Gene dysregulation in acute HIV-1 infection - early transcriptomic analysis reveals the crucial biological functions affected.

Introduction: Transcriptomic analyses from early human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have the potential to reveal how HIV causes widespread and lasting damage to biological functions, especially in the immune system. Previous studies have been limited by difficulties in obtaining early specimens.

Methods: A hospital symptom-based screening approach was applied in a rural Mozambican setting to enrol patients with suspected acute HIV infection (Fiebig stage I-IV).

The Contribution of Geogenic Particulate Matter to Lung Disease in Indigenous Children.

Indigenous children have much higher rates of ear and lung disease than non-Indigenous children, which may be related to exposure to high levels of geogenic (earth-derived) particulate matter (PM). The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between dust levels and health in Indigenous children in Western Australia (W.A.

Bacillus licheniformis in geogenic dust induces inflammation in respiratory epithelium.

Exposure to environmental geogenic (or earth-derived) dust can lead to more frequent and severe infections in the human airway. Particulate matter < 10 µm (PM) is the component of air pollution that is commonly associated with the exacerbation of respiratory diseases. We have previously demonstrated that mice exposed to geogenic dust PM experienced an exacerbation of inflammatory responses to influenza A virus.

Genetic Variants in the IL-4/IL-13 Pathway Influence Measles Vaccine Responses and Vaccine Failure in Children from Mozambique.

Despite effective measles vaccines, measles still causes severe morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The Th2 pathway involving interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 cytokines, and their receptor IL-4Rα, play important roles in the Th1/Th2 balance and antibody production. A Th2 skewing of the cytokine milieu may affect vaccine responses.

Geogenic PM₁₀ exposure exacerbates responses to influenza infection.

Particulate matter (PM) exposure has been linked epidemiologically to exacerbations of lung disease, including respiratory infections. We investigated the effects of geogenic (earth-derived) PM10 (PM<10 μm diameter) on the response to a respiratory viral infection. Geogenic dust was sampled from four communities in arid environments in Western Australia.

Polymorphisms in key innate immune genes and their effects on measles vaccine responses and vaccine failure in children from Mozambique.

Despite an effective vaccine, measles remains a major health problem globally, particularly in developing countries. More than 30% of children show primary vaccine failure and therefore remain vulnerable to measles. Genetic variation in key innate pathogen recognition receptors, such as the measles cell entry receptors CD46 and SLAM, measles attachment receptor DC-SIGN, the antiviral toll-like receptors (TLR)3, TLR7 and TLR8, and the cytosolic antiviral receptor RIG-I, may significantly affect measles IgG antibody responses.

TLR3 and RIG-I gene variants: associations with functional effects on receptor expression and responses to measles virus and vaccine in vaccinated infants.

Measles virus causes severe morbidity and mortality, despite the availability of measles vaccines. Successful defence against viral pathogens requires early recognition of virus-specific patterns by innate receptors like Toll-like receptor (TLR)3 and the RNA helicase, retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I). Genetic differences in these receptors may influence the primary immune responses to measles and the efficacy of measles vaccine.

CD46 measles virus receptor polymorphisms influence receptor protein expression and primary measles vaccine responses in naive Australian children.

Despite the availability of measles vaccines, infants continue to die from measles. Measles vaccine responses vary between individuals, and poor immunogenicity is likely to preclude protection against measles. CD46 is a ubiquitously expressed specific receptor for vaccine strains of measles virus.

Toll-like receptor 7 and 8 polymorphisms: associations with functional effects and cellular and antibody responses to measles virus and vaccine.

Successful defence against viral pathogens requires the rapid recognition of virus-specific "danger signals" and the activation of both innate and adaptive immunity. Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 8 play a critical role in the elimination of viruses by recognising the common viral component, single stranded (ss)RNA. Measles virus, an ssRNA virus, continues to cause serious morbidity and mortality worldwide despite available measles vaccines.

SLAM and DC-SIGN measles receptor polymorphisms and their impact on antibody and cytokine responses to measles vaccine.

Background: Despite the use of measles vaccine, measles virus continues to circulate and cause severe disease. Immune responses to the measles vaccine are variable between individuals, with up to 10% failing to produce a sufficient protective response post-vaccination. Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) and dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN; CD209) are specific measles receptors: SLAM binds and permits entry of the virus into the cell, DC-SIGN acts as an attachment receptor, increasing viral binding efficiency and transmission.