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Choi MW, Isidoro CA, Gillgrass A. Mechanisms of mucosal immunity at the female reproductive tract involved in defense against HIV infection. Curr Opin Virol 2024; 66:101398. [PMID: 38484474 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2024.101398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 remains a major global health threat. Since the virus is often transmitted through sexual intercourse and women account for the majority of new infections within the most endemic regions, research on mucosal immunity at the female reproductive tract (FRT) is of paramount importance. At the FRT, there are intrinsic barriers to HIV-1 infection, such as epithelial cells and the microbiome, and immune cells of both the innate and adaptive arms are prepared to respond in case the virus overcomes the first line of defense. In this review, we discuss recent findings on FRT mucosal mechanisms of HIV-1 defense and highlight research gaps. While defense from HIV-1 infection at the FRT has been understudied, current and future research is essential to develop new therapeutics and vaccines that can protect this unique mucosal site from HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Wy Choi
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Carmina A Isidoro
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Amy Gillgrass
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
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2
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Dabee S, Balle C, Onono M, Innes S, Nair G, Palanee-Phillips T, Burgener AD, Bosinger SE, Passmore JAS, Heffron R, Jaspan H, Happel AU. Update on the Impact of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate on Vaginal Mucosal Endpoints and Relevance to Sexually Transmitted Infections. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2023; 20:251-260. [PMID: 37341916 PMCID: PMC10403392 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-023-00662-0] [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] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The long-acting reversible intramuscularly-injected contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) is widely used by cisgender women in Africa. Although DMPA-IM provides reliable contraception, potential effects on the female genital tract (FGT) mucosa have raised concern, including risk of HIV infection. This review summarises and compares evidence from observational cohort studies and the randomised Evidence for Contraceptive Options in HIV Outcomes (ECHO) Trial. RECENT FINDINGS Although previous observational studies found women using DMPA-IM had higher abundance of bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria, increased inflammation, increased cervicovaginal HIV target cell density, and epithelial barrier damage, sub-studies of the ECHO Trial found no adverse changes in vaginal microbiome, inflammation, proteome, transcriptome, and risk of viral and bacterial STIs, other than an increase in Th17-like cells. Randomised data suggest that DMPA-IM use does not adversely change mucosal endpoints associated with acquisition of infections. These findings support the safe use of DMPA-IM in women at high risk of acquiring STIs, including HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smritee Dabee
- Center for Global Infectious Disease, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109 USA
| | - Christina Balle
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
| | | | - Steve Innes
- Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, 3 Woodlands Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7915 South Africa
| | - Gonasagrie Nair
- Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, 3 Woodlands Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7915 South Africa
| | - Thesla Palanee-Phillips
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Klein St & Esselen St, Hillbrow, Johannesburg 2001 South Africa
| | - Adam D. Burgener
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44106 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
- Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Visionsgatan 18, L8, 171 76 Solna, Sweden
| | - Steven E. Bosinger
- ENPRC Genomics Core Laboratory, Emory National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 2015 Uppergate Dr, Atlanta, GA 30307 USA
- Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, 7 1st Ave, Atlanta, GA 30317 USA
| | - Jo-Ann S. Passmore
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
| | - Renee Heffron
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 845 19th Street South, AL 35294-2170 Birmingham, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 1510 San Juan Road NE, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Heather Jaspan
- Center for Global Infectious Disease, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98109 USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St., Seattle, WA 98195 USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 1510 San Juan Road NE, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Anna-Ursula Happel
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925 South Africa
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3
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Cardenas MC, Farnan S, Hamel BL, Mejia Plazas MC, Sintim-Aboagye E, Littlefield DR, Behl S, Punia S, Enninga EAL, Johnson E, Temesgen Z, Theiler R, Gray CM, Chakraborty R. Prevention of the Vertical Transmission of HIV; A Recap of the Journey so Far. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040849. [PMID: 37112830 PMCID: PMC10142818 DOI: 10.3390/v15040849] [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: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In 1989, one in four (25%) infants born to women living with HIV were infected; by the age of 2 years, there was 25% mortality among them due to HIV. These and other pieces of data prompted the development of interventions to offset vertical transmission, including the landmark Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trial Group Study (PACTG 076) in 1994. This study reported a 67.5% reduction in perinatal HIV transmission with prophylactic antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal zidovudine. Numerous studies since then have provided compelling evidence to further optimize interventions, such that annual transmission rates of 0% are now reported by many health departments in the US and elimination has been validated in several countries around the world. Despite this success, the elimination of HIV’s vertical transmission on the global scale remains a work in progress, limited by socioeconomic factors such as the prohibitive cost of antiretrovirals. Here, we review some of the key trials underpinning the development of guidelines in the US as well as globally, and discuss the evidence through a historic lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Camila Cardenas
- Pediatric Residency Program, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Sheila Farnan
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Hamel
- Pediatric Residency Program, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Maria Camila Mejia Plazas
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Pediatric Residency Program, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, 3100 SW 62nd Ave, Miami, FL 33155, USA
| | - Elise Sintim-Aboagye
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Dawn R. Littlefield
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Supriya Behl
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Sohan Punia
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ann L Enninga
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 33155, USA
| | - Erica Johnson
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA
| | - Zelalem Temesgen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Regan Theiler
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 33155, USA
| | - Clive M. Gray
- Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Biomedical Research Institute, Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Drive, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7600, South Africa
| | - Rana Chakraborty
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-507-293-9531
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4
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d'Amone L, Sahoo JK, Ostrovsky-Snider N, Kaplan DL, Omenetto FG. Boronic Acid-Tethered Silk Fibroin for pH-Dependent Mucoadhesion. Biomacromolecules 2023; 24:1310-1317. [PMID: 36763594 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c01349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Mucus lines all surfaces of the human body not covered by skin and provides lubrication, hydration, and protection. The properties of mucus are influenced by changes in pH that may occur due to physiological conditions and pathological circumstances. Reinforcing the mucus barrier with biopolymers that can adhere to mucus in different conditions can be a useful strategy for protecting the underlying mucosae from damage. In this work, regenerated silk fibroin (silk) was chemically modified with phenyl boronic acid to form reversible covalent complexes with the 1,2- or 1,3-diols. The silk modified with boronic acid pendant groups has an increased affinity for mucins, whose carbohydrate component is rich in diols. These results offer new applications of silk in mucoadhesion, and the ability to bind diols to the silk lays the foundation for the development of silk-based sugar-sensing platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana d'Amone
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02153, United States
| | - Jugal Kishore Sahoo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02153, United States
| | | | - David L Kaplan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02153, United States
| | - Fiorenzo G Omenetto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02153, United States
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02153, United States
- Department of Physics, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02153, United States
- Laboratory for Living Devices, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02153, United States
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5
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Delgado-Diaz DJ, Jesaveluk B, Hayward JA, Tyssen D, Alisoltani A, Potgieter M, Bell L, Ross E, Iranzadeh A, Allali I, Dabee S, Barnabas S, Gamieldien H, Blackburn JM, Mulder N, Smith SB, Edwards VL, Burgener AD, Bekker LG, Ravel J, Passmore JAS, Masson L, Hearps AC, Tachedjian G. Lactic acid from vaginal microbiota enhances cervicovaginal epithelial barrier integrity by promoting tight junction protein expression. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:141. [PMID: 36045402 PMCID: PMC9429363 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01337-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with a cervicovaginal microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus spp. are at reduced risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections including HIV, but the biological mechanisms involved remain poorly defined. Here, we performed metaproteomics on vaginal swab samples from young South African women (n = 113) and transcriptomics analysis of cervicovaginal epithelial cell cultures to examine the ability of lactic acid, a metabolite produced by cervicovaginal lactobacilli, to modulate genital epithelial barrier function. RESULTS Compared to women with Lactobacillus-depleted microbiota, women dominated by vaginal lactobacilli exhibit higher abundance of bacterial lactate dehydrogenase, a key enzyme responsible for lactic acid production, which is independently associated with an increased abundance of epithelial barrier proteins. Physiological concentrations of lactic acid enhance epithelial cell culture barrier integrity and increase intercellular junctional molecule expression. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal a novel ability of vaginal lactic acid to enhance genital epithelial barrier integrity that may help prevent invasion by sexually transmitted pathogens. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Jose Delgado-Diaz
- Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Brianna Jesaveluk
- Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Joshua A Hayward
- Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - David Tyssen
- Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Arghavan Alisoltani
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Matthys Potgieter
- Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Division of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Liam Bell
- Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Elizabeth Ross
- Centre for Proteomic and Genomic Research, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Arash Iranzadeh
- Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Imane Allali
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, 1014, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Smritee Dabee
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Shaun Barnabas
- Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa
| | - Hoyam Gamieldien
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Jonathan M Blackburn
- Division of Chemical and Systems Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Nicola Mulder
- Computational Biology Division, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Centre for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDRI) in Africa Wellcome Trust Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Steven B Smith
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Vonetta L Edwards
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Adam D Burgener
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jo-Ann S Passmore
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, 4013, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Lindi Masson
- Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, 4013, South Africa
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Anna C Hearps
- Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Gilda Tachedjian
- Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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6
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Kaul R, Liu CM, Park DE, Galiwango RM, Tobian AAR, Prodger JL. The Penis, the Vagina and HIV Risk: Key Differences (Aside from the Obvious). Viruses 2022; 14:v14061164. [PMID: 35746636 PMCID: PMC9227947 DOI: 10.3390/v14061164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, most Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV) transmission occurs through vaginal–penile sex (heterosexual transmission). The local immune environment at the site of HIV exposure is an important determinant of whether exposure during sex will lead to productive infection, and the vaginal and penile immune milieus are each critically shaped by the local microbiome. However, there are key differences in the microbial drivers of inflammation and immune quiescence at these tissue sites. In both, a high abundance of anaerobic taxa (e.g., Prevotella) is associated with an increased local density of HIV target cells and an increased risk of acquiring HIV through sex. However, the taxa that have been associated to date with increased risk in the vagina and penis are not identical. Just as importantly, the microbiota associated with comparatively less inflammation and HIV risk—i.e., the optimal microbiota—are very different at the two sites. In the vagina, Lactobacillus spp. are immunoregulatory and may protect against HIV acquisition, whereas on the penis, “skin type” flora such as Corynebacterium are associated with reduced inflammation. Compared to its vaginal counterpart, much less is known about the dynamics of the penile microbiome, the ability of clinical interventions to alter the penile microbiome, or the impact of natural/induced microbiome alterations on penile immunology and HIV risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupert Kaul
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
- Department of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Cindy M. Liu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (C.M.L.); (D.E.P.)
| | - Daniel E. Park
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (C.M.L.); (D.E.P.)
| | | | - Aaron A. R. Tobian
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Jessica L. Prodger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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7
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Zayas JP, Mamede JI. HIV Infection and Spread between Th17 Cells. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020404. [PMID: 35215997 PMCID: PMC8874668 DOI: 10.3390/v14020404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV mainly targets CD4+ T cells, from which Th17 cells represent a major cell type, permissive, and are capable of supporting intracellular replication at mucosal sites. Th17 cells possess well-described dual roles, while being central to maintaining gut integrity, these may induce inflammation and contribute to autoimmune disorders; however, Th17 cells’ antiviral function in HIV infection is not completely understood. Th17 cells are star players to HIV-1 pathogenesis and a potential target to prevent or decrease HIV transmission. HIV-1 can be spread among permissive cells via direct cell-to-cell and/or cell-free infection. The debate on which mode of transmission is more efficient is still ongoing without a concrete conclusion yet. Most assessments of virus transmission analyzing either cell-to-cell or cell-free modes use in vitro systems; however, the actual interactions and conditions in vivo are not fully understood. The fact that infected breast milk, semen, and vaginal secretions contain a mix of both cell-free viral particles and infected cells presents an argument for the probability of HIV taking advantage of both modes of transmission to spread. Here, we review important insights and recent findings about the role of Th17 cells during HIV pathogenesis in mucosal surfaces, and the mechanisms of HIV-1 infection spread among T cells in tissues.
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8
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Krakowsky Y, Potter E, Hallarn J, Monari B, Wilcox H, Bauer G, Ravel J, Prodger JL. The Effect of Gender-Affirming Medical Care on the Vaginal and Neovaginal Microbiomes of Transgender and Gender-Diverse People. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:769950. [PMID: 35127550 PMCID: PMC8814107 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.769950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgender and gender diverse individuals may seek gender-affirming medical care, such as hormone therapy or surgery, to produce primary and/or secondary sex characteristics that are more congruent with their gender. Gender-affirming medical care for transmasculine individuals can include testosterone therapy, which suppresses circulating estrogen and can lead to changes in the vaginal epithelium that are reminiscent of the post-menopausal period in cisgender females. Among transfeminine individuals, gender-affirming medical care can include vaginoplasty, which is the surgical creation of a vulva and neovaginal canal, commonly using penile and scrotal skin. The effect of gender-affirming medical care on the vagina of transmasculine individuals and on the neovagina of transfeminine individuals is poorly characterized. This review summarizes what is known of the epithelium and local microbiota of the testosterone-exposed vagina and the neovagina. We focus on potential pathogens and determinants of gynecological health and identify key knowledge gaps for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonah Krakowsky
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Women’s College Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada,Transition Related Surgery, Department of Surgery, Women’s College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Emery Potter
- Transition Related Surgery, Department of Surgery, Women’s College Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jason Hallarn
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Bern Monari
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Hannah Wilcox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Greta Bauer
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jessica L. Prodger
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada,*Correspondence: Jessica L. Prodger,
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9
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Plesniarski A, Siddik AB, Su RC. The Microbiome as a Key Regulator of Female Genital Tract Barrier Function. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:790627. [PMID: 34976864 PMCID: PMC8719631 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.790627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbiome, the collection of microbial species at a site or compartment, has been an underappreciated realm of human health up until the last decade. Mounting evidence suggests the microbiome has a critical role in regulating the female genital tract (FGT) mucosa's function as a barrier against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pathogens. In this review, we provide the most recent experimental systems and studies for analyzing the interplay between the microbiome and host cells and soluble factors with an influence on barrier function. Key components, such as microbial diversity, soluble factors secreted by host and microbe, as well as host immune system, all contribute to both the physical and immunologic aspects of the FGT mucosal barrier. Current gaps in what is known about the effects of the microbiome on FGT mucosal barrier function are compared and contrasted with the literature of the gut and respiratory mucosa. This review article presents evidence supporting that the vaginal microbiome, directly and indirectly, contributes to how well the FGT protects against infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Plesniarski
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, National Microbiology Laboratories, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Abu Bakar Siddik
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, National Microbiology Laboratories, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Ruey-Chyi Su
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, National Microbiology Laboratories, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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10
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Mngomezulu K, Mzobe G, Mtshali A, Baxter C, Ngcapu S. The use of PSA as a biomarker of recent semen exposure in female reproductive health studies. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 148:103381. [PMID: 34563757 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Semen contains potent soluble proteins, bacteria, viruses, activated immune cells as well as anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines that may influence the inflammatory response and alter microbial composition of the female genital tract. The presence of semen in the female genital mucosa may be a significant confounder that most studies have failed to control for in their analysis. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein secreted by the prostate into the urethra during ejaculation, is a well-established biomarker of semen exposure. Several studies have demonstrated discordance between self-reports of sexual behavior and the presence of PSA. Recent semen exposure has been shown to promote pro-inflammatory responses, stimulate the recruitment of activated immune cells and decrease Lactobacilli abundance in the female genital mucosa. As a result, it is important to understand the concordance between self-reported consistent condom use and the presence of semen biomarkers. Furthermore, to ensure that the interpretation of data in clinical studies of the immunological and microbial environment in the female genital mucosa are accurate, it is essential to establish whether semen is present in the vaginal fluid. This review explores the impact of semen exposure on the mucosal microenvironment and assesses the use of the PSA as an objective biomarker of semen exposure to reduce reliance on self-reported sexual intercourse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khanyisile Mngomezulu
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Gugulethu Mzobe
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Andile Mtshali
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Cheryl Baxter
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Sinaye Ngcapu
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Department of Medical Microbiology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
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11
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Svanberg C, Ellegård R, Crisci E, Khalid M, Borendal Wodlin N, Svenvik M, Nyström S, Birse K, Burgener A, Shankar EM, Larsson M. Complement-Opsonized HIV Modulates Pathways Involved in Infection of Cervical Mucosal Tissues: A Transcriptomic and Proteomic Study. Front Immunol 2021; 12:625649. [PMID: 34093520 PMCID: PMC8173031 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.625649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genital mucosal transmission is the most common route of HIV spread. The initial responses triggered at the site of viral entry are reportedly affected by host factors, especially complement components present at the site, and this will have profound consequences on the outcome and pathogenesis of HIV infection. We studied the initial events associated with host-pathogen interactions by exposing cervical biopsies to free or complement-opsonized HIV. Opsonization resulted in higher rates of HIV acquisition/infection in mucosal tissues and emigrating dendritic cells. Transcriptomic and proteomic data showed a significantly more pathways and higher expression of genes and proteins associated with viral replication and pathways involved in different aspects of viral infection including interferon signaling, cytokine profile and dendritic cell maturation for the opsonized HIV. Moreover, the proteomics data indicate a general suppression by the HIV exposure. This clearly suggests that HIV opsonization alters the initial signaling pathways in the cervical mucosa in a manner that promotes viral establishment and infection. Our findings provide a foundation for further studies of the role these early HIV induced events play in HIV pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Svanberg
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedicine and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Raleigh, NC, Sweden
| | - Rada Ellegård
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedicine and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Raleigh, NC, Sweden
| | - Elisa Crisci
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedicine and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Raleigh, NC, Sweden
| | - Mohammad Khalid
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedicine and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Raleigh, NC, Sweden
| | | | | | - Sofia Nyström
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedicine and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Raleigh, NC, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, and Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Kenzie Birse
- National HIV and Retrovirology Labs, JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Adam Burgener
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Esaki M Shankar
- Infection Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, India
| | - Marie Larsson
- Division of Molecular Medicine and Virology, Department of Biomedicine and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Raleigh, NC, Sweden
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12
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Saba I, Barat C, Chabaud S, Reyjon N, Leclerc M, Jakubowska W, Orabi H, Lachhab A, Pelletier M, Tremblay MJ, Bolduc S. Immunocompetent Human 3D Organ-Specific Hormone-Responding Vaginal Mucosa Model of HIV-1 Infection. Tissue Eng Part C Methods 2021; 27:152-166. [PMID: 33573474 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tec.2020.0333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The lack of appropriate experimental models often limits our ability to investigate the establishment of infections in specific tissues. To reproduce the structural and spatial organization of vaginal mucosae to study human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection, we used the self-assembly technique to bioengineer tridimensional vaginal mucosae using human cells extracted from HIV-1-negative healthy pre- and postmenopausal donors. We produced a stroma, free of exogenous material, that can be adapted to generate near-to-native vaginal tissue with the best complexity obtained with seeded epithelial cells on the organ-specific stroma. The autologous engineered tissues had mechanical properties close to native mucosa and shared similar glycogen production, which declined in reconstructed tissues of the postmenopausal donor. The in vitro-engineered tissues were also rendered immune competent by adding human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) on the epithelium or in the stroma layers. The model was infected with HIV-1, and viral replication and transcytosis were observed when immunocompetent reconstructed vaginal mucosa tissue has incorporated MDMs into the stroma and infected with free HIV-1 green fluorescent protein (GFP) viral particles. These data illustrate a natural permissiveness of immunocompetent untransformed human vaginal mucosae to HIV-1 infection. This model offers a physiological tool to explore viral load, HIV-1 transmission in an environment that may contribute to the virus propagation, and new antiviral treatments in vitro. Impact statement This study introduces an innovative immunocompetent three-dimensional human organ-specific vaginal mucosa free of exogenous material for in vitro modeling of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection. The proposed model is histologically close to native tissue, especially by presenting glycogen accumulation in the epithelium's superficial cells, responsive to estrogen, and able to sustain a monocyte-derived macrophage population infected or not by HIV-1 during ∼2 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Saba
- Centre de Recherche en Organogenèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Québec City, Canada
| | - Corinne Barat
- Infectious and Immune Diseases, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Stéphane Chabaud
- Centre de Recherche en Organogenèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Québec City, Canada
| | - Nolan Reyjon
- Centre de Recherche en Organogenèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Québec City, Canada
| | - Maude Leclerc
- Centre de Recherche en Organogenèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Québec City, Canada
| | - Weronika Jakubowska
- Centre de Recherche en Organogenèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Québec City, Canada
| | - Hazem Orabi
- Centre de Recherche en Organogenèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Québec City, Canada
| | - Asmaa Lachhab
- Infectious and Immune Diseases, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Martin Pelletier
- Infectious and Immune Diseases, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Michel J Tremblay
- Infectious and Immune Diseases, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Stéphane Bolduc
- Centre de Recherche en Organogenèse Expérimentale de l'Université Laval/LOEX, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Axe Médecine Régénératrice, Québec City, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
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13
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DeSantis MC, Tian C, Kim JH, Austin JL, Cheng W. Probability of Immobilization on Host Cell Surface Regulates Viral Infectivity. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 125:128101. [PMID: 33016741 PMCID: PMC7561012 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.128101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The efficiency of a virus to establish its infection in host cells varies broadly among viruses. It remains unclear if there is a key step in this process that controls viral infectivity. To address this question, we use single-particle tracking and Brownian dynamics simulation to examine human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in cell culture. We find that the frequency of viral-cell encounters is consistent with diffusion-limited interactions. However, even under the most favorable conditions, only 1% of the viruses can become immobilized on cell surface and subsequently enter the cell. This is a result of weak interaction between viral surface gp120 and CD4 receptor, which is insufficient to form a stable complex the majority of the time. We provide the first direct quantitation for efficiencies of these events relevant to measured HIV-1 infectivity and demonstrate that immobilization on host cell surface post-virion-diffusion is the key step in viral infection. Variation of its probability controls the efficiency of a virus to infect its host cells. These results explain the low infectivity of cell-free HIV-1 in vitro and offer a potential rationale for the pervasive high efficiency of cell-to-cell transmission of animal viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael C. DeSantis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Chunjuan Tian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Jin H. Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Jamie L. Austin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Wei Cheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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