Neutralizing the threat: harnessing broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV-1 for treatment and prevention.

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) targeting the human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) have played a crucial role in elucidating and characterizing neutralization-sensitive sites on the HIV-1 envelope spike and in informing vaccine development. Continual advancements in identifying more potent bnAbs, along with their capacity to trigger antibody-mediated effector functions, coupled with modifications to extend their half-life, position them as promising candidates for both HIV-1 treatment and prevention. While current pharmacological interventions have made significant progress in managing HIV-1 infection and enhancing quality of life, no definitive cure or vaccines have been developed thus far.

Recent Insights into the HIV/AIDS Pandemic.

Etiology, transmission and protection: Transmission of HIV, the causative agent of AIDS, occurs predominantly through bodily fluids. Factors that significantly alter the risk of HIV transmission include male circumcision, condom use, high viral load, and the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases. Pathology/Symptomatology: HIV infects preferentially CD4 T lymphocytes, and Monocytes.

HIV-1-Specific Antibody Response and Function after DNA Prime and Recombinant Adenovirus 5 Boost HIV Vaccine in HIV-Infected Subjects.

Little is known about the humoral immune response against DNA prime-recombinant adenovirus 5 (rAd5) boost HIV vaccine among HIV-infected patients on long-term suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). Previous studies emphasized cellular immune responses; however, current research suggests both cellular and humoral responses are likely required for a successful therapeutic vaccine. Thus, we aimed to understand antibody response and function induced by vaccination of ART-treated HIV-1-infected patients with immune recovery.

International survey on skin patch test procedures, attitudes and interpretation.

Background: Skin patch test is the gold standard method in diagnosing contact allergy. Although used for more than 100 years, the patch test procedure is performed with variability around the world. A number of factors can influence the test results, namely the quality of reagents used, the timing of the application, the patch test series (allergens/haptens) that have been used for testing, the appropriate interpretation of the skin reactions or the evaluation of the patient's benefit.

The Neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) enhances human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transcytosis across epithelial cells.

The mechanisms by which human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) crosses mucosal surfaces to establish infection are unknown. Acidic genital secretions of HIV-1-infected women contain HIV-1 likely coated by antibody. We found that the combination of acidic pH and Env-specific IgG, including that from cervicovaginal and seminal fluids of HIV-1-infected individuals, augmented transcytosis across epithelial cells as much as 20-fold compared with Env-specific IgG at neutral pH or non-specific IgG at either pH.

Infection of the central nervous system caused by varicella zoster virus reactivation: a retrospective case series study.

Background: Recent data suggest that varicella zoster virus (VZV)-associated complications of the central nervous system (CNS) are more common and diverse than previously thought. The main purpose of this article is to describe the clinical characteristics and the outcome of patients suffering from meningitis and encephalitis caused by VZV reactivation.

Methods: A retrospective case study of adult patients (≥16 years old) diagnosed with a VZV reactivation in the CNS was performed.

Rhesus macaque polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies inhibit simian immunodeficiency virus in the presence of human or autologous rhesus effector cells.

Although antibodies can prevent or modulate lentivirus infections in nonhuman primates, the biological functions of antibody responsible for such effects are not known. We sought to determine the role of antibody-dependent cell-mediated virus inhibition (ADCVI), an antibody function that inhibits virus yield from infected cells in the presence of Fc receptor-bearing effector cells, in preventing or controlling SIVmac251 infection in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Using CEMx174 cells infected with simian immunodeficiency virus mac251 (SIVmac251), both polyclonal and monoclonal anti-SIV antibodies were capable of potent virus inhibition in the presence of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) effector cells.

CD8+ T-cell mediated tumor protection by Pseudomonas exotoxin fused to ovalbumin in C57BL/6 mice.

Background: Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) is a 66 kDa bacterial toxin that is able to bind to mammalian cells, undergo receptor mediated endocytosis, and translocate its C-terminal catalytic domain into the cytosol. We investigated whether PE could be used in vivo to deliver CD8+ T-cell epitopes to the MHC-class I antigen presentation pathway to trigger a specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response.

Methods: Amino acid 553 of PE was deleted to eliminate toxin catalytic activity, and amino acids 204-386 of ovalbumin were fused near the nontoxic PE C-terminus to produce PE(D)-OVA200.