Immune signatures for HIV-1 and HIV-2 induced CD4T cell dysregulation in an Indian cohort.

Background: HIV-2 infection is characterised by a longer asymptomatic phase and slower AIDS progression than HIV-1 infection. Identifying unique immune signatures associated with HIV-2 pathogenesis may thus provide therapeutically useful insight into the management of HIV infection. This study examined the dynamics of the CD4T cell compartment, critical in disease progression, focussing on chronic HIV-2 and HIV-1 infected individuals at various stages of disease progression.

Catastrophic drop breakup in electric field.

We report novel observations revealing the catastrophic breakup of water drops containing surfactant molecules, which are suspended in oil and subjected to an electric field of strength approximately 10(5) V/m. The observed breakup was distinctly different from the gradual end pinch-off or tip-streaming modes reported earlier in the literature. There was no observable characteristic deformation of the drop prior to breakup.