Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) proviral load induces activation of T-lymphocytes in asymptomatic carriers.

Background: High HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) is mainly found in infected individuals with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). However one third of asymptomatic carriers may have high PVL. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PVL in the activation of T lymphocytes of asymptomatic individuals infected with HTLV-1.

Evidence of a higher prevalence of HPV infection in HTLV-1-infected women: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: HTLV-1 infection increases susceptibility to other infections. Few studies have addressed the co-infection between HPV and HTLV-1 and the immune response involved in this interaction. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cervical HPV infection in HTLV-1-infected women and to establish the risk factors involved in this co-infection.

Candida species isolated from the vaginal mucosa of HIV-infected women in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common vaginal infection. HIV-infection is a risk factor for this infection.

Objective: To determine the frequency of VVC and to describe the main Candida species isolated and their susceptibility to antifungal drugs in HIV-infected patients, compared to HIV-uninfected women in Salvador, Brazil.

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) proviral load of HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients according to new diagnostic criteria of HAM/TSP.

A high human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) proviral load is described in HTLV-1-associated diseases, especially HAM/TSP. However, the cut-off value to define high levels of HTLV-1 proviral load is not well established. 281 HTLV-1-infected patients from the HTLV reference center in Salvador, Brazil, were followed from 2005 to 2008.

[Vaginal infections in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women].

Purpose: to compare the frequency of vulvovaginitis in women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with the frequency in non-infected women.

Methods: a transversal study including 64 HIV infected women and 76 non-infected ones. The frequencies of bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis and trichomoniasis, diagnosed by Amsel's criteria, culture and fresh exam, respectively, were calculated.

Quinoline compounds decrease in vitro spontaneous proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type-1-infected patients.

In vitro spontaneous proliferation is the immunological hallmark of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from HTLV-1-infected individuals. Quinoline compounds down regulate in vitro cell proliferation of HTLV-1 transformed cell lines. In the present study we assessed the capacity of quinolines to inhibit spontaneous cell proliferation of PBMC from HTLV-1-infected individuals.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 have a reduced capacity to respond to recall antigens.

Evidence indicates that human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection leads to chronic immunosuppression and a greater susceptibility to infectious diseases. Spontaneous in vitro proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is an important immunological feature of HTLV-1-infected individuals. However, the association between spontaneous proliferation and immunosuppression is not clear.

Tracing the origin of Brazilian HTLV-1 as determined by analysis of host and viral genes.

We compared the genetic diversity of the Brazilian human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 isolates with those found in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, and with the genetic background of the hosts. The seroprevalence rate in KZN was 1.7%.

Inhibition of HIV-1 infection by monoclonal antibodies to carbohydrates of Schistosoma mansoni.

Patients infected with HIV-1 develop a potent humoral immune response against the virus, but HIV-1 primary isolates are remarkably resistant to neutralizing antibodies. Considering that the envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 (gp120/41) is heavily glycosylated, we investigated whether anti-carbohydrate antibodies could inhibit HIV-1 infection in vitro. We studied the neutralizing activity of three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised to carbohydrates of Schistosoma mansoni, against seven primary isolates of HIV-1.