Large-scale releases and establishment of wMel Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes throughout the Cities of Bello, Medellín and Itagüí, Colombia.

Background: The wMel strain of Wolbachia has been successfully introduced into Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and has been shown to reduce the transmission of dengue and other Aedes-borne viruses. Here we report the entomological results from phased, large-scale releases of Wolbachia infected Ae. aegypti mosquitoes throughout three contiguous cities located in the Aburrá Valley, Colombia.

Improving Deproteinization in Colombian Latex from : A Bibliometric Approximation.

Natural Rubber Field Latex (NRFL) allergens restrict its use in some markets due to health-threatening allergic reactions. These molecules are proteins that are related to asymptomatic sensitization and hypersensitivity mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE). Although NRFL allergens have been investigated since the 1980s, there are still gaps in knowledge regarding the development of deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR).

Calcitriol decreases HIV-1 transfer in vitro from monocyte-derived dendritic cells to CD4 + T cells, and downregulates the expression of DC-SIGN and SIGLEC-1.

Dendritic cells (DCs) promote HIV-1 transmission by acting as Trojan horses, capturing viral particles, facilitating the infection of CD4+ T-cells. Vitamin D (VitD) has shown to decrease T cell activation, reducing susceptibility to HIV-1 infection of CD4+ T-cells in vitro; however, if VitD decreases viral transfer from DCs to CD4+ T-cells is unknown. In this study, we co-cultured HIV-1-pulsed immature and LPS mature monocytes-derived DCs (iDCs and LmDCs, respectively), differentiated in presence or absence of calcitriol (VitD active form), with PHA-activated autologous CD4+ T-cells from 16 healthy donors.

Regulated Intramembrane Proteolysis of ACE2: A Potential Mechanism Contributing to COVID-19 Pathogenesis?

Since being identified as a key receptor for SARS-CoV-2, Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been studied as one of the potential targets for the development of preventative and/or treatment options. Tissue expression of ACE2 and the amino acids interacting with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 have been mapped. Furthermore, the recombinant soluble extracellular domain of ACE2 is already in phase 2 trials as a treatment for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Vitamin D treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells modulated immune activation and reduced susceptibility to HIV-1 infection of CD4+ T lymphocytes.

Introduction: Mucosal immune activation, in the context of sexual transmission of HIV-1 infection, is crucial, as the increased presence of activated T cells enhance susceptibility to infection. In this regard, it has been proposed that immunomodulatory compounds capable of modulating immune activation, such as Vitamin D (VitD) may reduce HIV-1 transmission and might be used as a safe and cost-effective strategy for prevention. Considering this, we examined the in vitro effect of the treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the active form of VitD, calcitriol, on cellular activation, function and susceptibility of CD4+ T cells to HIV-1 infection.

Cholecalciferol modulates the phenotype of differentiated monocyte-derived dendritic cells without altering HIV-1 transfer to CD4+ T cells.

Background Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role during HIV-1 transmission due to their ability to transfer virions to susceptible CD4+ T cells, particularly in the lymph nodes during antigen presentation which favors the establishment of systemic infection. As mature dendritic cells (mDCs) exhibit a greater ability to transfer virions, compared to immature DCs (iDCs), maintenance of an iDC phenotype could decrease viral transmission. The immunomodulatory vitamin D (VitD) has been shown to reduce activation and maturation of DCs; hence, we hypothesized that it would reduce viral transference by DCs.

Mucosa: Key Interactions Determining Sexual Transmission of the HIV Infection.

In the context of HIV sexual transmission at the genital mucosa, initial interactions between the virus and the mucosal immunity determine the outcome of the exposure. Hence, these interactions have been deeply explored in attempts to undercover potential targets for developing preventative strategies. The knowledge gained has led to propose a hypothetical model for mucosal HIV transmission.

Role of Different Subpopulations of CD8 T Cells during HIV Exposure and Infection.

During HIV infection, specific responses exhibited by CD8 T cells are crucial to establish an early, effective, and sustained viral control, preventing severe immune alterations and organ dysfunction. Several CD8 T cells subsets have been identified, exhibiting differences in terms of activation, functional profile, and ability to limit HIV replication. Some of the most important CD8 T cells subsets associated with viral control, production of potent antiviral molecules, and strong polyfunctional responses include Th1-like cytokine pattern and Tc17 cells.

Vitamin D modulates the expression of HLA-DR and CD38 after in vitro activation of T-cells.

Objective: Vitamin D (VitD) is an anti-inflammatory hormone; however, some evidence shows that VitD may induce the expression of activation markers, such as CD38 and HLA-DR. We explored its effect on the expression of these markers on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in vitro, and their potential correlations in vivo.

Materials And Methods: CD38 and HLA-DR expression was measured by flow cytometry in PHA/IL-2-activated mononuclear cells cultured under VitD precursors: three cholecalciferol (10-11M, 10-9M, 10-7M; n=11) and two calcidiol (40 ng/mL, 80 ng/mL; n=9) concentrations.

Particular activation phenotype of T cells expressing HLA-DR but not CD38 in GALT from HIV-controllers is associated with immune regulation and delayed progression to AIDS.

The spontaneous control of HIV replication in HIV-controllers underlines the importance of these subjects for exploring factors related to delayed progression. Several studies have revealed fewer immune alterations and effector mechanisms related to viral control, mainly in peripheral blood, in these individuals compared to normal progressors. However, immune characterization of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), the major target of infection, has not been thoroughly explored in these subjects.

Role of Regulatory T Cells and Inhibitory Molecules in the Development of Immune Exhaustion During Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection.

One of the key hallmarks of chronic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is the persistent immune activation triggered since early stages of the infection, followed by the development of an exhaustion phenomena, which leads to the inability of immune cells to respond appropriately to the virus and other pathogens, constituting the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); this exhausting state is characterized by a loss of effector functions of immune cells such as proliferation, production of cytokine, as well as cytotoxic potential and it has been attributable to an increased response of regulatory T cells and recently also to the expression in different cell populations of inhibitory molecules, such as programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), T cell immunoglobulin-3 (Tim-3), and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3). The importance of these molecules relies on the possibility to restore the immune response once these molecules are blocked, constituting a potential therapeutic target for treatment during HIV infection. In this regard, we explored the available data evaluating the functional role of Treg cells and inhibitory molecules during the infection in both blood and gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and their contribution to the development of immune exhaustion and progression to AIDS, as well as their therapeutic potential.

Higher Frequency of NK and CD4+ T-Cells in Mucosa and Potent Cytotoxic Response in HIV Controllers.

HIV infection induces immune alterations, mainly in gut mucosa, where the main target cells reside. However, the evolution of the infection is variable among infected individuals, as evidenced by HIV controllers who exhibit low or undetectable viral load in the absence of treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency, phenotype and activity of T and NK cells in peripheral blood and gut mucosa in a cohort of Colombian HIV controllers.

Spontaneous HIV Controllers Exhibit Preserved Immune Parameters in Peripheral Blood and Gastrointestinal Mucosa.

Background: HIV infection induces several gradual alterations on the peripheral and mucosal immune systems, with different magnitudes between infected individuals. In this regard, spontaneous HIV controllers exhibit either low or undetectable viral loads in the absence of treatment along with decreased immune alterations compared to HIV progressors. Yet, it is unknown how similar immune peripheral and mucosal parameters are when comparing HIV controllers to uninfected individuals.

High Expression of Antiviral Proteins in Mucosa from Individuals Exhibiting Resistance to Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Several soluble factors have been reported to have the capacity of inhibiting HIV replication at different steps of the virus life cycle, without eliminating infected cells and through enhancement of specific cellular mechanisms. Yet, it is unclear if these antiviral factors play a role in the protection from HIV infection or in the control of viral replication. Here we evaluated two cohorts: i) one of 58 HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (HESNs) who were compared with 59 healthy controls (HCs), and ii) another of 13 HIV-controllers who were compared with 20 HIV-progressors.

Immunological characterization of compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome in patients with severe sepsis: a longitudinal study*.

Objectives: To perform a complete immunological characterization of compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome in patients with sepsis and to explore the relationship between these changes and clinical outcomes of 28-day mortality and secondary infections.

Design: Prospective single-center study conducted between April 2011 and December 2012.

Setting: ICUs from Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación at Medellin, Colombia.

Arteries of the thumb: description of anatomical variations and review of the literature.

Background: Vascular studies of the thumb have reported conflicting results; even the anatomical nomenclature differs between studies. The main purpose of this study was to describe the local patterns of thumb vascular anatomy.

Methods: The authors studied 30 fresh right hands from male and female cadavers using a vascular injection technique with methyl methacrylate.