Mycoplasma hominis increases the risk for Ureaplasma parvum infection in Human immunodeficiency virus infected pregnant women.

Introduction: Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma parvum have been recently linked to sexually transmitted diseases and other conditions. There are a limited number of studies conducted on South African pregnant women that have assessed the prevalence and risk factors for genital mycoplasmas.

Methodology: This study included 264 HIV infected pregnant women attending the King Edward VIII antenatal clinic in eThekwini, South Africa.

Excretory-secretory products from adult helminth have bactericidal activity.

Intestinal helminths and microbiota share the same anatomical niche during infection and are likely to interact either directly or indirectly. Whether intestinal helminths employ bactericidal strategies that influence their microbial environment is not completely understood. In the present study, the hypothesis that the adult hookworm produces molecules that impair bacterial growth , is tested.

Cytokine Gene Expression Profiles during HIV and Helminth Coinfection in Underprivileged Peri-Urban South African Adults.

Background: Intestinal helminth parasites are potent stimulators of T helper type 2 (Th2) and regulatory Th3 anti-inflammatory immune responses, while human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are activators of predominantly T helper type 1(Th1) pro-inflammatory responses. Studies investigating the immune profiles of individuals coinfected with helminths and HIV are scarce. Although it is well known that helminths cause a type 2 immune response during the chronic stage of infection that is characterised by Th2 cell differentiation, eosinophil recruitment, and alternative macrophage activation, the immune mechanisms that regulate tissue damage at the time of parasite invasion are poorly understood.

Cytokine Responses during H37Rv and Costimulation Using Human THP-1 and Jurkat Cells, and a Pilot Human Tuberculosis and Helminth Coinfection Study.

Background: Helminth infections are widespread in tuberculosis-endemic areas and are associated with an increased risk of active tuberculosis. In contrast to the pro-inflammatory Th1 responses elicited by (Mtb) infection, helminth infections induce anti-inflammatory Th2/Treg responses. A robust Th2 response has been linked to reduced tuberculosis protection.

Consequences of mutations missed by the GenoType MTBDR assay in a programmatic setting in South Africa.

Background: Rifampicin resistance missed by commercial rapid molecular assays but detected by phenotypic assays may lead to discordant susceptibility results and affect patient management.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the causes of rifampicin resistance missed by the GenoType MTBDR and its impact on the programmatic management of tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Methods: We analysed routine tuberculosis programme data from January 2014 to December 2014 on isolates showing rifampicin susceptibility on the GenoType MTBDR assay but resistance on the phenotypic agar proportion method.

Demographic profile of HIV and helminth-coinfected adults in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Background: Helminth and HIV infections are endemic among poor populations. Studies investigating the socio-demographic and economic risk factors associated with dual HIV and helminth coinfection are scarce.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe risk factors associated with HIV and helminth coinfections among peri-urban South African adults residing in poorly developed areas with high poverty levels, lack of sanitation and a clean water supply.

Aetiology of genital ulcer disease and associated factors among Mthatha public clinic attendees.

Background: Genital ulcer disease (GUD) is a sexually transmitted disease characterised by ulcerating lesions. Despite the introduction of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) syndromic management approach into primary healthcare in South Africa (SA) in 1995, the prevalence of STIs in South Africa remains high.

Objectives: The study investigated the aetiology of GUD and factors influencing it among public community health centre (CHC) attendees in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Anaemia and Nutritional Status during HIV and Helminth Coinfection among Adults in South Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa is burdened with helminthiasis and HIV/AIDS, and there is a significant overlap between these infections. However, little is known about the extent of anaemia and malnutrition in HIV/AIDS and helminth coinfected adults. The study investigated the anaemia profiles and nutritional status of HIV and helminth coinfected adult South Africans.

Immunological Interactions between Intestinal Helminth Infections and Tuberculosis.

Helminth infections are among the neglected tropical diseases affecting billions of people globally, predominantly in developing countries. Helminths' effects are augmented by coincident tuberculosis disease, which infects a third of the world's population. The role of helminth infections on the pathogenesis and pathology of active tuberculosis (T.

Pyrazinamide resistance in rifampicin discordant tuberculosis.

Introduction: Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with phenotypically susceptible rpoB mutations (rifampicin discordant) have emerged following implementation of rapid molecular drug resistance testing for tuberculosis. Whilst rifampicin resistance is known to be associated with resistance to other rifamycins (rifapentine and rifabutin) as well as isoniazid and pyrazinamide, rifampicin discordant strains have shown high rates of susceptibility to isoniazid and rifabutin. However, pyrazinamide susceptibly testing results have not been reported.

Detection of metronidazole resistance in Trichomonas vaginalis using uncultured vaginal swabs.

Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) globally. Metronidazole is the drug of choice for treating T.

The challenges of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing in low-middle income countries and possible cost-effective measures in resource-limited settings.

Diagnostic testing for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains a challenge around the world, especially in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) with poor socio-economic backgrounds. From the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019 to August 2021, a total of approximately 3.4 billion tests were performed globally.

Mobile genetic elements-mediated Enterobacterales-associated carbapenemase antibiotic resistance genes propagation between the environment and humans: A One Health South African study.

We, (1) studied carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in the environment, humans, and animals, within the same geographical area and, (2) delineated the isolates' resistome, mobilome, virulome, and phylogeny. Following ethical approval, 587 samples (humans = 230, pigs = 345, and water = 12) were collected and cultured on CRE selective media. Confirmatory identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed using the VITEK 2 automated platform.

Lack of resistance to macrolides in detected in South African pregnant women.

Background: Azithromycin regimens have been considered first-line treatment for (), a sexually transmitted infection (STI) associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, recent years have seen rapid emergence of macrolide resistance in as a result of widespread administration of azithromycin. Currently, there are limited data on macrolide resistance in pregnant women from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa.

' does not share common risk factors with other genital pathogens': Findings from a South African pregnant cohort.

Background: The role of () as a genital tract pathogen was still debatable. This study identified the risk factors associated with the prevalence of in South African pregnant women.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of = 221 prenatal patients attending a Durban hospital during November 2017 to April 2018.

Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms, Multilocus Sequence Typing, and NG-STAR Sequence Types of Diverse Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major challenge to managing infectious diseases. Africa has the highest incidence of gonorrhoea, but there is a lack of comprehensive data from sparse surveillance programs. This study investigated the molecular epidemiology and AMR profiles of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates in KwaZulu-Natal province (KZN), South Africa.

SARS-CoV-2 and helminth co-infections, and environmental pollution exposure: An epidemiological and immunological perspective.

Soil-transmitted helminths infect billions of people globally, particularly those residing in low- and middle-income regions with poor environmental sanitation and high levels of air and water pollution. Helminths display potent immunomodulatory activity by activating T helper type 2 (Th2) anti-inflammatory and Th3 regulatory immune responses. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can exacerbate Th1/Th17 pro-inflammatory cytokine production in humans, leading to a cytokine storm.

Transient association between semen exposure and biomarkers of genital inflammation in South African women at risk of HIV infection.

Introduction: Semen induces mucosal changes in the female reproductive tract to improve pregnancy outcomes. Since semen-induced alterations are likely short-lived and genital inflammation is linked to HIV acquisition in women, we investigated the contribution of recent semen exposure on biomarkers of genital inflammation in women at high HIV risk and the persistence of these associations.

Methods: We assessed stored genital specimens from 152 HIV-negative KwaZulu-Natal women who participated in the CAPRISA 008 trial between November 2012 and October 2014.

Epigenetic Regulation of Expression Levels and the Effect on HIV-1 Pathogenesis.

HIV-1 must overcome host antiviral restriction factors for efficient replication. We hypothesized that elevated levels of bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (), a potent host restriction factor that interferes with HIV-1 particle release in some human cells and is antagonized by the viral protein Vpu, may associate with viral control. Using cryopreserved samples, from HIV-1 seronegative and seropositive Black women, we measured expression levels of mRNA using a real-time PCR assay and protein levels were validated by Western blotting.

Performance of TaqMan probes for the detection of sexually transmitted infections in South African women.

and are the four main aetiologies of sexually transmitted infections responsible for vaginal discharge syndrome (VDS). Commercially available multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are expensive and generally not customisable. We evaluated a highly customisable singleplex PCR approach by testing it in parallel with the Anyplex™ II STI-7 detection assay in a cohort of South African women that presented with VDS between May 2016 and January 2017.

Genome Sequences of Five Novel Neisseria gonorrhoeae Sequence Types Isolated in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Africa has the highest incidence of infections globally, but data on these isolates is scarce. Here, we report six genome sequences with five novel sequence types isolated from patients with uncomplicated genitourinary gonorrhea in South Africa.