Combination of serological and cytokine release assays for improved diagnosis of childhood tuberculosis in Zambia (PROMISE-TB).

Objectives: The diagnostic gaps for childhood tuberculosis (TB) remain considerable in settings with high TB incidence and resource constraints. We established and evaluated the performance of a scoring system based on a combination of serological tests and T-cell cytokine release assays, chosen for their ability to detect immune responses indicative of TB, in a context of high prevalence of pediatric HIV infection.

Methods: We enrolled 628 consecutive children aged ≤15 years, admitted for TB suspicion.

Long-term persistence of mitochondrial dysfunctions after viral infections and antiviral therapies: A review of mechanisms involved.

Mitochondria are vital for most cells' functions. Viruses hijack mitochondria machinery for misappropriation of energy supply or to bypass defense mechanisms. Many of these mitochondrial dysfunctions persist after recovery from treated or untreated viral infections, particularly when mitochondrial DNA is permanently damaged.

Safety and pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous administration of broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs), given to HIV-1 exposed, uninfected neonates and infants: study protocol for a phase I trial.

Background: The ambitious goal to eliminate new pediatric HIV infections by 2030 requires accelerated prevention strategies in high-risk settings such as South Africa. One approach could be pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs). The aim of our study is to define the optimal dose(s), the ideal combination(s) of bNAbs in terms of potency and breadth, and timing of subcutaneous (SC) administration(s) to prevent breast milk transmission of HIV.

Preventing breast milk HIV transmission using broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies: One size does not fit all.

Passive immunoprophylaxis with broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (bNAbs) could be a game changer in the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. The prevailing view is that available resources should be focused on identifying a fixed combination of at least three bNAbs for universal use in therapeutic and preventive protocols, regardless of target populations or routes of transmission. HIV transmission through breastfeeding is unique: it involves free viral particles and cell‐associated virus from breast milk and, in the case of acute/recent maternal infection, a viral population with restricted Env diversity.

Optimised prevention of postnatal HIV transmission in Zambia and Burkina Faso (PROMISE-EPI): a phase 3, open-label, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Transmission through breastfeeding accounts for more than half of the unacceptably high number of new paediatric HIV infections worldwide. We hypothesised that, in addition to maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART), extended postnatal prophylaxis with lamivudine, guided by point-of-care assays for maternal viral load, could reduce postnatal transmission.

Methods: We did a phase 3, open-label, randomised controlled trial at four health-care facilities in Zambia and four health-care facilities in Burkina Faso.

Evaluation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programs at the second immunization visit in Burkina Faso and Zambia.

Objective: Our study aimed to assess the PMTCT indicators in Burkina Faso and Zambia using a patient-orientated innovative strategy based on the second visit in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI-2) visit at 6-8 weeks.

Design: This was a cross sectional study.

Methods: We assessed women attending EPI-2 at primary healthcare facilities in Burkina Faso and Zambia with their children about their exposure to PMTCT interventions.

SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen in plasma of children hospitalized for COVID-19 or with incidental detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In hospitalized children, SARS-CoV-2 infection can present as either a primary reason for admission (patients admitted for COVID-19) or an incidental finding during follow-up (patients admitted with COVID-19). We conducted a nested case-control study within a cohort of pediatric patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, to investigate the concentration of plasma nucleocapsid antigen (N-Ag) in children admitted for COVID-19 or with COVID-19. While reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction Ct values in nasopharyngeal swab were similar between the two groups, children admitted for COVID-19 had a higher rate of detectable N-Ag (12/18 (60.

Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) populations in contrasting areas of the western regions of Burkina Faso: species diversity, abundance and their implications for pathogen transmission.

Background: Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) can have a significant negative impact on human health. The urbanization of natural environments and their conversion for agricultural use, as well as human population growth, may affect mosquito populations and increase the risk of emerging or re-emerging mosquito-borne diseases. We report on the variety and number of adult mosquitoes found in four environments with varying degrees of human impact (rural, urban, rice fields, and forest) located in a savannah zone of West Africa.

Leptospirosis Cases among Outpatients with Non-Malaria Fever Attending Primary Care Clinics during the Rainy Season in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

Leptospirosis is presumably an important cause of non-malarial fever in West Africa. In this study, outpatients consulting in primary care clinics during the rainy season were tested for leptospirosis, and clinical characteristics associated with leptospirosis cases were explored. Patients with fever ≥ 39°C were recruited in nine primary health care centers in Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso).

Facilitators and barriers to infant post-natal HIV prophylaxis, a qualitative sub-study of the PROMISE-EPI trial in Lusaka, Zambia.

Background: Infant post-natal prophylaxis (PNP) is used to prevent HIV transmission through breastfeeding. The WHO edited recommendations but so far there is no consensus on the duration of prophylaxis and the type of drug used depends on national guidelines. In Zambia, the national recommendations include a three-drug prophylaxis, composed of a dispersible combined tablet of zidovudine (AZT) and lamivudine (3TC) and an oral suspension of nevirapine (NVP) for 12 weeks or until the mother's viral load is <1,000 cp/mL.

Differential effects of Usutu and West Nile viruses on neuroinflammation, immune cell recruitment and blood-brain barrier integrity.

Usutu (USUV) and West Nile (WNV) viruses are two closely related belonging to Japanese encephalitis virus serogroup. Evidence of increased circulation of these two arboviruses now exist in Europe. Neurological disorders are reported in humans mainly for WNV, despite the fact that the interaction and effects of viral infections on the neurovasculature are poorly described, notably for USUV.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV at the second immunization visit: a cross-sectional study, Burkina Faso.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of the cascade of activities for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the second immunization visit in Burkina Faso.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we recruited mothers attending the second immunization visit for their infant in 20 health centres of Bobo-Dioulasso city, Burkina Faso over 12 months (2019-2020). We administered a short questionnaire to 14 176 mothers and performed HIV serological tests on mothers who had not been tested in the last 3 months.

Screening of Circulation of Usutu and West Nile Viruses: A One Health Approach in Humans, Domestic Animals and Mosquitoes in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Usutu virus (USUV) and West Nile virus (WNV) are phylogenetically closely related arboviruses. These viruses mainly follow an enzootic cycle involving mosquitoes and birds, but they occasionally infect humans and other mammals, inducing neurotropic disorders. Since the discovery of USUV, only two human cases have been reported in Africa, including one in Burkina Faso in 2004.

Evaluation of post-infectious inflammatory reactions in a retrospective study of 3 common invasive bacterial infections in pediatrics.

Infectious diseases can result in unanticipated post-infectious inflammatory reactions (PIIR). Our aim was to explore PIIR in 3 frequent pediatric bacterial invasive infections in France by a retrospective monocentric study. We included children hospitalized between 2003 and 2012 for Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP), Neisseria meningitidis (NM), or Streptococcus pyogenes invasive infections.

Antibody response after first and second BNT162b2 vaccination to predict the need for subsequent injections in nursing home residents.

We explored antibody response after first and second BNT162b2 vaccinations, to predict the need for subsequent injections in nursing home (NH) residents. 369 NH residents were tested for IgG against SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD-IgG) and nucleoprotein-IgG (SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant and SARS-CoV-2 IgG Alinity assays, Abbott Diagnostics). In NH residents with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, the first dose elicited high RBD-IgG levels (≥ 4160 AU/mL) in 99/129 cases (76.

Novel Lateral Flow-Based Assay for Simple and Visual Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Mutations.

Identification of the main SARS-CoV-2 variants in real time is of interest to control the virus and to rapidly devise appropriate public health responses. The RT-qPCR is currently considered to be the reference method to screen SARS-CoV-2 mutations, but it has some limitations. The multiplexing capability is limited when the number of markers to detect increases.

Long-Term Persistence of Mitochondrial DNA Instability in HIV-Exposed Uninfected Children during and after Exposure to Antiretroviral Drugs and HIV.

HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children show impaired health outcomes during childhood. A high rate of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) instability was reported in the blood of HEU at birth. We aimed to explore the relationship between these health outcomes and mtDNA deletions over time in a case series of 24 HEU children.

Serological Evidence of Zika Virus Circulation in Burkina Faso.

Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) are two closely related members of the family, both transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus , and are among the arboviruses most at risk to human health. Burkina Faso has been facing an upsurge in DENV outbreaks since 2013. Unlike DENV, there is no serological evidence of ZIKV circulation in humans in Burkina Faso.