. On the basis of the available data, this review finds that there is a modest, but growing, body of evidence linking vaginal microbiota to HIV susceptibility in women. The evidence could be strengthened through two main pathways. First, laboratory studies such as ex-vivo or animal experiments are needed to move from plausible mechanisms towards proven mechanisms that explain an effect of the vaginal microbiota on HIV susceptibility. Second, experimental evidence could directly test the hypothesis that sustaining optimal microbiota reduces HIV risk, though there are important obstacles to conducting such studies. Finally, this review examines strong evidence from a recent publication suggesting that deviations from an optimal vaginal microbiome, and particularly the presence of some bacterial communities with high relative abundance of Gardnerella vaginalis, reduces the efficacy of vaginal tenofovir-based microbicides.
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15
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Hapgood JP, Kaushic C, Hel Z. Hormonal Contraception and HIV-1 Acquisition: Biological Mechanisms. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:36-78. [PMID: 29309550 PMCID: PMC5807094 DOI: 10.1210/er.2017-00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Access to effective affordable contraception is critical for individual and public health. A wide range of hormonal contraceptives (HCs), which differ in composition, concentration of the progestin component, frequency of dosage, and method of administration, is currently available globally. However, the options are rather limited in settings with restricted economic resources that frequently overlap with areas of high HIV-1 prevalence. The predominant contraceptive used in sub-Saharan Africa is the progestin-only three-monthly injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. Determination of whether HCs affect HIV-1 acquisition has been hampered by behavioral differences potentially confounding clinical observational data. Meta-analysis of these studies shows a significant association between depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use and increased risk of HIV-1 acquisition, raising important concerns. No association was found for combined oral contraceptives containing levonorgestrel, nor for the two-monthly injectable contraceptive norethisterone enanthate, although data for norethisterone enanthate are limited. Susceptibility to HIV-1 and other sexually transmitted infections may, however, be dependent on the type of progestin present in the formulation. Several underlying biological mechanisms that may mediate the effect of HCs on HIV-1 and other sexually transmitted infection acquisition have been identified in clinical, animal, and ex vivo studies. A substantial gap exists in the translation of basic research into clinical practice and public health policy. To bridge this gap, we review the current knowledge of underlying mechanisms and biological effects of commonly used progestins. The review sheds light on issues critical for an informed choice of progestins for the identification of safe, effective, acceptable, and affordable contraceptive methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet P Hapgood
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Charu Kaushic
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada.,McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zdenek Hel
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.,Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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16
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Park YJ, Lee HK. The Role of Skin and Orogenital Microbiota in Protective Immunity and Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease. Front Immunol 2018; 8:1955. [PMID: 29375574 PMCID: PMC5767596 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The skin and orogenital mucosae, which constitute complex protective barriers against infection and injuries, are not only the first to come into contact with pathogens but are also colonized by a set of microorganisms that are essential to maintain a healthy physiological environment. Using 16S ribosomal RNA metagenomic sequencing, scientists recognized that the microorganism colonization has greater diversity and variability than previously assumed. These microorganisms, such as commensal bacteria, affect the host’s immune response against pathogens and modulate chronic inflammatory responses. Previously, a single pathogen was thought to cause a single disease, but current evidence suggests that dysbiosis of the tissue microbiota may underlie the disease status. Dysbiosis results in aberrant immune responses at the surface and furthermore, affects the systemic immune response. Hence, understanding the initial interaction between the barrier surface immune system and local microorganisms is important for understanding the overall systemic effects of the immune response. In this review, we describe current evidence for the basis of the interactions between pathogens, microbiota, and immune cells on surface barriers and offer explanations for how these interactions may lead to chronic inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Joon Park
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Heung Kyu Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea.,KAIST Institute for Health Science and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, South Korea
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17
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Prodger JL, Gray RH, Shannon B, Shahabi K, Kong X, Grabowski K, Kigozi G, Nalugoda F, Serwadda D, Wawer MJ, Reynolds SJ, Liu CM, Tobian AAR, Kaul R. Chemokine Levels in the Penile Coronal Sulcus Correlate with HIV-1 Acquisition and Are Reduced by Male Circumcision in Rakai, Uganda. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1006025. [PMID: 27898732 PMCID: PMC5127584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual susceptibility to HIV is heterogeneous, but the biological mechanisms explaining differences are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that penile inflammation may increase HIV susceptibility in men by recruiting permissive CD4 T cells, and that male circumcision may decrease HIV susceptibility in part by reducing genital inflammation. We used multi-array technology to measure levels of seven cytokines in coronal sulcus (penile) swabs collected longitudinally from initially uncircumcised men enrolled in a randomized trial of circumcision in Rakai, Uganda. Coronal sulcus cytokine levels were compared between men who acquired HIV and controls who remained seronegative. Cytokines were also compared within men before and after circumcision, and correlated with CD4 T cells subsets in foreskin tissue. HIV acquisition was associated with detectable coronal sulcus Interleukin-8 (IL-8 aOR 2.26, 95%CI 1.04–6.40) and Monokine Induced by γ-interferon (MIG aOR 2.72, 95%CI 1.15–8.06) at the visit prior to seroconversion, and the odds of seroconversion increased with detection of multiple cytokines. Coronal sulcus chemokine levels were not correlated with those in the vagina of a man’s female sex partner. The detection of IL-8 in swabs was significantly reduced 6 months after circumcision (PRR 0.59, 95%CI 0.44–0.87), and continued to decline for at least two years (PRR 0.29, 95%CI 0.16–0.54). Finally, prepuce IL-8 correlated with increased HIV target cell density in foreskin tissues, including highly susceptible CD4 T cells subsets, as well as with tissue neutrophil density. Together, these data suggest that penile inflammation increases HIV susceptibility and is reduced by circumcision. The per-contact risk of infection with HIV through sexual exposure is low and highly variable. Understanding the biological basis for this variability could help in the development of new methods to prevent infection. There is some evidence that penile inflammation, even in the absence of any clinical symptoms, may increase HIV-susceptibility by recruiting CD4 T cells, the immune cell type that is the principal target of HIV. We analyzed soluble inflammatory mediators in prepuce swabs collected longitudinally from initially HIV-negative men enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of adult circumcision. We found that these inflammatory mediators were elevated in men who went on to acquire HIV. We also found that higher levels of these mediators were associated with an increased density of HIV-susceptible target cells in the underlying foreskin tissue and that circumcision reduced their levels, which may help to explain why circumcision reduces HIV risk by 60% or more. Together, these data suggest that penile inflammation, in the absence of genital infections, increases HIV susceptibility and is reduced by adult male circumcision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Prodger
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ronald H Gray
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.,Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda
| | - Brett Shannon
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Xiangrong Kong
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kate Grabowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Maria J Wawer
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.,Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda
| | - Steven J Reynolds
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda.,Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cindy M Liu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia.,Translational Genomics Research Institute, Flagstaff, Arizona
| | - Aaron A R Tobian
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda.,Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rupert Kaul
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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18
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Keller MJ, McGinn AP, Lo Y, Huber A, Espinoza L, Minkoff H, Colie C, Nowicki MJ, D'Souza G, Anastos K. Longitudinal Assessment of Systemic and Genital Tract Inflammatory Markers and Endogenous Genital Tract E. coli Inhibitory Activity in HIV-Infected and Uninfected Women. Am J Reprod Immunol 2016; 75:631-42. [PMID: 27145926 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Stability over time of systemic and mucosal immunity and their associations with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and HIV-specific parameters were assessed. METHOD OF STUDY Immune mediators and HIV viral load in plasma and cervicovaginal lavage (CVL), E. coli inhibition, and Nugent score were measured at three semiannual visits among 94 participants in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Mixed models identified the factors associated with immune mediators. RESULTS There was higher E. coli inhibition and lower inflammation over time in the genital tract and systemically. BV was consistently associated with higher CVL inflammatory mediators and lower CVL E. coli inhibition. HIV-infected women with higher CD4 counts had lower systemic and genital inflammatory mediators, and genital HIV shedding was associated with higher CVL inflammatory mediators. Use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was associated with lower plasma and CVL mediators, but higher E. coli inhibition. CONCLUSION HIV and BV are linked to inflammation, and ART may be associated with improved vaginal health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yungtai Lo
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Ashley Huber
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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19
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Francis SC, Hou Y, Baisley K, van de Wijgert J, Watson-Jones D, Ao TT, Herrera C, Maganja K, Andreasen A, Kapiga S, Coulton GR, Hayes RJ, Shattock RJ. Immune Activation in the Female Genital Tract: Expression Profiles of Soluble Proteins in Women at High Risk for HIV Infection. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0143109. [PMID: 26814891 PMCID: PMC4729472 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Soluble cervicovaginal biomarkers of inflammation, immune activation and risk of HIV acquisition are needed to reliably assess the safety of new biomedical prevention strategies including vaccines and microbicides. However, a fuller understanding of expression profiles in women at high risk for HIV infection is crucial to the effective use of these potential biomarkers in Phase 3 trial settings. We have measured 45 soluble proteins and peptides in cervicovaginal lavage samples from 100 HIV negative women at high risk for HIV infection. Women were followed over one menstrual cycle to investigate modulation by hormonal contraception, menstrual cycle phase, recent sexual exposure and intravaginal practices. Women using injectable DMPA had increased concentration of several soluble proteins of the innate and adaptive immune system, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, MIP-1β, IP-10, IL-8, TGF-β, HBD4, IgA, IgG1, and IgG2. Women using combined oral contraceptives had a similar signature. There were differences in concentrations among samples from post-ovulation compared to pre-ovulation, notably increased immunoglobulins. Increased prostate-specific antigen, indicative of recent sexual exposure, was correlated with increased IL-6, MCP-1, and SLPI, and decreased GM-CSF and HBD3. The identified signature profiles may prove critical in evaluating the potential safety and impact on risk of HIV acquisition of different biomedical intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanna C. Francis
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania
- * E-mail:
| | - Yanwen Hou
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences, St. George's Medical School, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kathy Baisley
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janneke van de Wijgert
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah Watson-Jones
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Trong T. Ao
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Carolina Herrera
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Imperial College, Department of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaballa Maganja
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Aura Andreasen
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania
- Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Saidi Kapiga
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit, National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Gary R. Coulton
- Division of Basic Medical Sciences, St. George's Medical School, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Hayes
- MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin J. Shattock
- Mucosal Infection and Immunity Group, Imperial College, Department of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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20
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Thurman AR, Kimble T, Herold B, Mesquita PM, Fichorova RN, Dawood HY, Fashemi T, Chandra N, Rabe L, Cunningham TD, Anderson S, Schwartz J, Doncel G. Bacterial Vaginosis and Subclinical Markers of Genital Tract Inflammation and Mucosal Immunity. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2015. [PMID: 26204200 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2015.0006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been linked to an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition and transmission in observational studies, but the underlying biological mechanisms are unknown. We measured biomarkers of subclinical vaginal inflammation, endogenous antimicrobial activity, and vaginal flora in women with BV and repeated sampling 1 week and 1 month after completion of metronidazole therapy. We also compared this cohort of women with BV to a healthy control cohort without BV. A longitudinal, open label study of 33 women with a Nugent score of 4 or higher was conducted. All women had genital swabs, cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) fluid, and cervicovaginal biopsies obtained at enrollment and received 7 days of metronidazole treatment. Repeat sampling was performed approximately 1 week and 1 month after completion of therapy. Participant's baseline samples were compared to a healthy, racially matched control group (n=13) without BV. The CVL from women with resolved BV (Nugent 0-3) had significantly higher anti-HIV activity, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), and growth-related oncogene alpha (GRO-α) levels and their ectocervical tissues had significantly more CD8 cells in the epithelium. Women with persistent BV after treatment had significantly higher levels of interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in the CVL. At study entry, participants had significantly greater numbers of CCR5(+) immune cells and a higher CD4/CD8 ratio in ectocervical tissues prior to metronidazole treatment, compared to a racially matched cohort of women with a Nugent score of 0-3. These data indicate that BV is associated with changes in select soluble immune mediators, an increase in HIV target cells, and a reduction in endogenous antimicrobial activity, which may contribute to the increased risk of HIV acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Kimble
- CONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
| | - Betsy Herold
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | | | - Raina N. Fichorova
- Laboratory of Genital Tract Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hassan Y. Dawood
- Laboratory of Genital Tract Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Titilayo Fashemi
- Laboratory of Genital Tract Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Lorna Rabe
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | - Jill Schwartz
- CONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Arlington, Virginia
| | - Gustavo Doncel
- CONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
- CONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Arlington, Virginia
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21
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Burgener A, McGowan I, Klatt NR. HIV and mucosal barrier interactions: consequences for transmission and pathogenesis. Curr Opin Immunol 2015; 36:22-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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22
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Ondoa P, Gautam R, Rusine J, Lutter R, Jurriaans S, Kootstra N, Karita E, van de Wijgert J. Twelve-Month Antiretroviral Therapy Suppresses Plasma and Genital Viral Loads but Fails to Alter Genital Levels of Cytokines, in a Cohort of HIV-Infected Rwandan Women. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127201. [PMID: 26010956 PMCID: PMC4444210 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genital viral load (GVL) is the main determinant of sexual transmission of human immune-deficiency virus (HIV). The effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on local cervico-vaginal immunological factors associated with GVL is poorly described. We aimed to identify the risk factors of detectable GVL, and the impact of ART on HIV genital shedding and its correlates in a cohort of HIV-infected women, attending HIV care in Kigali, Rwanda. Materials and Methods All participants were evaluated for GVL, plasma viral load (PVL), CD4 count, various sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) at baseline and at month 12. Genital concentration of 19 cytokines and mRNA expression of APOBEC3G and BST2, two host HIV restriction factors, were evaluated at baseline in all participants. Cytokine levels were re-assessed at month 12 only in participants eligible for ART at baseline. Risk factors of GVL ≥40copies/mL at baseline and month 12 were assessed using logistic regression. Effect of 12-month ART on various local and systemic immunological parameters was examined using a paired t-test and McNemar as appropriate. Results 96 of the 247 women enrolled in the study were eligible for ART. After 12 months of ART, PVL and GVL decreased to undetectable level in respectively 74 and 88% of treated participants. ART did not affect cytokine levels. HIV genital shedding occurred only when PVL was detectable. At baseline, GVL was independently associated with IL-1β after controlling for PVL, age and N. gonorrhea infection (95% CI 1.32-2.15) and at month 12 with MIP-1β (95% CI 0.96-21.32) after controlling for baseline GVL, PVL and month 12 IL-8. Conclusion Suppressive ART does not necessarily reduce genital level of immune activation. Minimizing all conditions favoring genital inflammation, including active detection and treatment of STIs, might reduce the risk of HIV transmission as supplement to the provision of potent ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascale Ondoa
- Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development (AIGHD), Department of Global Health of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Raju Gautam
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - John Rusine
- INTERACT Program, Kigali, Rwanda
- National Reference Laboratory, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Rene Lutter
- Department of Respiratory Medicine of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Immunology of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Jurriaans
- Department of Medical Microbiology of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neeltje Kootstra
- Department of Experimental Immunology of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Janneke van de Wijgert
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Cross-Sectional Analysis of Selected Genital Tract Immunological Markers and Molecular Vaginal Microbiota in Sub-Saharan African Women, with Relevance to HIV Risk and Prevention. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2015; 22:526-38. [PMID: 25761460 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00762-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Data on immune mediators in the genital tract and the factors that modulate them in sub-Saharan women are limited. Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) samples from 430 sexually active women from Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda were analyzed for 12 soluble immune mediators using Bio-Plex and Meso Scale Discovery multiplex platforms, as well as single enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Ten bacterial species were quantified in vaginal swab samples. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was defined by Nugent scoring. CVL samples from HIV-infected women showed a clear-cut proinflammatory profile. Pregnant women, adolescents, and women engaging in traditional vaginal practices differed in specific soluble markers compared to reference groups of adult HIV-negative women. Cervical mucus, cervical ectopy, abnormal vaginal discharge, and having multiple sex partners were each associated with an increase in inflammatory mediators. The levels of interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12(p70), and IL-8 were elevated, whereas the IL-1RA/IL-1(α+β) ratio decreased in women with BV. The level of gamma interferon-induced protein 10 was lower in BV-positive than in BV-negative women, suggesting its suppression as a potential immune evasion mechanism by BV-associated bacteria. Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus vaginalis were associated with decreased proinflammatory cytokines and each BV-associated species with increased proinflammatory cytokines. Remarkably, the in vitro anti-HIV activity of CVL samples from BV-positive women was stronger than that of BV-negative women. In conclusion, we found significant associations of factors, including vaginal microbiota, which can influence immune mediators in the vaginal environment in sexually active women. These factors need to be considered when establishing normative levels or pathogenic cutoffs of biomarkers of inflammation and associated risks in African women.
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HIV-1 shedding from the female genital tract is associated with increased Th1 cytokines/chemokines that maintain tissue homeostasis and proportions of CD8+FOXP3+ T cells. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2015; 67:357-64. [PMID: 25202922 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000000336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-1 shedding from the female genital tract is associated with increased sexual and perinatal transmission and has been broadly evaluated in cross-sectional studies. However, few longitudinal studies have evaluated how the immune microenvironment effects shedding. METHODS Thirty-nine HIV-1-infected women had blood, cervicovaginal lavage, and biopsies of the uterine cervix taken quarterly for up to 5 years. Cytokines/chemokines were quantified by Luminex assay in cervicovaginal lavage, and cellular phenotypes were characterized using immunohistochemistry in cervical biopsies. Comparisons of cytokine/chemokine concentrations and the percent of tissue staining positive for T cells were compared using generalized estimating equations between non-shedding and shedding visits across all women and within a subgroup of women who intermittently shed HIV-1. RESULTS Genital HIV-1 shedding was more common when plasma HIV-1 was detected. Cytokines associated with cell growth (interleukin-7), Th1 cells/inflammation (interleukin-12p70), and fractalkine were significantly increased at shedding visits compared with non-shedding visits within intermittent shedders and across all subjects. Within intermittent shedders and across all subjects, FOXP3 T cells were significantly decreased at shedding visits. However, there were significant increases in CD8 cells and proportions of CD8FOXP3 T cells associated with HIV-1 shedding. CONCLUSIONS Within intermittent HIV-1 shedders, decreases in FOXP3 T cells at the shedding visit suggests that local HIV-1 replication leads to CD4 T-cell depletion, with increases in the proportion of CD8FOXP3 cells. HIV-1-infected cell loss may promote a cytokine milieu that maintains cellular homeostasis and increases immune suppressor cells in response to HIV-1 replication in the cervical tissues.
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Mitchell C, Marrazzo J. Bacterial vaginosis and the cervicovaginal immune response. Am J Reprod Immunol 2015; 71:555-63. [PMID: 24832618 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of vaginal discharge in reproductive age women around the world and is associated with several poor reproductive health outcomes, including HIV-1 acquisition. One possible mechanism for this association is the inflammatory immune response induced by BV in the cervical and vaginal mucosae. There is significant heterogeneity in reports of markers of cervicovaginal inflammation in women with BV, likely due to microbial and host diversity, as well as differences in study design. In this article, we review the characteristics of the mucosal immune response in BV, the potential role of lactobacilli in modulating that response, and the impact of individual BV-associated bacterial species on mucosal immunity. We focus on inflammatory markers that are proposed to increase the risk of HIV-1 acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Mitchell
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Co-occurrence of Trichomonas vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis and vaginal shedding of HIV-1 RNA. Sex Transm Dis 2014; 41:173-9. [PMID: 24521723 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are independently associated with increased risk of vaginal shedding in HIV-positive women. Because these 2 conditions commonly co-occur, this study was undertaken to examine the association between TV/BV co-occurrence and vaginal shedding of HIV-1 RNA. METHODS HIV-positive women attending outpatient HIV clinics in 3 urban US cities underwent a clinical examination; were screened for TV, BV, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis; and completed a behavioral survey. Women shedding HIV-1 RNA vaginally (≥50 copies/mL) were compared with women who had an undetectable (<50 copies/mL) vaginal viral load to determine if women who were TV positive and BV positive or had co-occurrence of TV/BV had higher odds of shedding vaginally when compared with women who did not have these conditions. RESULTS In this sample of 373 HIV-positive women, 43.1% (n = 161) had co-occurrence of TV/BV and 33.2% (n = 124) were shedding HIV-1 RNA vaginally. The odds of shedding HIV vaginally in the presence of TV alone or BV alone and when TV/BV co-occurred were 4.07 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78-9.37), 5.65 (95% CI, 2.64-12.01), and 18.63 (95% CI, 6.71-51.72), respectively, when compared with women with no diagnosis of TV or BV, and after adjusting for age, antiretroviral therapy status, and plasma viral load. CONCLUSIONS T. vaginalis and BV were independently and synergistically related to vaginal shedding of HIV-1 RNA. Screening and prompt treatment of these 2 conditions among HIV-positive women are important not only clinically but for HIV prevention, as well.
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Ferreira VH, Kafka JK, Kaushic C. Influence of common mucosal co-factors on HIV infection in the female genital tract. Am J Reprod Immunol 2014; 71:543-54. [PMID: 24617528 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Women constitute almost half of HIV-infected population globally, and the female genital tract (FGT) accounts for approximately 40% of all new HIV infections worldwide. The FGT is composed of upper and lower parts, distinct in their morphological and functional characteristics. Co-factors in the genital microenvironment, such as presence of hormones, semen, and other sexually transmitted infections, can facilitate or deter HIV infection and play a critical role in determining susceptibility to HIV. In this review, we examine some of these co-factors and their potential influence. Presence of physical and chemical barriers such as epithelial tight junctions, mucus, and anti-microbial peptides can actively block and inhibit viral replication, presenting a significant deterrent to HIV. Upon exposure, HIV and other pathogens first encounter the genital epithelium: cells that express a wide repertoire of pattern recognition receptors that can recognize and directly initiate innate immune responses. These and other interactions in the genital tract can lead to direct and indirect inflammation and enhance the number of local target cells, immune activation, and microbial translocation, all of which promote HIV infection and replication. Better understanding of the dynamics of HIV transmission in the female genital tract would be invaluable for improving the design of prophylactic strategies against HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor H Ferreira
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Michael G. DeGroote Institute of Infectious Diseases Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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Petrova MI, van den Broek M, Balzarini J, Vanderleyden J, Lebeer S. Vaginal microbiota and its role in HIV transmission and infection. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2014; 37:762-92. [PMID: 23789590 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6976.12029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Revised: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The urogenital tract appears to be the only niche of the human body that shows clear differences in microbiota between men and women. The female reproductive tract has special features in terms of immunological organization, an epithelial barrier, microbiota, and influence by sex hormones such as estrogen. While the upper genital tract is regarded as free of microorganisms, the vagina is colonized by bacteria dominated by Lactobacillus species, although their numbers vary considerably during life. Bacterial vaginosis is a common pathology characterized by dysbiosis, which increases the susceptibility for HIV infection and transmission. On the other hand, HIV infections are often characterized by a disturbed vaginal microbiota. The endogenous vaginal microbiota may protect against HIV by direct production of antiviral compounds, through blocking of adhesion and transmission by ligands such as lectins, and/or by stimulation of immune responses. The potential role of probiotics in the prevention of HIV infections and associated symptoms, by introducing them to the vaginal and gastrointestinal tract (GIT), is also discussed. Of note, the GIT is a site of considerable HIV replication and CD4(+) T-cell destruction, resulting in both local and systemic inflammation. Finally, genetically engineered lactobacilli show promise as new microbicidal agents against HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya I Petrova
- KU Leuven, Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, Leuven, Belgium
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29
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Romero R, Hassan SS, Gajer P, Tarca AL, Fadrosh DW, Nikita L, Galuppi M, Lamont RF, Chaemsaithong P, Miranda J, Chaiworapongsa T, Ravel J. The composition and stability of the vaginal microbiota of normal pregnant women is different from that of non-pregnant women. MICROBIOME 2014; 2:4. [PMID: 24484853 PMCID: PMC3916806 DOI: 10.1186/2049-2618-2-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 468] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was undertaken to characterize the vaginal microbiota throughout normal human pregnancy using sequence-based techniques. We compared the vaginal microbial composition of non-pregnant patients with a group of pregnant women who delivered at term. RESULTS A retrospective case-control longitudinal study was designed and included non-pregnant women (n = 32) and pregnant women who delivered at term (38 to 42 weeks) without complications (n = 22). Serial samples of vaginal fluid were collected from both non-pregnant and pregnant patients. A 16S rRNA gene sequence-based survey was conducted using pyrosequencing to characterize the structure and stability of the vaginal microbiota. Linear mixed effects models and generalized estimating equations were used to identify the phylotypes whose relative abundance was different between the two study groups. The vaginal microbiota of normal pregnant women was different from that of non-pregnant women (higher abundance of Lactobacillus vaginalis, L. crispatus, L. gasseri and L. jensenii and lower abundance of 22 other phylotypes in pregnant women). Bacterial community state type (CST) IV-B or CST IV-A characterized by high relative abundance of species of genus Atopobium as well as the presence of Prevotella, Sneathia, Gardnerella, Ruminococcaceae, Parvimonas, Mobiluncus and other taxa previously shown to be associated with bacterial vaginosis were less frequent in normal pregnancy. The stability of the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women was higher than that of non-pregnant women; however, during normal pregnancy, bacterial communities shift almost exclusively from one CST dominated by Lactobacillus spp. to another CST dominated by Lactobacillus spp. CONCLUSION We report the first longitudinal study of the vaginal microbiota in normal pregnancy. Differences in the composition and stability of the microbial community between pregnant and non-pregnant women were observed. Lactobacillus spp. were the predominant members of the microbial community in normal pregnancy. These results can serve as the basis to study the relationship between the vaginal microbiome and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Sonia S Hassan
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Pawel Gajer
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Douglas W Fadrosh
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lorraine Nikita
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Marisa Galuppi
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ronald F Lamont
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Division of Surgery, University College, Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research Campus, London, UK
| | - Piya Chaemsaithong
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jezid Miranda
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Perinatology Research Branch, Program for Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, MD and, Detroit, MI, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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The complexity of contraceptives: understanding their impact on genital immune cells and vaginal microbiota. AIDS 2013; 27 Suppl 1:S5-15. [PMID: 24088684 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000000058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Mitchell C, Balkus JE, McKernan-Mullin J, Cohn SE, Luque AE, Mwachari C, Cohen CR, Coombs R, Frenkel LM, Hitti J. Associations between genital tract infections, genital tract inflammation, and cervical cytobrush HIV-1 DNA in US versus Kenyan women. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2013; 62:143-8. [PMID: 23018377 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0b013e318274577d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Cervical shedding of HIV-1 DNA may influence HIV-1 sexual transmission. HIV-1 DNA was detected in 250 (80%) of 316 and 207 (79%) of 259 cervical cytobrush specimens from 56 US and 80 Kenyan women, respectively. Plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration was associated with increased HIV-1 DNA shedding among US and Kenyan women. Kenyan women had higher cervicovaginal concentrations of proinflammatory interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and anti-inflammatory secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor compared with US women (all P < 0.01). HIV-1 DNA shedding was associated with increased concentrations of IL-1β and IL-6 and lower secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor among US women but not Kenyan women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Mitchell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
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Marrazzo JM, Hillier SL. Bacterial Vaginosis. Sex Transm Dis 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-391059-2.00018-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Mitchell C, Balkus JE, Fredricks D, Liu C, McKernan-Mullin J, Frenkel LM, Mwachari C, Luque A, Cohn SE, Cohen CR, Coombs R, Hitti J. Interaction between lactobacilli, bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria, and HIV Type 1 RNA and DNA Genital shedding in U.S. and Kenyan women. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2013; 29:13-9. [PMID: 23020644 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2012.0187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis has been associated with genital HIV-1 shedding; however, the effect of specific vaginal bacterial species has not been assessed. We tested cervicovaginal lavage from HIV-1-seropositive women for common Lactobacillus species: L. crispatus, L. jensenii, and seven BV-associated species: BVAB1, BVAB2, BVAB3, Leptotrichia, Sneathia, Megasphaera, and Atopobium spp. using quantitative PCR. We used linear and Poisson regression to evaluate associations between vaginal bacteria and genital HIV-1 RNA and DNA. Specimens from 54 U.S. (310 visits) and 50 Kenyan women (137 visits) were evaluated. Controlling for plasma viral load, U.S. and Kenyan women had similar rates of HIV-1 RNA (19% of visits vs. 24%; IRR=0.95; 95% CI 0.61, 1.49) and DNA shedding (79% vs. 76%; IRR=0.90; 0.78, 1.05). At visits during antiretroviral therapy (ART), the likelihood of detection of HIV-1 RNA shedding was greater with BVAB3 (IRR=3.16; 95% CI 1.36, 7.32), Leptotrichia, or Sneathia (IRR=2.13; 1.02, 4.72), and less with L. jensenii (IRR=0.39; 0.18, 0.84). At visits without ART, only L. crispatus was associated with a lower likelihood of HIV-1 RNA detection (IRR=0.6; 0.40, 0.91). Vaginal Lactobacillus species were associated with lower risk of genital HIV-1 shedding, while the presence of certain BV-associated species may increase that risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Mitchell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jennifer E. Balkus
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - David Fredricks
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Congzhou Liu
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | | | | | | | - Amneris Luque
- Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Susan E. Cohn
- Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Craig R. Cohen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Robert Coombs
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jane Hitti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Lingappa JR, Thomas KK, Hughes JP, Baeten JM, Wald A, Farquhar C, de Bruyn G, Fife KH, Campbell MS, Kapiga S, Mullins JI, Celum, for the Partners in Preventi C. Partner characteristics predicting HIV-1 set point in sexually acquired HIV-1 among African seroconverters. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2013; 29:164-71. [PMID: 23061422 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2012.0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasma HIV-1 RNA set point is an important predictor of HIV-1 disease progression. We hypothesized that inoculum size and HIV-1 exposure prior to HIV-1 transmission may modulate set point. We evaluated predictors of set point among 141 African HIV-1 seroconverters and their HIV-1-infected study partners. We compared characteristics of seroconverters and their HIV-1-infected partners and HIV-1 set point. Data were from a clinical trial of genital HSV-2 suppression with acyclovir to reduce HIV-1 transmission in HIV-1 serodiscordant couples with HIV-1 transmission linkage assigned through virus sequencing. Our analysis includes data from all transmissions including those with transmission linkage to the HIV-1-infected "source partner" and those that were not linked to their HIV-1-infected study partner. In multivariable analysis, higher plasma HIV-1 in source partners was associated with higher seroconverter set point ( + 0.44 log10 copies/ml per log(10) source partner plasma HIV-1, p < 0.001). In addition, bacterial vaginosis (BV) among female source partners near the time of infection was associated with higher set point in their male seroconverters ( + 0.49 log(10), p = 0.04). Source partner characteristics associated with lower set point included male circumcision ( - 0.63 log(10), p = 0.03) and assignment to acyclovir ( - 0.44 log10, p = 0.02). The proportion of variation in set point explained by plasma HIV-1 RNA of the source partner, after controlling for other factors, was 0.06. Source partner plasma HIV-1 level is the most significant predictor of seroconverter set point, possibly reflecting characteristics of the transmitted virus. Acyclovir use, BV among women source partners, and circumcision among male source partners may alter the set point by affecting transmitted virus inoculum in the source partners' genital compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jairam R. Lingappa
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - James P. Hughes
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jared M. Baeten
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Anna Wald
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Carey Farquhar
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Guy de Bruyn
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Kenneth H. Fife
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Mary S. Campbell
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Saidi Kapiga
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - James I. Mullins
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Connie Celum, for the Partners in Preventi
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Pellett Madan R, Herold BC. HIV, sexual violence and special populations: adolescence and pregnancy. Am J Reprod Immunol 2012; 69 Suppl 1:61-7. [PMID: 23176128 DOI: 10.1111/aji.12044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk of male to female transmission of HIV is impacted by baseline inflammation in the female genital tract, semen viral load and seminal plasma's ability to induce specific patterns of cervical cytokine signalling and influx of immune cell populations. Disruption of the epithelial barrier during non-consensual intercourse may trigger further inflammation and initiation of cell-signalling pathways, thus facilitating transmission of HIV and expansion of local infection. Adolescent and pregnant women are at high risk for sexual violence and may exhibit alterations of genital mucosal immunity that promote immune activation, making them uniquely vulnerable to HIV acquisition.
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36
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Cohen CR, Cheng SC, Shiboski S, Chipato T, Matu M, Mwangi J, Mutimutema MES, Tuveson J, Kamba M, Padian N, van der Straten A. Diaphragm used with replens gel and risk of bacterial vaginosis: results from a randomized controlled trial. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2012; 2012:921519. [PMID: 23133307 PMCID: PMC3485870 DOI: 10.1155/2012/921519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 09/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been linked to female HIV acquisition and transmission. We investigated the effect of providing a latex diaphragm with Replens and condoms compared to condom only on BV prevalence among participants enrolled in an HIV prevention trial. METHODS We enrolled HIV-seronegative women and obtained a vaginal swab for diagnosis of BV using Nugent's criteria; women with BV (score 7-10) were compared to those with intermediate (score 4-6) and normal flora (score 0-3). During quarterly follow-up visits over 12-24 months a vaginal Gram stain was obtained. The primary outcome was serial point prevalence of BV during followup. RESULTS 528 participants were enrolled; 213 (40%) had BV at enrollment. Overall, BV prevalence declined after enrollment in women with BV at baseline (OR = 0.4, 95% CI 0.29-.56) but did not differ by intervention group. In the intention-to-treat analysis BV prevalence did not differ between the intervention and control groups for women who had BV (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.52-1.94) or for those who did not have BV (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 0.65-2.27) at enrollment. Only 2.1% of participants were treated for symptomatic BV and few women (5-16%) were reported using anything else but water to cleanse the vagina over the course of the trial. CONCLUSIONS Provision of the diaphragm, Replens, and condoms did not change the risk of BV in comparison to the provision of condoms alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R. Cohen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1200, San francisco, CA 94105, USA
| | - Su-Chun Cheng
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
| | - Stephen Shiboski
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
| | - Tsungai Chipato
- University of Zimbabwe-UCSF Collaborative Research Programme, 15 Phillips Ave, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Martin Matu
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
- African Medical and Research Foundation, Clinical and Diagnostics Programme, P.O. Box 27691-00506, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - James Mwangi
- Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Monalisa E. S. Mutimutema
- University of Zimbabwe-UCSF Collaborative Research Programme, 15 Phillips Ave, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Jennifer Tuveson
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1200, San francisco, CA 94105, USA
| | - Mavis Kamba
- University of Zimbabwe-UCSF Collaborative Research Programme, 15 Phillips Ave, Belgravia, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Nancy Padian
- School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, 50 University Hall, MC 7360, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, USA
| | - Ariane van der Straten
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, Suite 1200, San francisco, CA 94105, USA
- Women's Global Health Imperative, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
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Chege D, Chai Y, Huibner S, Kain T, Wachihi C, Kimani M, Barasa S, McKinnon LR, Muriuki FK, Kariri A, Jaoko W, Anzala O, Kimani J, Ball TB, Plummer FA, Kaul R. Blunted IL17/IL22 and pro-inflammatory cytokine responses in the genital tract and blood of HIV-exposed, seronegative female sex workers in Kenya. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43670. [PMID: 22928014 PMCID: PMC3425491 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 07/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying the immune correlates of reduced susceptibility to HIV remains a key goal for the HIV vaccine field, and individuals who are HIV-exposed, seronegative (HESN) may offer important clues. Reduced systemic immune activation has been described in HESN individuals. Conversely, pro-inflammatory T cell subsets, particularly CD4+ T cells producing the cytokine IL17 (Th17 cells), may represent a highly susceptible target for HIV infection after sexual exposure. Therefore, we characterized the cellular pro-inflammatory and IL17/IL22 cytokine immune milieu in the genital mucosa and blood of HESN female sex workers (FSWs). METHODS AND RESULTS Blinded lab personnel characterized basal and mitogen-induced gene and cytokine immune responses in the cervix and blood of HESN FSWs (n = 116) and non-FSW controls (n = 17) using qPCR and ELISA. IL17 and IL22 production was significantly reduced in both the cervix and blood of HESNs, both in resting cells and after mitogen stimulation. In addition, HESN participants demonstrated blunted production of both pro-inflammatory cytokines and β-chemokines. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS We conclude that HIV exposure without infection was associated with blunted IL17/IL22 and pro-inflammatory responses, both systemically and at the site of mucosal HIV exposure. It will be important for further studies to examine the causal nature of the association and to define the cell subsets responsible for these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan Chege
- Departments of Medicine/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yijie Chai
- Departments of Medicine/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sanja Huibner
- Departments of Medicine/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Taylor Kain
- Departments of Medicine/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles Wachihi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Makubo Kimani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samson Barasa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lyle R. McKinnon
- Departments of Medicine/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Festus K. Muriuki
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anthony Kariri
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Walter Jaoko
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Omu Anzala
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Joshua Kimani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Departments of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - T. Blake Ball
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Departments of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Laboratory for HIV Immunology, National HIV and Retrovirology Laboratories, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Francis A. Plummer
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Departments of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Laboratory for HIV Immunology, National HIV and Retrovirology Laboratories, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Rupert Kaul
- Departments of Medicine/University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
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Madan RP, Carpenter C, Fiedler T, Kalyoussef S, McAndrew TC, Viswanathan S, Kim M, Keller MJ, Fredricks DN, Herold BC. Altered biomarkers of mucosal immunity and reduced vaginal Lactobacillus concentrations in sexually active female adolescents. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40415. [PMID: 22808157 PMCID: PMC3393710 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genital secretions collected from adult women exhibit in vitro activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), but prior studies have not investigated this endogenous antimicrobial activity or its mediators in adolescent females. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Anti-HSV and anti-E.coli activity were quantified from cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) specimens collected from 20 sexually active adolescent females (15-18 years). Soluble immune mediators that may influence this activity were measured in CVL, and concentrations of Lactobacillus jensenii and crispatus were quantified by PCR from vaginal swabs. Results for adolescents were compared to those obtained from 54 healthy, premenopausal adult women. Relative to specimens collected from adults, CVL collected from adolescent subjects had significantly reduced activity against E. coli and diminished concentrations of protein, IgG, and IgA but significantly increased anti-HSV activity and concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6 and IL-1 receptor antagonist. Vaginal swabs collected from adolescent subjects had comparable concentrations of L. crispatus but significantly reduced concentrations of L. jensenii, relative to adult swabs. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Biomarkers of genital mucosal innate immunity may differ substantially between sexually active adolescents and adult women. These findings warrant further study and may have significant implications for prevention of sexually transmitted infections in adolescent females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Pellett Madan
- Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America.
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39
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Cohen CR, Lingappa JR, Baeten JM, Ngayo MO, Spiegel CA, Hong T, Donnell D, Celum C, Kapiga S, Delany S, Bukusi EA. Bacterial vaginosis associated with increased risk of female-to-male HIV-1 transmission: a prospective cohort analysis among African couples. PLoS Med 2012; 9:e1001251. [PMID: 22745608 PMCID: PMC3383741 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a disruption of the normal vaginal flora, has been associated with a 60% increased risk of HIV-1 acquisition in women and higher concentration of HIV-1 RNA in the genital tract of HIV-1-infected women. However, whether BV, which is present in up to half of African HIV-1-infected women, is associated with an increase in HIV-1 transmission to male partners has not been assessed in previous studies. METHODS AND FINDINGS We assessed the association between BV on female-to-male HIV-1 transmission risk in a prospective study of 2,236 HIV-1-seropositive women and their HIV-1 uninfected male partners from seven African countries from a randomized placebo-controlled trial that enrolled heterosexual African adults who were seropositive for both HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2, and their HIV-1-seronegative partners. Participants were followed for up to 24 months; every three months, vaginal swabs were obtained from female partners for Gram stain and male partners were tested for HIV-1. BV and normal vaginal flora were defined as a Nugent score of 7-10 and 0-3, respectively. To reduce misclassification, HIV-1 sequence analysis of viruses from seroconverters and their partners was performed to determine linkage of HIV-1 transmissions. Overall, 50 incident HIV-1 infections occurred in men in which the HIV-1-infected female partner had an evaluable vaginal Gram stain. HIV-1 incidence in men whose HIV-1-infected female partners had BV was 2.91 versus 0.76 per 100 person-years in men whose female partners had normal vaginal flora (hazard ratio 3.62, 95% CI 1.74-7.52). After controlling for sociodemographic factors, sexual behavior, male circumcision, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, and plasma HIV-1 RNA levels in female partners, BV was associated with a greater than 3-fold increased risk of female-to-male HIV-1 transmission (adjusted hazard ratio 3.17, 95% CI 1.37-7.33). CONCLUSIONS This study identified an association between BV and increased risk of HIV-1 transmission to male partners. Several limitations may affect the generalizability of our results including: all participants underwent couples HIV counseling and testing and enrolled in an HIV-1 prevention trial, and index participants had a baseline CD4 count ≥ 250 cells/mm³ and were HSV-2 seropositive. Given the high prevalence of BV and the association of BV with increased risk of both female HIV-1 acquisition and transmission found in our study, if this association proves to be causal, BV could be responsible for a substantial proportion of new HIV-1 infections in Africa. Normalization of vaginal flora in HIV-1-infected women could mitigate female-to-male HIV-1 transmission. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.com NCT00194519.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R Cohen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, United States of America.
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Fichorova RN, Yamamoto HS, Delaney ML, Onderdonk AB, Doncel GF. Novel vaginal microflora colonization model providing new insight into microbicide mechanism of action. mBio 2011; 2:e00168-11. [PMID: 22027006 PMCID: PMC3202752 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00168-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 09/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Several broad-spectrum microbicides, including cellulose sulfate (CS), have passed conventional preclinical and phase I clinical safety evaluation and yet have failed to protect women from acquiring HIV-1 in phase II/III trials. Concerns have been raised that current preclinical algorithms are deficient in addressing the complexity of the microflora-regulated vaginal mucosal barrier. We applied a novel microflora-colonized model to evaluate CS and hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), which is used as a "universal placebo" in microbicide trials. Cervicovaginal epithelial cultures were colonized with normal vaginal microflora isolates representing common Lactobacillus species used as probiotics (L. acidophilus and L. crispatus) or Prevotella bivia and Atopobium vaginae, most prevalent in the disturbed microflora of bacterial vaginosis (BV). At baseline, all strains maintained constant epithelium-associated CFUs without inducing cytotoxicity and apoptosis. CS selectively reduced epithelium-associated CFUs and (to a lesser extent) planktonic CFUs, most significantly affecting L. crispatus. Inducing only minor changes in sterile epithelial cultures, CS induced expression of innate immunity mediators (RANTES, interleukin-8 [IL-8], and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor [SLPI]) in microflora-colonized epithelia, most significantly potentiating effects of bacteria causing BV. In the absence of CS, all bacterial strains except L. acidophilus activated NF-κB, although IL-8 and RANTES levels were increased by the presence of BV-causing bacteria only. CS enhanced NF-κB activation in a dose-dependent manner under all conditions, including L. acidophilus colonization. HEC remained inert. These results offer insights into possible mechanisms of CS clinical failure. The bacterially colonized cervicovaginal model reveals unique aspects of microflora-epithelium-drug interactions and innate immunity in the female genital tract and should become an integral part of preclinical safety evaluation of anti-HIV microbicides and other vaginal formulations. IMPORTANCE This report provides experimental evidence supporting the concept that the vaginal microflora regulates the epithelial innate immunity in a species- and strain-specific manner and that topically applied microbicides may alter both the bacterial and epithelial components of this homeostatic interaction. Our data also highlight the importance of differentiating the effects of biomedical interventions on epithelium-associated versus conventional planktonic bacterial growth when assessing vaginal mucosal health and immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raina N Fichorova
- Laboratory of Genital Tract Biology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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Jaspan HB, Liebenberg L, Hanekom W, Burgers W, Coetzee D, Williamson AL, Little F, Myer L, Coombs RW, Sodora D, Passmore JA. Immune activation in the female genital tract during HIV infection predicts mucosal CD4 depletion and HIV shedding. J Infect Dis 2011; 204:1550-6. [PMID: 21940422 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jir591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma viral load predicts genital tract human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) shedding in HIV-infected women. We investigated whether local mucosal T-cell activation (HLA-DR, CD38, CCR5, and Ki67) contributed to HIV shedding in the genital tracts of HIV-infected women. We showed that cervical cytobrush-derived T cells expressed higher frequencies of T-cell activation markers (CD38+ and HLA-DR+) than blood-derived T cells. Expression was significantly higher in HIV-infected women than in uninfected women. We found that the frequency of activated proliferating cervical T cells (Ki67+; Ki67+CCR5+) broadly predicted HIV shedding in the genital tract in HIV-infected women, independently of plasma viral loads. Furthermore, activated cervical T cells (HLA-DR+CD38+ and HLA-DR+CCR5+) and local HIV shedding were independently associated with CD4 depletion in the genital tract. These data suggest that the presence of high frequencies of activated T cells in the female genital mucosa during HIV infection facilitates both local HIV shedding and CD4 T-cell depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather B Jaspan
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa
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42
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Marrazzo JM. Interpreting the epidemiology and natural history of bacterial vaginosis: are we still confused? Anaerobe 2011; 17:186-90. [PMID: 21524714 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Revised: 03/06/2011] [Accepted: 03/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of vaginitis and increases women's risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and risk of STD/HIV acquisition. The etiology of BV is unclear, though it is believed to involve loss of vaginal hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli and acquisition of complex bacterial communities that include many fastidious BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) that have recently been detected using PCR methods. Treatment failure (persistence) is common, and may be facilitated by unprotected sex. Potential contributions to BV and BV persistence include (1) sexual partners as a reservoir for BVAB; (2) specific sexual practices, including male partners' condom use; and (3) the composition of the vaginal microbiota involved in BV. Specific BVAB in the Clostridiales order may predict BV persistence when detected pre-treatment, and have been detected in men whose female partners have BV. BVAB may be associated with unprotected sexual behavior and failure of BV to resolve in women, supporting the hypothesis that BVAB colonization of male genitalia may serve as a reservoir for re-infection of female partners. Moreover, specific sexual practices may favor vaginal colonization with certain BVAB that have been associated with persistence. This review provides background on BV, and discusses the epidemiologic and microbiologic data to support a role for acquisition of BVAB and how this process might differ among subsets of women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne M Marrazzo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, 98104, United States.
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43
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Bacterial vaginosis: identifying research gaps proceedings of a workshop sponsored by DHHS/NIH/NIAID. Sex Transm Dis 2011; 37:732-44. [PMID: 21068695 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0b013e3181fbbc95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The microbiota of the human vagina can affect the health of women, their fetuses, and newborns. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent form of vaginal infection in women of reproductive age, affecting 8% to 23%, and is the most common etiology of vaginal symptoms prompting women to seek medical care. While traditional cultivation has identified numerous BV-associated bacteria involved in these processes, recent advances in molecular biology have facilitated the detection and identification of bacteria without cultivation, some of which have not previously been described or well characterized. A more complete understanding of vaginal microbial populations resulting from the adoption of molecular tools may lead to better strategies to maintain healthy vaginal microbial communities-thus enhancing women's health-and will create opportunities to explore the role of novel bacteria in reproductive tract diseases. On November 19-20, 2008, the NIH convened a workshop of experts in the field of research and clinical practice related to BV in order to discuss how these new advances should be interpreted and applied to research in progress and collaborations between relevant disciplines. This paper summarizes the presentations of this workshop and outlines general recommendations arising from the related discussions. Future studies of BV and its associated adverse outcomes should determine if specific combinations of organisms are more pathogenic than others, and causally associated with different adverse events. Moreover, determination of causality will depend not only on more precise categorization of the vaginal microbiota, but also on variations in the host environment that may be associated with changes in bacterial communities over time. In this report, we offer suggestions and recommendations that we hope will facilitate conduct of consistent approaches to collaborative efforts towards advancing our understanding of the vaginal microbiota and its impact on human health.
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Kaul R, Cohen CR, Chege D, Yi TJ, Tharao W, McKinnon LR, Remis R, Anzala O, Kimani J. Biological factors that may contribute to regional and racial disparities in HIV prevalence. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 65:317-24. [PMID: 21223426 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00962.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous regional and subregional disparities in HIV prevalence around the world, epidemiology consistently demonstrates that black communities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. There are many reasons for this, and a narrow focus on socio-behavioural causes may be seen as laying blame on affected communities or individuals. HIV sexual transmission is very inefficient, and a number of biological factors are critical in determining whether an unprotected sexual exposure to HIV results in productive infection. This review will focus on ways in which biology, rather than behaviour, may contribute to regional and racial differences in HIV epidemic spread. Specific areas of focus are viral factors, host genetics, and the impact of co-infections and host immunology. Considering biological causes for these racial disparities may help to destigmatize the issue and lead to new and more effective strategies for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupert Kaul
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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45
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Doncel GF, Joseph T, Thurman AR. Role of semen in HIV-1 transmission: inhibitor or facilitator? Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 65:292-301. [PMID: 21087339 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2010.00931.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accounts for 60-90% of new infections, especially in developing countries. During male-to-female transmission, the virus is typically deposited in the vagina as cell-free and cell-associated virions carried by semen. But semen is more than just a carrier for HIV-1. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies supports both inhibitory and enhancing effects. Intrinsic antiviral activity mediated by cationic antimicrobial peptides, cytotoxicity, and blockage of HIV-dendritic cell interactions are seminal plasma properties that inhibit HIV-1 infection. On the contrary, neutralization of vaginal acidic pH, enhanced virus-target cell attachment by seminal amyloid fibrils, opsonization by complement fragments, and electrostatic interactions are factors that facilitate HIV-1 infection. The end result, i.e., inhibition or enhancement of HIV mucosal infection, in vivo, likely depends on the summation of all these biological effects. More research is needed, especially in animal models, to dissect the role of these factors and establish their relevance in HIV-1 transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo F Doncel
- CONRAD-Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA.
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