Viral Epitope Scanning Reveals Correlation between Seasonal HCoVs and SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses among Cancer and Non-Cancer Patients.

Seasonal coronaviruses (HCoVs) are known to contribute to cross-reactive antibody (Ab) responses against SARS-CoV-2. While these responses are predictable due to the high homology between SARS-CoV-2 and other CoVs, the impact of these responses on susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection in cancer patients is unclear. To investigate the influence of prior HCoV infection on anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ab responses among COVID-19 asymptomatic individuals with cancer and controls without cancers, we utilized the VirScan technology in which phage immunoprecipitation and sequencing (PhIP-seq) of longitudinal plasma samples was performed to investigate high-resolution (i.

Co-infection and co-localization of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Epstein-Barr virus in HIV-associated Kaposi sarcoma: a case report.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS), a multifocal vascular neoplasm frequently observed in HIV-positive individuals, primarily affects the skin, mucous membranes, visceral organs, and lymph nodes. KS is associated primarily with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of co-infection and co-localization of KSHV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in KS arising from the conjunctiva, which, to our knowledge, has not been reported previously.

Elevated iNOS and 3'-nitrotyrosine in Kaposi's Sarcoma tumors and mouse model.

Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) is a heterogenous, multifocal vascular malignancy caused by the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), also known as Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV). Here, we show that KS lesions express iNOS/NOS2 broadly throughout KS lesions, with enrichment in LANA positive spindle cells. The iNOS byproduct 3-nitrotyrosine is also enriched in LANA positive tumor cells and colocalizes with a fraction of LANA-nuclear bodies.

SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell and humoral immunity in individuals with and without HIV in an African population: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To longitudinally compare SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell and humoral immune responses between convalescent individuals who are HIV-positive (HIV+) and HIV-negative (HIV-).

Methods: We conducted enzyme-linked immunospots to determine the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses to spike and nucleocapsid, membrane protein, and other open reading frame proteins (NMO), whereas an immunofluorescence assay was used to determine the humoral responses. Participants were sampled at baseline and after 8 weeks of follow-up.

Lower SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Cancer Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Despite the high COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates across the world, the reported rates in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which has a higher burden of other infectious diseases and overwhelmed healthcare systems, remain relatively low. This study aims to better understand the potential factors that contribute to this phenomenon, especially among cancer patients who are considered as a high-risk group for developing severe COVID-19.

Methods: Plasma samples collected during the COVID-19 pandemic from SARS-CoV-2 unvaccinated cancer and potential blood donor populations were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 (spike and nucleocapsid proteins) antibodies by an immunofluorescence assay.

SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cell Immunity in HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma Patients in Zambia.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It has caused millions of infections and deaths globally over a 2-year period. Some populations including those living with HIV and/or cancer are reported to be at a higher risk of infection and severe disease.

High prevalence of pre-existing serological cross-reactivity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: Significant morbidity and mortality have occurred in the USA, Europe, and Asia due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), whereas the numbers of infections and deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have remained comparatively low. It has been hypothesized that exposure of the population in SSA to other coronaviruses prior to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in some degree of cross-protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathogenesis. We evaluated this hypothesis by comparing SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive antibodies in pre-pandemic plasma samples collected from SSA and the USA.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of endemic and epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions and the secondary role of HIV-1 in KS pathogenesis.

In sub-Saharan Africa, endemic Kaposi's sarcoma (EnKS) is still prevalent despite high incidence of epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma (EpKS) resulting from the on-going HIV-1 epidemic. While KSHV is clearly the etiologic agent of KS, the mechanisms underlying KS development are not fully understood. For example, HIV-1 co-infection and concomitant immune dysfunction have been associated with EpKS development.

Outcome markers of ART-treated HIV+ patients with early stage Kaposi's sarcoma.

HIV-associated/epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma (EpKS) is an AIDS-defining angio-proliferative malignancy. It can be treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone or with ART plus cytotoxic chemotherapy. ART-treated EpKS can either respond or worsen upon treatment.

Viral and Immunological Analytes are Poor Predictors of the Clinical Treatment Response in Kaposi's Sarcoma Patients.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). The prognostic utility of KSHV and HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus) viremia as well as immunological parameters in clinical management of participants with KS is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate viral and immunological parameters as predictors of KS treatment responses in participants with KS from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Lack of CD8 T-cell co-localization with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infected cells in Kaposi's sarcoma tumors.

Despite the close association between Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and immune dysfunction, it remains unclear whether tumor infiltrating immune cells (TIIC), by their absence, presence, or dysfunction, are mechanistically correlated with KS pathogenesis. Therefore, their potential capacity to serve as prognostic biomarkers of KS disease progression or control is unclear. Because epidemic-KS (EpKS) occurs with HIV-1 co-infection, it is particularly important to compare TIIC between EpKS and HIV-negative African endemic-KS (EnKS) to dissect the roles of HIV-1 and Kaposi Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in KS pathogenesis.

Prevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and transfusion-transmissible infections in Tanzanian blood donors.

Objective: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), one of the most common cancers in Tanzania. We have investigated KSHV prevalence and factors associated with KSHV infection in Tanzania.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of voluntary blood-donors from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Reduction of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Latency Using CRISPR-Cas9 To Edit the Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen Gene.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), an AIDS-defining cancer in HIV-1-infected individuals or immune-suppressed transplant patients. The prevalence for both KSHV and KS are highest in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV-1 infection is also epidemic. There is no effective treatment for advanced KS; therefore, the survival rate is low.

Similar Immunological Profiles Between African Endemic and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Associated Epidemic Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) Patients Reveal the Primary Role of KS-Associated Herpesvirus in KS Pathogenesis.

Background: Kaposi sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is etiologically linked to all KS forms, but mechanisms underlying KS development are unclear. The incidence of KS in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected (HIV-1+) individuals implicates immune dysregulation; however, the lack of characterization of KSHV immune responses in endemic KS makes the role of HIV-1 unclear. The study objective was to investigate the HIV-1 and KSHV roles in viral nucleic acid detection, antibody responses, and cytokine responses in polymerase chain reaction-confirmed epidemic KS and endemic KS patients and non-cancer controls from sub-Saharan Africa.

Brain is a potential sanctuary for subtype C HIV-1 irrespective of ART treatment outcome.

Subtype C HIV-1 is responsible for the largest proportion of people living with HIV-1 infection. However, there is limited information about the roles of the brain and its cell types as a potential sanctuary for this subtype and how the sanctuary may be affected by the administration of anti-retroviral therapy (ART). To address this issue, we collected postmortem brain tissues from ART treated HIV-1 infected Zambian individuals who experienced complete viral suppression and those who did not.

RNA-Seq of Kaposi's sarcoma reveals alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). It is endemic in a number of sub-Saharan African countries with infection rate of >50%. The high prevalence of HIV-1 coupled with late presentation of advanced cancer staging make KS the leading cancer in the region with poor prognosis and high mortality.

Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Infection of Neurons in HIV-Positive Patients.

Background: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), one of the leading cancers in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in Zambia. KSHV was detected in the human central nervous system (CNS) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, but tissue location and cell tropism for KSHV infection has not been established. Given the neurotropism exhibited by other herpesviruses and the frequent coinfection of HIV-positive individuals by KSHV, we sought to determine whether the central nervous system (CNS) can be infected by KSHV in HIV-positive Zambian individuals.

Early Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Can Functionally Control Productive HIV-1 Infection in Humanized-BLT Mice.

Background: Recent reports showed that functional control of HIV-1 infection for a prolonged time is possible by early antiretroviral therapy (ART); however, its underlying mechanism needs to be studied with a suitable animal model. Recently, humanized-BLT (bone marrow, liver, and thymus) mouse (hu-BLT) was shown to be an excellent model for studying HIV-1 infection. We thus tested the feasibility of studying functional control of HIV-1 infection using hu-BLT mice.

Variations in the Biological Functions of HIV-1 Clade C Envelope in a SHIV-Infected Rhesus Macaque during Disease Progression.

A better understanding of how the biological functions of the HIV-1 envelope (Env) changes during disease progression may aid the design of an efficacious anti-HIV-1 vaccine. Although studies from patient had provided some insights on this issue, the differences in the study cohorts and methodology had make it difficult to reach a consensus of the variations in the HIV-1 Env functions during disease progression. To this end, an animal model that can be infected under controlled environment and reflect the disease course of HIV-1 infection in human will be beneficial.

Dynamics of envelope evolution in clade C SHIV-infected pig-tailed macaques during disease progression analyzed by ultra-deep pyrosequencing.

Understanding the evolution of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope during disease progression can provide tremendous insights for vaccine development, and simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection of non-human primate provides an ideal platform for such studies. A newly developed clade C SHIV, SHIV-1157ipd3N4, which was able to infect rhesus macaques, closely resembled primary HIV-1 in transmission and pathogenesis, was used to infect several pig-tailed macaques. One of the infected animals subsequently progressed to AIDS, whereas one remained a non-progressor.

A comparative study of HIV-1 clade C env evolution in a Zambian infant with an infected rhesus macaque during disease progression.

Objective: To evaluate whether HIV-1 clade C (HIV-C) envelope variations that arise during disease progression in rhesus macaque model reflect changes that occur naturally in human infection.

Design: An infant macaque was infected with SHIV-1157i, an R5 tropic clade C SHIV, that expresses a primary HIV-C envelope derived from an infected human infant and monitored over a 5-year period. Genetic variation of the V1-V5 envelope region, which is the main target for humoral immune responses, derived from the infected macaque and infant was examined.

Evolutionary and structural analyses of alpha-papillomavirus capsid proteins yields novel insights into L2 structure and interaction with L1.

Background: PVs (PV) are small, non-enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses that have been identified as the primary etiological agent for cervical cancer and their potential for malignant transformation in mucosal tissue has a large impact on public health. The PV family Papillomaviridae is organized into multiple genus based on sequential parsimony, host range, tissue tropism, and histology. We focused this analysis on the late gene products, major (L1) and minor (L2) capsid proteins from the family Papillomaviridae genus Alpha-papillomavirus.