Instability of the HLA-E peptidome of HIV presents a major barrier to therapeutic targeting.

Naturally occurring T cells that recognize microbial peptides via HLA-E, a nonpolymorphic HLA class Ib molecule, could provide the foundation for new universal immunotherapeutics. However, confidence in the biological relevance of putative ligands is crucial, given that the mechanisms by which pathogen-derived peptides can access the HLA-E presentation pathway are poorly understood. We systematically interrogated the HIV proteome using immunopeptidomic and bioinformatic approaches, coupled with biochemical and cellular assays.

The negative appendicectomy rate at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital - a 10-year review.

Background: The negative appendicectomy rate (NAR) is defined as the proportion of surgically removed appendices that are pathologically normal. The acceptable NAR has been a debated issue. Previously, a higher rate was accepted, whilst newer thinking favours a lower rate.

The effects of vibrotactile masking on heartbeat detection: Evidence that somatosensory mechanoreceptors transduce heartbeat sensations.

The ability to detect heartbeat sensations is the most common basis for inferring individual differences in sensitivity to the interoceptive stimuli generated by the visceral activity. While the sensory sources of heartbeat sensations have yet to be identified, there is a growing consensus that visceral sensation, in general, is supported not only by the interoceptive system but also by the somatosensory system, and even by exteroception. The current experiment sought evidence on this issue by exploring the effects of masking the functions of somatosensory Pacinian and non-Pacinian mechanoreceptors on the ability to detect heartbeat sensations.

Heartbeat counting is unrelated to heartbeat detection: A comparison of methods to quantify interoception.

Recent research has identified individual differences in interoceptive sensitivity as a key source of variation in action, cognition, and emotion. This research has relied heavily on a single method for assessing interoceptive sensitivity: the accuracy of counting heartbeats while at rest. The validity of this method was assessed here by comparing the heartbeat counting (HBC) performance of 48 individuals with their heartbeat detection (HBD) performance.

Rapid HIV disease progression following superinfection in an HLA-B*27:05/B*57:01-positive transmission recipient.

Background: The factors determining differential HIV disease outcome among individuals expressing protective HLA alleles such as HLA-B*27:05 and HLA-B*57:01 remain unknown. We here analyse two HIV-infected subjects expressing both HLA-B*27:05 and HLA-B*57:01. One subject maintained low-to-undetectable viral loads for more than a decade of follow up.