Analysis of drug resistance mutations in whole blood DNA from HIV-1 infected patients by single genome and ultradeep sequencing analysis.

In HIV-1 infected patients blood CD4 T lymphocytes could be a valuable target to analyse drug resistance mutations (DRM) selected over the course of the infection. However, detection of viral resistance mutations in cellular DNA by standard genotype resistance techniques (SGRT) is suboptimal. Whole blood DNA (wbDNA) from 12 HIV-1 infected patients on ART was studied by Single Genome Sequencing (SGS) and 8 of them also by Ultradeep pyrosequencing (UDP).

Identification of a cluster of HIV-1 controllers infected with low replicating viruses.

Long term non-progressor patients (LTNPs) are characterized by the natural control of HIV-1 infection. This control is related to host genetic, immunological and virological factors. In this work, phylogenetic analysis of the proviral nucleotide sequences in env gene from a Spanish HIV-1 LTNPs cohort identified a cluster of 6 HIV-1 controllers infected with closely-related viruses.

Lack of the detection of XMRV or polytropic MLV-related sequences in blood cells from HIV-1-infected patients in Spain.

Background: Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and polytropic murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related virus are recently described human gammaretroviruses that have been associated with prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome. These studies have been controversial because a number of laboratories have been unable to find evidence of XMRV in similar groups of patients or controls. Because the existence of XMRV raises many questions, we decided to study its presence in a group of patients infected with HIV-1 with a high proportion of intravenous drug use and coinfection by hepatitis C virus.

Pseudosaccharide functionalized dendrimers as potent inhibitors of DC-SIGN dependent Ebola pseudotyped viral infection.

The development of compounds with strong affinity for the receptor DC-SIGN is a topic of remarkable interest due to the role that this lectin plays in several pathogen infection processes and in the modulation of the immune response. DC-SIGN recognizes mannosylated and fucosylated oligosaccharides in a multivalent manner. Therefore, multivalent carbohydrate systems are required to interact in an efficient manner with this receptor and compete with the natural ligands.

Sustained profile of transmitted drug resistance mutations for more than 10 years in an HIV type 1-infected patient.

We present an HIV-1-infected patient with a profile of transmitted drug resistance (RT M41L, E44D, V118I, L210W, T215D) sustained during more than 10 years in the absence of treatment. Clonal analysis of different plasma and cellular samples within this period did not reveal any reversion to the wild-type genotype.

Detection of HIV-1 at between 20 and 49 copies per milliliter by the Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 v2.0 assay is associated with higher pretherapy viral load and less time on antiretroviral therapy.

New commercial techniques for determination of the viral load (VL) in plasma are able to detect as few as 20 copies of HIV-1 RNA/ml. The relevance of this new technical threshold is uncertain. Upon multivariate analysis, factors associated with detection of VLs between 20 and 49 copies/ml by the Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 v2.

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and the metalloproteinase MT1-MMP are mutually required during melanoma metastasis to lungs.

Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer once metastasis begins; therefore, it is important to characterize the molecular players involved in melanoma dissemination. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and the membrane-bound metalloproteinase MT1-MMP are expressed on melanoma cells and represent candidate molecules for the control of metastasis. Using human melanoma transfectants that either overexpress or silence CXCR4 or MT1-MMP, or that have a combination of overexpression and interference of these proteins, we show that CXCR4 and MT1-MMP coordinate their activities at different steps along melanoma cell metastasis into the lungs.

1,2-Mannobioside mimic: synthesis, DC-SIGN interaction by NMR and docking, and antiviral activity.

The design and preparation of carbohydrate ligands for DC-SIGN is a topic of high interest because of the role played by this C-type lectin in immunity and infection processes. The low chemical stability of carbohydrates against enzymatic hydrolysis by glycosylases has stimulated the search for new alternatives more stable in vivo. Herein, we present a good alternative for a DC-SIGN ligand based on a mannobioside mimic with a higher enzymatic stability than the corresponding disaccharide.

The DC-SIGN-related lectin LSECtin mediates antigen capture and pathogen binding by human myeloid cells.

Liver and lymph node sinusoidal endothelial cell C-type lectin (LSECtin [CLEC4G]) is a C-type lectin encoded within the liver/lymph node-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (L-SIGN)/dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN)/CD23 gene cluster. LSECtin expression has been previously described as restricted to sinusoidal endothelial cells of the liver and lymph node. We now report LSECtin expression in human peripheral blood and thymic dendritic cells isolated ex vivo.