Standardization and evaluation of an in-house ELISA for the detection of rabies antibody in a tertiary care centre in South India.

Background: Rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT), a neutralization-based assay for detecting rabies antibodies, is the gold standard. The National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) is a national program that strategizes the establishment of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to detect rabies antibodies.

Objective: We developed an in-house ELISA to screen for rabies antibodies using rabies vaccine antigen to study vaccine response among health care workers (HCWs) who received pre-exposure prophylaxis and a few animal bite victims who received post-exposure prophylaxis with rabies vaccine.

Heterogeneity and Hierarchy of Immune Response to Primary Immunization in HIV-Infected Children on HAART and the Impact of an Additional Dose of Vaccine.

The nature of vaccine response inferiority is not well studied in children living with HIV (CLHIV). The authors investigated Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus toxoid (DPT) vaccination responses following primary immunization in CLHIV (n = 42) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 38) and the effect of an additional vaccine dose. Antibody responses, CD4 and HBV-specific T/B cells were analysed using CMIA/ELISA and flow-cytometry.

Expression analysis and mapping of Viral-Host Protein interactions of Poxviridae suggests a lead candidate molecule targeting Mpox.

Background: Monkeypox (Mpox) is an important human pathogen without etiological treatment. A viral-host interactome study may advance our understanding of molecular pathogenesis and lead to the discovery of suitable therapeutic targets.

Methods: GEO Expression datasets characterizing mRNA profile changes in different host responses to poxviruses were analyzed for shared pathway identification, and then, the Protein-protein interaction (PPI) maps were built.

Early detection, reactivation of cytomegalovirus DNA & immediate early (IE)-mRNA expression in hematopoietic stem cell-transplant patients.

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) reactivation is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among stem cell transplant recipients post-transplantation.

Aim: HCMV immediate-early messenger RNA (IE-mRNA) was evaluated as marker of post-transplant HCMV reactivation in bone marrow transplant recipients.

Method: ology: An in-house real-time reverse transcriptase PCR targeting IE-mRNA was developed to estimate HCMV mRNA levels post-transplantation.

Challenges and Pragmatic Solutions for Assessing the Reliability of HIV-1 Viral Load Monitoring in Resource-Constrained Settings.

Introduction: HIV-1 RNA detection is the most reliable method for monitoring treatment response among people living with HIV. Effective quality control measures that include internal quality control (IQC) are challenging in resource-constrained settings.

Methods: We ascertained the utility of the kit low positive control (LPC) as an effective IQC to monitor the reliability of the HIV-1 viral load assay.

ARCHITECT HBsAg Next assay is positioned better to resolve and refine challenging weak reactive clinical samples.

Background: Ultrasensitive HBsAg assays are replacing the previous versions. Unlike the sensitivity, the specificity, and its positioning to resolve weak-reactives (WR) are not studied. We investigated the ability of ARCHITECT HBsAg-Next (HBsAg-Nx) assay to resolve WR and sought its clinical validation and correlation with confirmatory/reflex testing.

Diagnostic study of human papillomavirus DNA detection in cervical and vaginal samples using the filter paper card.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA samples on filter paper in comparison to specimen transport medium (STM).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional diagnostic study of 42 consecutive women who were prospectively recruited. Each had self-collected vaginal samples on filter paper, physician-collected cervical samples on filter paper, and physician-collected cervical samples in STM.

The impact of human papilloma virus on human reproductive health and the effect on male infertility: An updated review.

It is believed that human papilloma virus infection (HPV), which is caused by the DNA virus, is the most prominent factor contributing to sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the world, with males having a prevalence rate of 3.5%-45% while that women are 2%-44%. Infertility is a rising problem on a global basis, affecting anywhere from 10% to 30% of couples who have reached reproductive age.

Longitudinal assessment of HCV core antigen kinetics to monitor therapeutic response in the age of DAAs.

Background: In the economy of therapeutic monitoring, an affordable viral marker is essential in the era of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). We elucidated the kinetics of HCVcAg to delineate its precise role in monitoring therapeutic response.

Methods: In this longitudinal study, 3208 patients were tested for HCV RNA.

HPV and molecular mimicry in systemic lupus erythematosus and an impact of compiling B-cell epitopes and MHC-class II binding profiles with evidence.

Epidemiological link between HPV and SLE is evolving. The possibility of HPV infection-induced molecular mimicry and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was elucidated through detailed analyses. Conserved regions in the structural protein sequences of high-risk HPV types were inferred, and sequence homologies between viral and human peptides were identified to delineate proteins implicated in SLE.

Internal quality control for HIV testing of blood donors - Dried tube specimen as a cost-effective alternative.

Background: An important aspect of ensuring blood safety is the performance of mandatory serological testing for transfusion transmissible infections. The practice of internal quality control (IQC) in blood banks in India is nonuniform, especially the use of third-party materials. Cited reasons are cost, lack of access to control materials, and need for deep-freezers for storage, if prepared in-house.

Versatile performance edges of HBsAg Next assay in diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of HBV infection.

Background: HBsAg Next assay (HBsAgNx) claims improved detection of HBsAg. The aim was to investigate its performance in ascertaining HBsAg loss, ability to detect HBsAg in various phases of HBV infection, specificity and its amenability to in-house neutralization.

Methods: Analytical sensitivity was investigated using NIBSC standard (3rd WHO-IS).

Indian microbiology EQAS registered laboratory's capacity building and infection control practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in India: Lessons learnt and gaps identified.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic was unique in the history of outbreaks because of the massive scaling up of resources related to diagnostics, treatment modalities, and vaccines. To understand the impact of the pandemic among laboratory professionals, we aimed to conduct a survey to assess the improvement in the lab capacity post-covid in terms of infrastructure and accreditation status across various levels of hospitals and to determine the changes in the practice of infection control precautions during the pandemic.

Methods: This was an anonymous, online-based survey (using 58 item questionnaire) conducted between July 09, 2021, and August 07, 2021.

Upward trends of syphilis in the non-pregnant adults: A six-year report on clinical and epidemiological profile of syphilis from a tertiary care center, India.

Since 2000, a resurgence of syphilis has been noted in many developed and developing countries, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). Incidence and prevalence of syphilis in pregnant women have been reduced drastically by mandatory screening in early pregnancy. Insufficient data in other populations especially from developing countries limit targeted public health interventions.

Can In-house HIV-2 Viral Load Assay be a Reliable Alternative to Commercial Assays for Clinical and Therapeutic Monitoring?

Background: Currently, there is a global contemplation to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. HIV-2 poses unique challenges to this end. The burden of HIV-2 is higher in resource-limited countries, and it is intrinsically resistant to NNRTI drugs.

Age-stratified adeno-associated virus serotype 3 neutralizing and total antibody prevalence in hemophilia A patients from India.

Gene therapy using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector offers a new treatment option for individuals with monogenetic disorders. The major bottleneck is the presence of pre-existing anti-AAV antibodies, which impacts its use. Even very low titers of neutralizing antibodies (NAb) to capsids from natural AAV infections have been reported to inhibit the transduction of intravenously administered AAV in animal models and are associated with limited efficacy in human trials.

The CCR5 Gene Edited CD34CD90 Hematopoietic Stem Cell Population Serves as an Optimal Graft Source for HIV Gene Therapy.

Transplantation of allogenic hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) with C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) Δ32 genotype generates HIV-1 resistant immune cells. CCR5 gene edited autologous HSPCs can be a potential alternative to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from HLA-matched CCR5 null donor. However, the clinical application of gene edited autologous HSPCs is critically limited by the quality of the graft, as HIV also infects the HSPCs.

Chronic Immune Activation Among Treatment Naïve HIV/ HBV Coinfected Individuals From Southern India.

Background: Chronic immune activation is one of the most widely recognized hallmarks of HIV infection. T-cells that express CD38+ and HLA-DR+ show poor proliferative potential, signal transduction, and increased apoptotic potential. This affects HIV pathogenesis and its outcome and further complicates with a coinfection like HBV.

Autoantibodies Among HIV-1 Infected Individuals and the Effect of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) on It.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to a decline in autoimmune diseases but lacks studies on its effect on autoantibodies.

Methods: It is a cross-sectional study with archived samples from 100 paired HIV-1 infected ART naïve and experienced individuals and 100 prospectively collected matched blood-donor controls. Antinuclear antibody, IgG anticardiolipin antibody, IgM and IgG β2 glycoprotein-1 antibodies, and total IgG levels were detected.

Prevalence of Adeno-Associated Virus 3 Capsid Binding and Neutralizing Antibodies in Healthy and Hemophilia B Individuals from India.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-based gene therapy offers a new treatment option for individuals with hemophilia. Pre-existing anti-AAV antibodies significantly impact the use of AAV vectors. Even relatively low titers of AAV neutralizing antibodies (NAb) from natural AAV infections against the capsid have been shown to inhibit the transduction of intravenously administered AAV in animal models and were associated with limited efficacy in human trials.

Interaction of human immunodeficiency virus-1 and human immunodeficiency virus-2 capsid amino acid variants with human tripartite motif 5α protein SPRY domain and its association with pathogenesis.

Purpose: The sequence variation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) capsid region may influence and alter the susceptibility to human tripartite motif 5α protein (huTRIM5α).

Materials And Methods: Molecular docking was carried out with huTRIM5α SPRY domain by the use of ClusPro and Hex docking program for HIV-1 and HIV-2 capsid sequences.

Results: The sequence analysis on HIV-1 and HIV-2 capsid gag gene identified 35 (19.

Evaluating the PGMY-centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois assay as a cost-effective tool for human papillomavirus genotyping in HIV-infected women.

Aims: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer among women, worldwide. HIV-positive women tend to have persistent infection and infection with multiple human papillomavirus (HPV) types. There is a need for affordable HPV DNA tests as viable alternatives to the existing costly commercial assays.

Characteristics of treatment-naïve HBV-infected individuals with HIV-1 coinfection: A cross-sectional study from South India.

Purpose: Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection has become a major health problem across the globe. The increased life expectancy of HIV-1 patients due to antiretroviral therapy has led to the emergence of liver disease as a major mortality factor among them. The purpose of the study was to examine the baseline characteristics of HBV in treatment-naïve HBV/HIV coinfection from southern India compared to monoinfected individuals.

Performance of a Modified In-House HIV-1 Avidity Assay among a Cohort of Newly Diagnosed HIV-1 Infected Individuals and the Effect of ART on the Maturation of HIV-1 Specific Antibodies.

Background: Viral kinetics impact humoral immune response to HIV; antibody avidity testing helps distinguish recent (<6 months) and long-term HIV infection. This study aims to determine the frequency of recent HIV-1 infection among clients attending ICTC (Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre) using a commercial EIA, to correlate it with a modified in-house avidity assay and to study the impact of ART on anti-HIV-1 antibody maturation.

Methods: Commercial LAg Avidity EIA was used to detect antibody avidity among 117 treatment naïve HIV-1 infected individuals.