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Resistance to HIV-1 infection among persistently seronegative prostitutes in Nairobi, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: There is indirect evidence that HIV-1 exposure does not inevitably lead to persistent infection. Heterogeneity in susceptibility to infection could be due to protective immunity. The objective of this study was to find out whether in highly HIV-1-exposed populations some individuals are resistant to infection. METHODS: We did an observational cohort study of incident HIV-1 infection-among 424 initially HIV-1-seronegative prostitutes in Nairobi, Kenya, between 1985 and 1994. 239 women seroconverted to HIV-1 during the study period. Exponential, Weibull, and mixture survival models were used to examine the effect of the duration of follow-up on incidence of HIV-1 infection. The influence of the duration of exposure to HIV-1 through prostitution on seroconversion risk was examined by Cox proportional hazards modelling, with control for other known or suspected risk factors for incident HIV-1 infection. HIV-1 PCR with env, nef, and vif gene primers was done on 43 persistently seronegative prostitutes who remained seronegative after 3 or more years of follow-up. FINDINGS: Modelling of the time to HIV-1 seroconversion showed that the incidence of HIV-1 seroconversion decreased with increasing duration of exposure, which indicates that there is heterogeneity in HIV-1 susceptibility or acquired immunity to HIV-1. Each weighted year of exposure through prostitution resulted in a 1.2-fold reduction in HIV-1 seroconversion risk (hazard ratio 0.83 [95% CI 0.79-0.88], p < 0.0001). Analyses of epidemiological and laboratory data, show that persistent seronegativity is not explained by seronegative HIV-1 infection or by differences in risk factors for HIV-1 infection such as safer sexual behaviours or the incidence of other sexually transmitted infections. INTERPRETATION: We conclude that a small proportion of highly exposed individuals, who may have natural protective immunity to HIV-1, are resistant to HIV-1.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Critical role for perforin-, Fas/FasL-, and TNFR1-mediated cytotoxic pathways in down-regulation of antigen-specific T cells during persistent viral infection.

Viral persistence following infection with invasive strains of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can be achieved by selective down-regulation of virus-specific T lymphocytes. High viral burden in the onset of infection drives responding cells into functional unresponsiveness (anergy) that can be followed by their physical elimination. In this report, we studied down-regulation of the virus-specific CD8(+)-T-cell response during persistent infection of adult mice with LCMV, with emphasis on the role of perforin-, Fas/FasL-, or tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1)-mediated cytolysis in regulating T-cell homeostasis. The results reveal that the absence of perforin, Fas-ligand, or TNFR1 has no significant effect on the kinetics of proliferation and functional inactivation of virus-specific CD8(+) T cells in the onset of chronic LCMV infection. However, these molecules play a critical role in the homeostatic regulation of T cells, influencing the longevity of the virus-specific CD8(+)-T-cell population once it has become anergic. Thus, CD8(+) T cells specific to the dominant LCMV NP(396-404) epitope persist in an anergic state for at least 70 days in perforin-, FasL-, or TNFR1-deficient mice, but they were eliminated by day 30 in C57BL/6 controls. These effects were additive as shown by a deficit of apoptotic death of NP(396-404) peptide-specific CD8(+) T cells in mice lacking both perforin and TNFR1. This suggests a role for perforin-, FasL-, and TNFR1-mediated pathways in down-regulation of the antiviral T cell response during persistent viral infection by determining the fate of antigen-specific T cells. Moreover, virus-specific anergic CD8(+) T cells in persistently infected C57BL/6 mice contain higher levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL than functionally intact T cells generated during acute LCMV infection. In the case of proapoptotic factors, Bax expression did not differ between T-cell populations and Bad was below the limit of detection in all samples. As expression of the Bcl-2 family members controls susceptibility to apoptosis, this finding may provide a molecular basis for the survival of anergic cells under conditions of prolonged antigen stimulation.

Acute Disease↗

Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of progressive lymphoproliferation and malignant lymphoma in persistent active herpesvirus infection.

Persistent active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infections may be accompanied by extensive lymphoproliferative reactions mimicking malignant lymphoma. Such atypical polyclonal lymphoproliferations (APL) can frequently be separated from malignant lymphoma only by detailed immunopathologic and virologic studies. Recommended procedures include immunotyping of lymphoid cells, extensive viral serology, in situ hybridization and Southern blotting for viral DNA, gene rearrangement and DNA ploidy studies. Clear separation of APL from malignant lymphoma is essential for therapeutic planning.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

[Clinical importance of infective agent persistence in Salmonella infection in children].

The persistence properties of 70 S. enteriditis cultures and 12 S. typhimurium cultures isolated from the feces of children of the earliest age groups with the gastrointestinal form of Salmonellosis infection were studied. The study revealed that the low level of persistence properties occurred in most cases of mild forms of the disease. Salmonellae with a high level of anticomplement and antilysozyme activity were more often isolated in cases of moderate and severe forms of salmonellosis. The presence of correlation between the expression of the factors under study and the severity of the symptoms of intoxication in combination with the duration of the diarrhea syndrome in moderate and severe forms of Salmonella infection in children of the earliest age groups was established. The suggestion was made that the evaluation of the persistence properties of bacteria may be used for the prognosis of the course of the infectious process.

Child, Preschool↗

Late priming and variability of epitope-specific CD8+ T cell responses during a persistent virus infection.

Control of persistently infecting viruses requires that antiviral CD8(+) T cells sustain their numbers and effector function. In this study, we monitored epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells during acute and persistent phases of infection by polyoma virus, a mouse pathogen that is capable of potent oncogenicity. We identified several novel polyoma-specific CD8(+) T cell epitopes in C57BL/6 mice, a mouse strain highly resistant to polyoma virus-induced tumors. Each of these epitopes is derived from the viral T proteins, nonstructural proteins produced by both productively and nonproductively (and potentially transformed) infected cells. In contrast to CD8(+) T cell responses described in other microbial infection mouse models, we found substantial variability between epitope-specific CD8(+) T cell responses in their kinetics of expansion and contraction during acute infection, maintenance during persistent infection, as well as their expression of cytokine receptors and cytokine profiles. This epitope-dependent variability also extended to differences in maturation of functional avidity from acute to persistent infection, despite a narrowing in TCR repertoire across all three specificities. Using a novel minimal myeloablation-bone marrow chimera approach, we visualized priming of epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells during persistent virus infection. Interestingly, epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells differed in CD62L-selectin expression profiles when primed in acute or persistent phases of infection, indicating that the context of priming affects CD8(+) T cell heterogeneity. In summary, persistent polyoma virus infection both quantitatively and qualitatively shapes the antiviral CD8(+) T cell response.

Animals↗

Electron microscopic study of persistent dengue virus infection: analysis using a cell line persistently infected with Dengue-2 virus.

We investigated persistent infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed lymphoblastoid cells with dengue virus using a transmission electron microscope. Most of the infected cells kept an intact morphology with only a few virus particles in the cytoplasm, but without any indication of active viral replication. Some cells were apoptotic and a few dengue virus particles were present in these apoptotic cells. Raji cells acutely infected with dengue-2 virus showed degenerative morphology. There were membranous tubular structures and many virus particles around and within the infected cells. Approximately 95% of the cells were dengue viral antigen positive in the persistently infected EBV-transformed cell line. It is likely that persistent infection is maintained mainly by the division of infected cells without cytopathic effect by dengue-2 virus.

Antigens, Viral↗

Comparative evaluation of three ELISA techniques and an indirect immunofluorescence assay for the serological diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus infection.

BACKGROUND: The reference method for detecting specific Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies is indirect immunofluorescence (IF) with EBV-infected cells. The availability of protein purified from infected cells and more recently of recombinant polypeptides designed to contain immunodominant epitopes, has enabled the development of commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the specific serodiagnosis of EBV infection. OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of ELISA-based EBV serodiagnosis in comparison with indirect immunofluorescence. STUDY DESIGN: We have first compared three commercial ELISA test systems with our in house indirect immunofluorescence assay for classifying correctly a set of serum samples into clinical categories (acute infection, past infection, interfering non-EBV infection, persistent infection). Additionally a prospective analysis with the best performing ELISA test (Enzygnost) was then carried out by running the ELISA test in parallel with the indirect immunofluorescence assay on 324 consecutive clinical samples sent to our laboratory for EBV serodiagnosis. RESULTS: For the serodiagnosis of past EBV infection and acute EBV infection all three commercial ELISAs performed well in comparison with indirect immunofluorescence. When testing samples positive for cytomegalovirus (CMV), Toxoplasma or herpes simplex IgM, interference in the IgM tests was observed with the three ELISAs. In some instances we could demonstrate that the positive IgM results were due to EBV reactivation. The observed discrepancies between ELISA and IF for the serodiagnosis of chronic EBV infection or EBV reactivation, point to the difficulty for the serodiagnosis of persistent EBV infection on single serum samples. According to our prospective study the EBV IgG determination was accurate. A positive IgM result was not always indicative of an acute infection. Positive IgM results due to EBV reactivation were observed. A positive EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG result in those samples precluded acute infection. CONCLUSIONS: 90-95% of samples could be classified correctly into clinical categories by a two parameter ELISA system detecting IgG and IgM against a standardized mixture of EBV antigens, allowing standardization and automation of EBV-specific serology. The absence of EBNA IgG was useful as a second line confirmatory assay for acute EBV infection.

Antibodies, Viral↗

Surgical treatment of persistent exit-site infections.

Persistent exit-site infections and tunnel infections (ESI/TI) are a cause for removal of Swan neck catheters (SNC). Previous studies report variable success in the treatment of these infections by surgical exposure and removal of the subcutaneous external cuff. We report our experience with this technique. All 5 patients with persistent ESI/TI were successfully treated with antibiotics and surgical intervention. All cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus. Average time to complete healing after surgical exposure was 39.4 days. Mean follow-up after complete healing was 164.8 days. There were no subsequent episodes of ESI/TI in these patients. None of the catheters subsequently malfunctioned or developed leaks. Persistent ESI/TI in Swan neck catheters can be successfully treated with surgical exposure and removal of the subcutaneous external cuff.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Restriction of major surface protein 2 (MSP2) variants during tick transmission of the ehrlichia Anaplasma marginale.

Anaplasma marginale is an ehrlichial pathogen of cattle that establishes lifelong persistent infection. Persistence is characterized by rickettsemic cycles in which new A. marginale variant types, defined by the sequence of the expressed msp2 transcripts, emerge. The polymorphic msp2 transcripts encode structurally distinct MSP2 proteins and result in an antigenically diverse and continually changing A. marginale population within the blood. In this manuscript, we used sequence analysis of msp2 transcripts to show that a restricted repertoire of variant types, designated SGV1 and SGV2, is expressed within the tick salivary gland. The same SGV1 and SGV2 variant types were expressed in ticks regardless of the variant types expressed in the blood of infected cattle at the time of acquisition feeding by the ticks. Importantly, subsequent tick transmission to susceptible cattle resulted in acute rickettsemia composed of organisms expressing only the same SGV1 and SGV2 variant types. This indicates that the msp2 expressed by organisms within the tick salivary gland predicts the variant type responsible for acute rickettsemia and disease. This restriction of transmitted A. marginale variant types, in contrast to the marked diversity within persistently infected cattle, supports development of MSP2 vaccines to prevent acute rickettsemia in tick-transmitted infections.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The sheathed flagellum of Brucella melitensis is involved in persistence in a murine model of infection.

Persistence infection is the keystone of the ruminant and human diseases called brucellosis and Malta fever, respectively, and is linked to the intracellular tropism of Brucella spp. While described as non-motile, Brucella spp. have all the genes except the chemotactic system, necessary to assemble a functional flagellum. We undertook to determine whether these genes are expressed and are playing a role in some step of the disease process. We demonstrated that in the early log phase of a growth curve in 2YT nutrient broth, Brucella melitensis expresses genes corresponding to the basal (MS ring) and the distal (hook and filament) parts of the flagellar apparatus. Under these conditions, a polar and sheathed flagellar structure is visible by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We evaluated the effect of mutations in flagellar genes of B. melitensis encoding various parts of the structure, MS ring, P ring, motor protein, secretion apparatus, hook and filament. None of these mutants gave a discernible phenotype as compared with the wild-type strain in cellular models of infection. In contrast, all these mutants were unable to establish a chronic infection in mice infected via the intraperitoneal route, raising the question of the biological role(s) of this flagellar appendage.

Animals↗

Properties of a persistent viral infection: possible lysogeny by an enveloped nonlytic mycoplasmavirus.

MVL2, an enveloped double-stranded DNA mycoplasmavirus, causes a nonlytic infection of Acholeplasma laidlawii leading to the establishment of a persistent infection. Persistently infected clones were found to be resistant to superinfection by homologous virus, but could be infected by heterologous virus. Cells in a persistently infected culture had the potential to produce virus and transmitted this potential as a stable heritable trait. Mitomycin C and UV light induced an increase in infectious centers in persistently infected cultures.

Acholeplasma laidlawii↗

Deficits in discriminated learning remain despite clearance of long-term persistent viral infection in mice.

Mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) exhibit impaired learning ability. In this report, we determined whether clearance of the virus was associated with restoration of behavioral function. Neonatal Balb/cByJ mice were persistently infected with LCMV and tested as adults in a nonconditional spatial discrimination task. The presence of viral proteins in neurons was confirmed immunohistochemically and infectious virus was quantified in the blood by plaque assay. LCMV-infected adult mice made more errors in a Y-maze avoidance task compared to sham-inoculated controls. After the initial behavioral analysis, infected and control mice received a dose of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes sufficient to clear virus from these mice. Following complete clearance of the virus, mice were re-tested in the behavioral task, 5 months after the original test. No reversal of the learning deficit was seen following viral clearance; mice that had been cleared of the virus and those that remained persistently infected behaved similarly. These data indicate that persistent LCMV infection of the CNS lasting up to 7 months results in discriminated learning impairments that are not reversed by subsequent anti-viral immunocytotherapy.

Aging↗

[Relevant problems of persistent bacterial infections].

The persistance of human bacterial infections is influenced by different factors and varies in duration. Besides genetical defects of the immune system the persistance of bacteria may also be enfavored by underlying diseases also. Regarding the duration of the persistance the long or even life long lasting infections are of special clinical, epidemiological and public health interest. The topic deals with present problems only, the tuberculosis is excluded and discussed in another presentation.

Bacterial Infections↗

The production of a temperature-sensitive persistent measles virus infection.

A persistent infection of measles virus was established in HEp2 cells. All cells contained virus antigen when tested by specific immunofluorescence and approx. 50% were positive by haemadsorption. Infectious virus released into the supernatant medium was usually equivalent to no more than 0-001 p.f.u./cell, but between 10 and 40% of the infected cells produced plaques when plated on Vero cells. Passage of persistently infected cultures in the presence of measles antibody had no effect on the proportion of antigen-positive cells. Virus obtained from the supernatant medium of persistently infected cultures was temperature sensitive at 39-5 degrees C when tested on Vero cells whereas the original non-persistent virus produced infections on Vero cells at 39-8 degrees C. On passage of the persistently infected culture at 39-5 degrees C most of the surface antigens disappeared within 24 h whereas the intracellular virus antigens had not totally disappeared until the 5th passage.

Antigens, Viral↗

Downregulation of endothelin receptor mRNA synthesis in C6 rat astrocytoma cells by persistent measles virus and canine distemper virus infections.

Persistent infections of C6 rat astrocytoma cells with measles (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis [SSPE]) virus (C6/SSPE cells) or canine distemper virus (C6/CDV cells) cause a loss of endothelin-1 (ET-1) binding to its specific receptors (ETRA type) and subsequent ET-1-induced Ca2+ signaling. It was the aim of this study to investigate the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon in more detail. By using an RNase protection assay, it was found that ETRA mRNA disappears, whereas other cellular mRNA species, e.g., beta-actin mRNA, were not influenced. The data show that the loss of the ET-1 signaling pathway in C6/SSPE and C6/CDV cells is due to a receptor downregulation at the transcriptional level.

Animals↗

Antiviral antibody-producing cells in parenchymatous organs during persistent virus infection.

In mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the parenchymatous organs contain infiltrates of mononuclear cells, the sizes and numbers of which vary between strains and become more numerous and extensive when the animals grow older. Histologically, these were found to possess a tissue-like structure, and by use of immunohistologic procedures they were shown to contain plasma cells secreting IgM and IgG. Cells of kidneys, livers, brains, and spleens of LCMV carrier mice were dispersed by digestion with trypsin, leukocytes were separated by density gradient centrifugation, and numbers of cells producing antibodies against LCMV were determined by use of a solid-phase immunoenzymatic technique. In all these organs, cells producing LCMV-specific IgM and IgG antibodies were demonstrated, the latter more numerous than the former. Their numbers correlated with numbers and extent of the lymphoid cell infiltrates. The blood of the same mice was essentially free of antiviral antibody-forming cell. The proportion of cells producing LCMV-specific antibodies to all cells producing Ig of any specificity varied between organs, being lowest in spleen, intermediate in liver and kidney, and highest in the brain, where in individual mice up to 90% of all active cells produced virus-specific antibodies. The LCMV carrier mouse should prove to be a useful animal model to investigate antibody production in parenchymatous organs during persistent virus infections.

Aging↗

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in various U937 cell subclones with different susceptibility to HIV-1 infection: its dramatic decrease following persistent virus infection.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, a nuclear enzyme, is suggested to be involved in apoptotic cell death. It is also known that apoptotic cell death following HIV-1 infection is the most important feature of AIDS pathogenesis. Thus, to evaluate the relations between the enzyme and HIV-1 infection, we examined the enzyme activity of several subclones of human promonocytic cell line U937, which showed different susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. The nuclear extracts of two "high type clones" (possessing high susceptibility to HIV-1 infection) contained approximately 4 to 7-fold less enzyme than two low type clones when assayed under a full activation of enzyme. Parent clone, possessing an intermediate susceptibility to HIV-1, showed an intermediate enzyme level, suggesting that low level of this enzyme in cells is important for an effective infection of HIV-1. Furthermore, when these U937 subclones persistently infected with HIV-1 were examined, a dramatic decrease of the enzyme activity, reaching 2 to 16% of uninfected cells, was observed in all of these clones. The levels of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase in these clones were relativity unchanged. Activity gel analysis and immunoblotting of the enzyme in the clones revealed that the low enzyme activities observed in uninfected "high type clones" and all HIV-1-infected clones were due to a marked decrease of the enzyme protein itself. All of these results suggest that HIV-1 infection involves some mechanism to downregulate cellular poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and that a lower level of the enzyme may be essential for an effective production of the virus and/or for a stable virus/host interaction.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[Use of continuous human lymphoblastoid cell lines (T- and B-origin) to produce persistent tick-borne encephalitis virus and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus infections].

Persistent infection with tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBE) was established in experimentally infected continuous lymphoblastoid human cell lines Raji, L-101 (of B-origin) and 1387 (T-origin) and with Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (VEE) virus in Raji and 1387 lines. The persistently infected lines produced infectious virus, the cells showed specific fluorescence in immunofluorescent tests, and electron microscopic examinations revealed TBE and VEE virions in sections.

B-Lymphocytes↗