Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in remote African Pygmies.

Background: African Pygmies have many risk factors for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), such as low socioeconomic status and low quality of health care. We characterized Streptococcus pneumoniae from Gabonese Pygmies and analyzed risk factors for S. pneumoniae carriage to improve prophylaxis and therapy of IPD in this neglected, remotely living African community.

Necrosis of host cells and survival of pathogens following iron overload in an in vitro model of co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and iron overload (dietary/hereditary) are very common in sub-Saharan Africa. The requirement for iron as a crucial factor for cellular processes is well established, as are the disadvantages of excess iron in the system. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV are believed to have a reciprocal effect on each another.

The effect of iron overload on in vitro HIV-1 infection.

Background: It has been shown that Fe is required by HIV-infected cells for production of viral particles. Excess iron in the cell is detrimental to the host but beneficial to the pathogen.

Objectives: Here, we investigated the effect of excess Fe (overload) and chelation of the metal on in vitro HIV infection by assessing host cell responses (viability/death, stress protein expression and cytokine production) as well as virus replication (core protein content and enzyme activity).