Characterizing populations prioritized for PrEP in 19 African countries: a review of national guidance.

Introduction: While African countries have expanded access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) since 2015, regional targets for PrEP uptake remain unmet. Understanding which populations are prioritized for PrEP at the policy level is an important step in determining the scope of PrEP distribution across Africa and identifying gaps in programme implementation. We reviewed national guidance to characterize populations prioritized for PrEP in Africa.

Predictors of maternal HIV acquisition during pregnancy and lactation in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Objectives: To eliminate vertical transmission of HIV, global institutions recommend using a risk-guided approach for HIV prevention services in antenatal and postnatal settings. Identifying predictors of maternal HIV acquisition can inform the development of risk-guided approaches, but individual studies of predictors can have limited power and generalizability.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and narrative synthesis to identify common predictors of maternal HIV acquisition in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Evaluating the impact of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis on pregnancy, infant, and maternal health outcomes in Malawi: PrIMO study protocol.

Background: Incident HIV during the perinatal period significantly impedes elimination of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission (eMTCT) efforts. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively reduces HIV acquisition, and new agents like injectable Cabotegravir (CAB-LA) offer potential advantages for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The Pregnancy, Infant, and Maternal health Outcomes (PrIMO) study will compare rates of composite adverse pregnancy outcomes, and infant adverse events, growth and neurodevelopment between mother-infant dyads receiving CAB-LA and those receiving oral PrEP in Malawi.

Microscopic and molecular prevalence and associated risk factors with Toxocara and Blastocystis infection in dogs and cats in Mitidja, Algeria.

Domestic dogs and cats can serve as a source of environmental contamination with Toxocara spp. and Blastocystis spp., and this represents a neglected public and veterinary health problem.

Molecular Dynamics of Outer Membrane-Embedded Polysaccharide Secretion Porins Reveals Closed Resting-State Surface Gates Targetable by Virtual Fragment Screening for Drug Hotspot Identification.

Recent advances in iterative neural network analyses (e.g., AlphaFold2 and RoseTTA fold) have been revolutionary for protein 3D structure prediction, especially for difficult-to-manipulate α-helical/β-barrel integral membrane proteins.

The Association Between Breastfeeding and Growth Among Infants with Moderately Low Birth Weight: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess the association between breastfeeding competency, as determined by Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, and Hold (LATCH) and Preterm Infant Breastfeeding Behavior Scale (PIBBS) scores, and exclusive breastfeeding and growth among infants with low birth weight (LBW) in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Study Design: We conducted LATCH and PIBBS assessments among mother-infant dyads enrolled in the Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration (LIFE) observational study of infants with moderately LBW (1500g-2499 g) in India, Malawi, and Tanzania. We analyzed feeding and growth patterns among this cohort.

Characterisation of field tropical Theileriosis and associated risk factors in two bioclimatic areas of Algeria.

Tropical theileriosis (TT) is a tick-borne disease caused by Theileria annulata and commonly infects cattle in tropical and subtropical regions, including Algeria. It is a significant obstacle to cattle breeding programs established to improve production in Algeria. The present investigation aimed to estimate the current molecular prevalence, risk factors, and genetic characterisation of T.

Facilitators, barriers, and key influencers of breastfeeding among low birthweight infants: a qualitative study in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Background: Low birthweight (LBW) infants are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Exclusive breastfeeding up to six months is recommended to help them thrive through infection prevention, growth improvements, and enhancements in neurodevelopment. However, limited data exist on the feeding experiences of LBW infants, their caregivers and key community influencers.

Metabolomic profiling of preterm birth in pregnant women living with HIV.

Background: Preterm birth is a leading cause of death in children under the age of five. The risk of preterm birth is increased by maternal HIV infection as well as by certain antiretroviral regimens, leading to a disproportionate burden on low- and medium-income settings where HIV is most prevalent. Despite decades of research, the mechanisms underlying spontaneous preterm birth, particularly in resource limited areas with high HIV infection rates, are still poorly understood and accurate prediction and therapeutic intervention remain elusive.

A Patient-Centered, Combination Intervention to Support Adherence to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: A Randomized Pilot Study in Malawi.

Background: Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV incidence in pregnant and breastfeeding women, but adherence is essential.

Methods: We conducted a pilot randomized trial to evaluate an intervention package to enhance antenatal and postnatal PrEP use in Lilongwe, Malawi. The intervention was based on patient-centered counseling adapted from previous PrEP studies, with the option of a participant-selected adherence supporter.

Male partners' support and influence on pregnant women's oral PrEP use and adherence in Malawi.

Introduction: Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a safe and effective HIV prevention method for pregnant and postpartum women, but adherence barriers exist. Understanding the role of male partners in supporting PrEP use may inform strategies to support PrEP adherence among pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Methods: To understand male partners' involvement in women's use of PrEP, we conducted in-depth interviews with pregnant women in Lilongwe, Malawi who had recently decided to use PrEP ( = 30) and their male partners ( = 20) in the context of a PrEP adherence trial.

Lessons learned in implementing the Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration study: A large, multi-site observational study.

Objective: Globally, early and optimal feeding practices and strategies for small and vulnerable infants are limited. We aim to share the challenges faced and implementation lessons learned from a complex, mixed methods research study on infant feeding.

Design: A formative, multi-site, observational cohort study using convergent parallel, mixed-methods design.

Combination HIV prevention during pregnancy and the post-partum period in Malawi and Zambia: a mathematical modelling analysis.

Introduction: Despite widespread success in reducing vertical HIV transmission, most antenatal care (ANC) programmes in eastern and southern Africa have not emphasized primary prevention of maternal HIV acquisition during pregnancy and lactation/breastfeeding. We hypothesized that combination HIV prevention interventions initiated alongside ANC could substantially reduce maternal HIV incidence.

Methods: We constructed a multi-state model describing male-to-female HIV transmission in steady heterosexual partnerships during pregnancy and lactation/breastfeeding, with initial conditions based on population distribution estimates for Malawi and Zambia in 2020.

Acceptability of a Combination Adherence Strategy to Support HIV Antiretroviral Therapy and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Adherence During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Malawi.

In two parallel pilot studies, we implemented a combination adherence intervention of patient-centered counselling and adherence supporter training, tailored to support HIV treatment (i.e., antiretroviral therapy) or prevention (i.

Changes in moderately low birthweight infant feeding, care, and health outcomes before compared to during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the measures taken to minimise its spread have significantly impacted mother- and infant-related healthcare. We describe the changes in newborn feeding, lactation support, and growth outcomes before compared to during the COVID-19 pandemic among moderately low birthweight infants (LBW) (1.5 to <2.

Facility-based care for moderately low birthweight infants in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Globally, increasing rates of facility-based childbirth enable early intervention for small vulnerable newborns. We describe health system-level inputs, current feeding, and discharge practices for moderately low birthweight (MLBW) infants (1500-<2500g) in resource-constrained settings. The Low Birthweight Infant Feeding Exploration study is a mixed methods observational study in 12 secondary- and tertiary-level facilities in India, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Strategies to increase couples HIV testing and counselling in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

Introduction: Couple HIV testing and counselling (CHTC) is associated with measurable benefits for HIV prevention and treatment. However, the uptake remains limited in much of sub-Saharan Africa, despite an expanded range of strategies designed to promote access.

Methods: Following PRIMSA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review to characterize CHTC uptake strategies.

Unmasking of the von Willebrand A-domain surface adhesin CglB at bacterial focal adhesions mediates myxobacterial gliding motility.

The predatory deltaproteobacterium Myxococcus xanthus uses a helically-trafficked motor at bacterial focal-adhesion (bFA) sites to power gliding motility. Using total internal reflection fluorescence and force microscopies, we identify the von Willebrand A domain-containing outer-membrane (OM) lipoprotein CglB as an essential substratum-coupling adhesin of the gliding transducer (Glt) machinery at bFAs. Biochemical and genetic analyses reveal that CglB localizes to the cell surface independently of the Glt apparatus; once there, it is recruited by the OM module of the gliding machinery, a heteroligomeric complex containing the integral OM β barrels GltA, GltB, and GltH, as well as the OM protein GltC and OM lipoprotein GltK.

Feeding practices and growth patterns of moderately low birthweight infants in resource-limited settings: results from a multisite, longitudinal observational study.

Objectives: To describe the feeding profile of low birthweight (LBW) infants in the first half of infancy; and to examine growth patterns and early risk factors of poor 6-month growth outcomes.

Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting And Participants: Stable, moderately LBW (1.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Treatment and Prevention for Pregnant and Postpartum Women in Global Settings.

Efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have led to dramatic reductions in pediatric HIV worldwide. New advances in HIV treatment and prevention, focused on pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV, have improved maternal health while decreasing vertical and horizontal HIV transmission. In this article, we describe how such interventions-including antiretroviral therapy and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis-can be incorporated into antepartum and postpartum care in global settings.