Low pre-existing endemic human coronavirus (HCoV-NL63)-specific T cell frequencies are associated with impaired SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in people living with HIV

Background

Understanding how HIV affects SARS-CoV-2 immunity is crucial for managing COVID-19 in sub-Saharan populations due to frequent coinfections. Our previous research showed that unsuppressed HIV is associated with weaker immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We investigated how pre-existing T cell immunity against an endemic human coronavirus HCoV-NL63 impacts SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses in people living with HIV (PLWH) compared to uninfected individuals, and how HIV-related T cell dysfunction influences responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Methods

We used flow cytometry to measure T cell responses following PBMC stimulation with peptide pools representing beta, delta, wild-type, and HCoV-NL63 spike proteins. Luminex bead assay was used to measure circulating plasma chemokine and cytokine levels. ELISA and MSD V-PLEX COVID-19 Serology and ACE2 Neutralization assays were used to measure humoral responses.

Results

Regardless of HIV status, we found a strong positive correlation between responses to HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2. However, PLWH exhibited weaker CD4+ T cell responses to both HCoV-NL63 and SARS-CoV-2 than HIV-uninfected individuals. PLWH also had higher proportions of functionally exhausted (PD-1high) CD4+ T cells producing fewer proinflammatory cytokines (IFNγ and TNFα) and had elevated plasma IL-2 and IL-12(p70) levels compared to HIV-uninfected individuals. HIV status didn't significantly affect IgG antibody levels against SARS-CoV-2 antigens or ACE2 binding inhibition activity.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that the decrease in SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses in PLWH may be attributable to reduced frequencies of pre-existing cross-reactive responses. However, HIV infection minimally affected the quality and magnitude of humoral responses, and this could explain why the risk of severe COVID-19 in PLWH is highly heterogeneous.

Omicron B.1.1.529 variant infections associated with severe disease are uncommon in a COVID-19 under-vaccinated, high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence population in Malawi

Background

The B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in the fourth COVID-19 pandemic wave across the southern African region, including Malawi. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and their association with epidemiological trends of hospitalisations and deaths are needed to aid locally relevant public health policy decisions.

Methods

We conducted a population-based serosurvey from December 27, 2021 to January 17, 2022, in 7 districts across Malawi to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain using WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain total antibody commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also evaluated COVID-19 epidemiologic trends in Malawi, including cases, hospitalisations and deaths from April 1, 2021 through April 30, 2022, collected using the routine national COVID-19 reporting system. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed to investigate the factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity.

Findings

Serum samples were analysed from 4619 participants (57% female; 60% aged 18-50 years), of whom 878/3794 (23%) of vaccine eligible adults had received a single dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. The overall assay-adjusted seroprevalence was 83.7% (95% confidence interval (CI), 79.3%-93.4%). Seroprevalence was lowest among children <13 years of age (66%) and highest among adults 18-50 years of age (82%). Seroprevalence was higher among vaccinated compared to unvaccinated participants (1 dose, 94% vs. 77%, adjusted odds ratio 4.89 [95% CI, 3.43-7.22]; 2 doses, 97% vs. 77%, aOR 6.62 [95% CI, 4.14-11.3]). Urban residents were more likely to be seropositive than those from rural settings (91% vs. 78%, aOR 2.76 [95% CI, 2.16-3.55]). There was at least a two-fold reduction in the proportion of hospitalisations and deaths among the reported cases in the fourth wave compared to the third wave (hospitalisations, 10.7% (95% CI, 10.2-11.3) vs. 4.86% (95% CI, 4.52-5.23), p < 0.0001; deaths, 3.48% (95% CI, 3.18-3.81) vs. 1.15% (95% CI, 1.00-1.34), p < 0.0001).

Interpretation

We report reduction in proportion of hospitalisations and deaths from SARS-CoV-2 infections during the Omicron variant dominated wave in Malawi, in the context of high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and low COVID-19 vaccination coverage. These findings suggest that COVID-19 vaccination policy in high seroprevalence settings may need to be amended from mass campaigns to targeted vaccination of reported at-risk populations.

Funding

Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-039481).

Do human papillomaviruses have a role in the pathogenesis of bladder carcinoma?

PURPOSE

Since little is known of the associations between bladder carcinoma and human papillomaviruses (HPVs), data on the role of HPV in bladder carcinogenesis are controversial. We attempted to clarify whether HPVs are present in bladder carcinomas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined 36 specimens of bladder carcinoma for HPV positivity by the polymerase chain reaction method.

RESULTS

HPV-16 deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in 1 specimen (3%) of a transitional cell carcinoma from a 37-year-old woman who had concomitant squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix with positive para-aortic lymph node metastasis. The cervical tumor, bladder tumor and para-aortic lymph node metastasis were all positive for the same type of HPV.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of this low rate of HPV detection (3%), HPVs are not likely to have a prominent role in carcinogenesis of the bladder.

Effects of single and combined application of anti-cancer drugs on cervical adenocarcinoma. I. Antitumor activity in vitro

BACKGROUND

Establishment of effective combination chemotherapy regimen for patients with an adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix has been long-awaited because there has been no documentation concerning chemosensitivity of this tumor against conventional antitumor agents.

METHODS

To search for an effective combination regimen, 15 conventional antitumor drugs were tested for growth inhibitory effects on five different cervical adenocarcinoma cell lines.

RESULTS

Etoposide, mitomycin C, adriamycin, epirubicin, and vinblastine, were singularly effective. Effects of combination chemotherapy were also tested using the above five antitumor agents plus interferon-gamma. Etoposide, mitomycin C, and interferon-gamma were the most effective when given in combination.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined treatment with the above three drugs seems worthy of consideration for clinical application.

Detection of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in primary and in metastatic lesions of cervical carcinomas

Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 are most prevalent in cervical carcinomas and are also present in metastatic sites. Thirty-six patients with lymph node metastases were examined for the possible presence of HPV 16 and 18 DNA sequences in the primary tumors as well as in metastatic lymph nodes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed the presence of the genome of HPV type 16 (HPV 16) in 17 tumors (47%) and that of HPV type 18 (HPV 18) in 2 tumors (6%), while 17 tumors (47%) were negative for both types. Of the 17 HPV 16-positive patients, 15 metastatic lymph nodes were also positive and 2 were negative. In 2 patients positive for HPV 18, the metastatic sites were negative. All the 17 patients negative for HPV in the primary tumors were also negative for HPV 16 and HPV 18 in the metastatic lymph nodes. These data confirmed the positive correlation of HPV DNA status between primary and metastatic tumors. However, the discrepancy in 11% of cases was attributed to presence of heterogeneous clones in the primary tumor.

Polymerase chain reaction analysis of human papillomavirus in adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Thirty-two cervical adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas were examined to search for human papillomaviruses (HPVs) using the polymerase chain reaction system. Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) and type 18 (HPV18) deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in 22% and 16% of these carcinomas, respectively. HPV16 was the most common type in both adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma, and the mean age of the HPV negative patients was significantly higher than that of HPV positive patients. There may be an association between HPVs and the development of certain adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas of the cervix.

Safety and immunogenicity of bacille Calmette-Guérin, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and oral polio vaccines in newborn children in Zaire infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

OBJECTIVE

To determine the safety and immunogenicity of childhood vaccines in children with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection.

DESIGN

Nonrandomized, prospective cohort study; 12-month follow-up period.

SETTING

Obstetric wards and outpatient pediatric clinics at two large hospitals in Kinshasa, Zaire.

PATIENTS

A total of 8108 pregnant women were screened for HIV-1 antibodies. The 474 children born to 466 seropositive women identified during screening and the 616 children born to 606 seronegative, age- and parity-matched women were vaccinated.

INTERVENTION

The following vaccines were administered at the stated ages: bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine (2 days); trivalent oral Sabin poliomyelitis vaccine (2 days and 6, 10, and 14 weeks); and adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine (6, 10, and 14 weeks).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Protective antibody titers to tetanus and poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were achieved in 95% of all children. Among children with HIV-1 infection, 70.8% had protective antibody titers to diphtheria compared with 98.5% of uninfected children (p < 0.05). Geometric mean antibody titers to diphtheria and poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 were significantly lower in children with HIV-1 infection than in uninfected children. Vaccine-associated side effects were similarly low in all children.

CONCLUSIONS

The low incidence of side effects and the high proportion of children with HIV-1 infection who achieved protective postimmunization antibody titers support the continuing use of BCG, DTP, and oral polio vaccines in childhood immunization programs in HIV-1 endemic areas.