Breast milk induces the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages, promoting human cytomegalovirus infection.

Unlabelled: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus found in human breast milk that is frequently transmitted from HCMV-seropositive mothers to their infants during the postnatal period. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms underlying HCMV transmission from breast milk and the anatomical location at which virus transfer takes place remain unclear. Breast milk contains many uniquely differentiated macrophages that undergo specific morphological and functional modifications in the mammary gland during lactation.

Molecular Pathogenesis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Disease of Oropharyngeal Mucosal Epithelium.

The oropharyngeal mucosal epithelia have a polarized organization, which is critical for maintaining a highly efficient barrier as well as innate immune functions. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) disease, the barrier and innate immune functions of the oral mucosa are impaired via a number of mechanisms. The goal of this review was to discuss the molecular mechanisms of HIV/AIDS-associated changes in the oropharyngeal mucosa and their role in promoting HIV transmission and disease pathogenesis, notably the development of opportunistic infections, including human cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and Epstein-Barr virus.

The Epstein-Barr Virus Glycoprotein BDLF2 Is Essential for Efficient Viral Spread in Stratified Epithelium.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous human pathogen that infects the majority of the adult population regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location. EBV primarily infects B and epithelial cells and is associated with different cancers of these cell types, such as Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. While the life cycle of EBV in B cells is well understood, EBV infection within epithelium is not, largely due to the inability to model productive replication in epithelium .

HIV-1 Proteins gp120 and Tat Promote Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Invasiveness of HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Neoplastic Genital and Oral Epithelial Cells.

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anogenital and oropharyngeal cancer in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals is substantially higher than in HIV-uninfected individuals. HIV may also be a risk factor for the development of HPV-negative head and neck, liver, lung, and kidney cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying HIV-1-associated increase of epithelial malignancies are not fully understood.

Inactivation of HIV-1 in Polarized Infant Tonsil Epithelial Cells by Human Beta-Defensins 2 and 3 Tagged with the Protein Transduction Domain of HIV-1 Tat.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV-1 may occur during pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding; however, the molecular mechanism of MTCT of virus remains poorly understood. Infant tonsil mucosal epithelium may sequester HIV-1, serving as a transient reservoir, and may play a critical role in MTCT. Innate immune proteins human beta-defensins 2 (hBD-2) and -3 may inactivate intravesicular virions.