High Mycoplasma genitalium organism burden is associated with shedding of HIV-1 DNA from the cervix.

We assessed the relationship between infection with Mycoplasma genitalium, an emerging sexually transmitted pathogen, and cervical shedding of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 DNA among 303 HIV-1-positive Kenyan women. HIV-1 shedding was detected by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 154 women (51%); M. genitalium was detected by qualitative PCR in 52 (17%), and organism burden was determined by quantitative PCR.

Increased levels of HIV-1-infected cells in endocervical secretions after the luteinizing hormone surge.

Levels of HIV-1 RNA in endocervical specimens fluctuate with the menstrual cycle, suggesting that cell-free HIV-1 levels may vary during the cycle, which could influence infectivity. Here, we examined daily changes in endocervical HIV-1-infected cells during 1 cycle. There were significant positive associations between the number of days from the luteinizing hormone surge and the number of HIV-1 DNA copies/swab (P = 0.

Cyclic shedding of HIV-1 RNA in cervical secretions during the menstrual cycle.

The association between hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA shedding in cervical and vaginal secretions was examined daily for 17 HIV-1-seropositive women, for the duration of 1 cycle. Serum levels of RNA were evaluated 3 times/week. A marginally significant positive correlation between serum levels of progesterone and serum levels of HIV-1 RNA (P=.

Selenium deficiency is associated with shedding of HIV-1--infected cells in the female genital tract.

Objective: To assess the relation between selenium deficiency and vaginal or cervical shedding of HIV-1-infected cells.

Design: Cross-sectional study of 318 HIV-1 seropositive women in Mombasa, Kenya.

Methods: Vaginal and cervical swab specimens were tested for the presence of HIV-1 DNA by polymerase chain reaction.

Cervical shedding of herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus throughout the menstrual cycle in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the frequency and patterns of the shedding of herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus in the female genital tract throughout the menstrual cycle.

Study Design: Seventeen women, all seropositive for herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1, underwent daily evaluation of cervical viral shedding for the duration of 1 menstrual cycle (21-31 visits per woman). Serum estradiol and progesterone levels were monitored 3 times weekly.

Cervical shedding of herpes simplex virus in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women: effects of hormonal contraception, pregnancy, and vitamin A deficiency.

Genital shedding of herpes simplex virus (HSV) results in frequent transmission of infection to sexual partners and neonates. In a cross-sectional study, cervical shedding of HSV DNA was detected in 43 (17%) cervical swab samples from 273 women seropositive for HSV-1, HSV-2, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Cervical shedding of HSV was significantly associated with oral contraception (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.

Cervical shedding of cytomegalovirus in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected women.

Cervical shedding of cytomegalovirus (CMV) is important in transmission of CMV to exposed sexual partners and neonates. We evaluated prevalence and correlates of CMV DNA shedding in cervical secretions from a large cohort of HIV-1-seropositive women. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, CMV DNA was detected in 183 (59%) cervical swab samples from 311 women.

Studies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mucosal viral shedding and transmission in Kenya.

If human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccines are to be highly effective, it is essential to understand the virologic factors that contribute to HIV-1 transmission. It is likely that transmission is determined, in part, by the genotype or phenotype (or both) of infectious virus present in the index case, which in turn will influence the quantity of virus that may be exchanged during sexual contact. Transmission may also depend on the fitness of the virus for replication in the exposed individual, which may be influenced by whether a virus encounters a target cell that is susceptible to infection by that specific variant.

Cervical and vaginal shedding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected cells throughout the menstrual cycle.

Cervical and vaginal secretions from 17 women infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were evaluated daily through the course of one menstrual cycle for HIV-1 DNA (21-31 visits per woman). HIV-1-infected cells were detected in 207 (46%) of 450 endocervical swabs and 74 (16%) of 449 vaginal swabs. There was considerable variability in the percentage of positive swabs from each woman, ranging from 4% to 100% of endocervical swabs and from 0 to 71% of vaginal swabs.

Prevalence and correlates of HIV type 1 shedding in the female genital tract.

Heterosexual transmission is the predominant mode of transmission of HIV-1 in most of the world. Factors correlated with viral shedding from the female reproductive tract (and thus infectivity of women) are discussed in this review. Hormonal contraceptive use, cervical ectopy, pregnancy, abnormal cervical and vaginal discharge, and CD4 lymphocyte depletion have been associated with increased HIV-1 shedding in women; however, findings vary between studies.

Hormonal contraception, vitamin A deficiency, and other risk factors for shedding of HIV-1 infected cells from the cervix and vagina.

Background: Factors that influence shedding of HIV-1 infected cells in cervical and vaginal secretions may be important determinants of sexual and vertical transmission of the virus. We investigated whether hormonal contraceptive use, vitamin A deficiency, and other variables were risk factors for cervical and vaginal shedding of HIV-infected cells.

Methods: Between December, 1994, and April, 1996, women who attended a municipal sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) clinic in Mombasa, Kenya, and had previously tested positive for HIV-1, were invited to take part in our cross-sectional study.

The stereospecificity of hydrogen transfer to NAD(P)+ catalyzed by lactol dehydrogenases.

The stereochemistry of hydrogen transfer to NAD(P)+ has been determined for five lactol dehydrogenases. It was found that D-glucose dehydrogenases from Bacillus megaterium and Cryptococcus uniguttulatus and L-rhamnose dehydrogenase from Aureobasidium pullulans are pro-S (B) specific, while D-glucose dehydrogenase from Thermoplasma acidophilum and D-xylose dehydrogenase from procine liver are pro-R (A) specific. The latter two enzymes are the first examples of A-specific dehydrogenases oxidizing aldoses at the anomeric carbon.

Characterization of profilaggrin endoproteinase 1. A regulated cytoplasmic endoproteinase of epidermis.

Profilaggrin, an insoluble precursor of the intermediate filament-associated protein filaggrin, contains multiple internal repeats (PIRs). At terminal differentiation of epidermis, proteolytic processing within a "linker" region of each PIR releases soluble filaggrin in a two-stage process. The first stage endoproteinase (PEP1, profilaggrin endoproteinase 1) cleaves mouse profilaggrin at a subset of the linkers, yielding processing intermediates consisting of several filaggrin repeats.