Publications by authors named "A M Happel"
Purpose Of Review: Women in Africa bear the burden of the HIV epidemic, which has been associated with the high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in the region. However, little progress has been made in finding an effective cure for BV. Drawing on advances in microbiome-directed therapies for gastrointestinal disorders, similar live-biotherapeutic based approaches for BV treatment are being evaluated.
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- Depletion of species in the vaginal tract leads to bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is linked to poor reproductive health and higher risk of STIs; current antibiotic treatments have low success rates.
- A study conducted in Cape Town explored blood donors' knowledge and attitudes toward vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) as a potential alternative treatment for BV through a questionnaire.
- Results showed a significant majority (86%) of women were open to donating vaginal samples, with willingness increased by a belief in helping others and prior knowledge of healthy vaginal microbiomes; concerns about discomfort and embarrassment affected those unwilling to donate.
Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and DNA testing roll out in resource-constrained settings. We evaluated the natural history of HPV infections in African women to contribute to normative guidance.
Methods: Women aged 16 to 35 years were enrolled from 3 sites in South Africa and Kenya and followed quarterly for 18 months.
Some studies have reported increased infectious morbidity and all-cause mortality risk among infants HIV-exposed uninfected compared with infants HIV-unexposed uninfected. In a retrospective analysis of infants enrolled in the Botswana-based Tshilo Dikotla study, we found no difference in the prevalence of infectious hospitalizations or deaths from any cause in the first year of life by perinatal HIV exposure.
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- The Landscape Theory of Food Web Architecture (LTFWA) explores how body size, trophic position, and energy channels interconnect in diverse habitats to maintain system stability, but evidence has been inconsistent across different ecosystems.
- In a study of the Lake Michigan food web, researchers found a positive correlation between body size and trophic position, with variations based on whether species were supported by pelagic or benthic energy sources.
- The findings indicated that while native top predators contribute to food web stability by connecting energy pathways, introduced species may disrupt this structure, highlighting the complex impacts of human activity on ecosystem dynamics.