The Pandemic, Infodemic, and People's Resilience in India: Viewpoint.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused widespread fear and stress. The pandemic has affected everyone, everywhere, and created systemic inequities, leaving no one behind. In India alone, more than 34,094,373 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 452,454 related deaths have been reported as of October 19, 2021.

Iodine-based Dual-Energy CT of Traumatic Hemorrhagic Contusions: Relationship to In-Hospital Mortality and Short-term Outcome.

BackgroundTraumatic hemorrhagic contusions are associated with iodine leak; however, quantification of leakage and its importance to outcome is unclear.PurposeTo identify iodine-based dual-energy CT variables that correlate with in-hospital mortality and short-term outcomes for contusions at hospital discharge.Materials and MethodsIn this retrospective study, consecutive patients with contusions from May 2016 through January 2017 were analyzed.

Comparison of neutralizing antibody responses elicited from highly diverse polyvalent heterotrimeric HIV-1 gp140 cocktail immunogens versus a monovalent counterpart in rhesus macaques.

Eliciting neutralizing antibodies capable of inactivating a broad spectrum of HIV-1 strains is a major goal of HIV-1 vaccine design. The challenge is that envelopes (Envs) of circulating viruses are almost certainly different from any Env used in a vaccine. A novel immunogen composed of a highly diverse set of gp140 Envs including subtypes A, B, C, D and F was developed to stimulate a more cross-neutralizing antibody response.

Selected HIV-1 Env trimeric formulations act as potent immunogens in a rabbit vaccination model.

Background: Ten to 30% of HIV-1 infected subjects develop broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) during chronic infection. We hypothesized that immunizing rabbits with viral envelope glycoproteins (Envs) from these patients may induce bNAbs, when formulated as a trimeric protein and in the presence of an adjuvant.

Methods: Based on in vitro neutralizing activity in serum, patients with bNAbs were selected for cloning of their HIV-1 Env.

Characterization of humoral responses to soluble trimeric HIV gp140 from a clade A Ugandan field isolate.

Trimeric soluble forms of HIV gp140 envelope glycoproteins represent one of the closest molecular structures compared to native spikes present on intact virus particles. Trimeric soluble gp140 have been generated by several groups and such molecules have been shown to induce antibodies with neutralizing activity against homologous and heterologous viruses. In the present study, we generated a recombinant trimeric soluble gp140, derived from a previously identified Ugandan A-clade HIV field isolate (gp14094UG018).

International network for comparison of HIV neutralization assays: the NeutNet report II.

Background: Neutralizing antibodies provide markers for vaccine-induced protective immunity in many viral infections. By analogy, HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies induced by immunization may well predict vaccine effectiveness. Assessment of neutralizing antibodies is therefore of primary importance, but is hampered by the fact that we do not know which assay(s) can provide measures of protective immunity.

Interactions and management issues in HSV and HIV coinfection.

Significant synergistic interactions have been observed between HIV and herpes simplex virus (HSV). HIV-induced immune compromise can cause frequent and persistent HSV disease, while poorly controlled HSV replication may influence HIV pathogenicity and transmission. HSV-2 seroprevalence is high in HIV-infected cohorts worldwide, with rates of over 80% for HSV-1 and ranging from 33% to more than 80% for HSV-2.

Reconstitution of herpes simplex virus-specific T cell immunity in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Production of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific interferon- gamma by peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HSV-seropositive healthy donors and human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons was determined by use of ELISPOT. The mean +/- SD number of spot-forming cells/10(6) PBMCs was 314 +/- 74 in 11 healthy donors, 360 +/- 69 in 3 long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs), 186 +/- 52 in 9 newly diagnosed patients, and 181 +/- 59 in 33 patients who were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for a median period of 30 months (range, 1-109 months). In 9 patients monitored prospectively while receiving virologically and immunologically successful first-line HAART, the number of spot-forming cells increased by 5.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence at the time of HIV-1 diagnosis and seroincidence after HIV-1 diagnosis in an ethnically diverse cohort of HIV-1-infected persons.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence at HIV-1 diagnosis and seroincidence > or =1 year after HIV-1 diagnosis.

Methods: HSV type-specific antibodies were detected by enzyme immunoassay.

Results: The cohort comprised 850 adults diagnosed HIV-positive in 1986-2001 and followed for a median of 3 years.

Isolation and molecular detection of methylotrophic bacteria occurring in the human mouth.

Diverse methylotrophic bacteria were isolated from the tongue, and supra- and subgingival plaque in the mouths of volunteers and patients with periodontitis. One-carbon compounds such as dimethylsulfide in the mouth are likely to be used as growth substrates for these organisms. Methylotrophic strains of Bacillus, Brevibacterium casei, Hyphomicrobium sulfonivorans, Methylobacterium, Micrococcus luteus and Variovorax paradoxus were characterized physiologically and by their 16S rRNA gene sequences.

Detection and typing of herpes simplex DNA in genital swabs by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

The LightCycler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive assay for the detection of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA in muco-cutaneous swabs. Software-based analysis of the probe melting temperature (Tm) can be used to discriminate between HSV types (HSV-1 and HSV-2). Among 76 HSV DNA positive genital swabs, atypical Tms were observed in 14 (18%).

Disseminated neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 infection diagnosed by HSV DNA detection in blood and successfully managed by liver transplantation.

Unlabelled: We report a case of neonatal herpes presenting with liver failure and disseminated coagulopathy which followed unrecognised maternal primary genital herpes and was diagnosed by herpes simplex virus DNA detection in blood by polymerase chain reaction 2 weeks after initiation of empiric intravenous aciclovir. The child underwent liver transplantation while receiving suppressive antiviral therapy and remains well after 10 months of follow-up.

Conclusion: our case highlights potential pitfalls in the diagnosis of neonatal herpes and indicates a role for blood herpes simplex virus polymerase chain reaction as a sensitive diagnostic tool in disseminated infection.