Age and Latent Cytomegalovirus Infection Do Not Affect the Magnitude of De Novo SARS-CoV-2-Specific CD8 T Cell Responses.

Immunosenescence, age-related immune dysregulation, reduces immunity upon vaccinations and infections. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection results in declining naïve (T) and increasing terminally differentiated (T) T cell populations, further aggravating immune aging. Both immunosenescence and CMV have been speculated to hamper the formation of protective T-cell immunity against novel or emerging pathogens.

Vaginal Prevotella timonensis Bacteria Enhance HIV-1 Uptake and Differentially Affect Transmission by Distinct Primary Dendritic Cell Subsets.

Young females are at high risk of acquiring HIV-1 infections and an imbalance in the vaginal microbiome enhances susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. More insights into the underlying mechanisms could open up new strategies to prevent HIV-1 acquisition and dissemination. Here, we investigated the effect of anaerobic bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) on HIV-1 transmission by two distinct dendritic cell (DC) subsets, that is, inflammatory monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) and primary CD1c DCs.

Lymphoma-on-chip model reveals that lymph node stromal cells promote diffuse large B-cell lymphoma survival and migration.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, often developing resistance to current treatments. Development and testing of new therapies is hampered by lack of good and models mimicking human disease. Here, we developed a lymphoma-on-chip model to investigate the tumor-supportive roles of lymph node stromal cells (LNSCs) - fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) and lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) - in the DLBCL microenvironment.

Zika virus: an overview update.

Purpose Of Review: Although cases of Zika virus disease (ZVD) have declined globally since 2017, new outbreaks have been reported, such as in Asia in 2024. As there is no vaccine or treatment available to date, both vaccines and mAbs neutralizing Zika virus would be of great interest, especially for pregnant women and immunocompromised patients such as those living with HIV. This review focuses on new insights regarding ZVD in the last two years and summarizes the key literature on global epidemiology, transmission, diagnostics, clinical features, preventive measures, and treatment options.

Cholesterol homeostasis and lipid raft dynamics at the basis of tumor-induced immune dysfunction in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Autologous T-cell therapies show limited efficacy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), where acquired immune dysfunction prevails. In CLL, disturbed mitochondrial metabolism has been linked to defective T-cell activation and proliferation. Recent research suggests that lipid metabolism regulates mitochondrial function and differentiation in T cells, yet its role in CLL remains unexplored.

Lymph node fibroblast-produced extracellular matrix shapes immune function.

Lymph node (LN) fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are key regulators of mammalian adaptive immune responses. Together with their deposited extracellular matrix (ECM), FRCs form a reticular network that provides mechanical strength to LNs. Furthermore, the ECM regulates various cell functions including proliferation and differentiation.

Impact of increased diagnosis of early HIV infection and immediate antiretroviral treatment initiation on HIV transmission among men who have sex with men in the Netherlands.

The number of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Netherlands has been decreasing, but additional efforts are required to bring it further down. This study aims to assess the impact of increased diagnosis of early HIV infection combined with immediate antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation on reducing HIV transmission among MSM. We developed an agent-based model calibrated to HIV surveillance and sexual behavior data for MSM in the Netherlands in 2017-2022.

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 antibody repertoire after successive mRNA vaccinations under immunosuppressive treatment.

Background: Repeated antigen exposure can result in a shifting antibody repertoire. The mechanisms by which this occurs and consequences for cross-variant protection against evolving pathogens remain incompletely understood, particularly in the context of immunosuppressive treatments used in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).

Methods: To investigate this, we characterised longitudinal changes in the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody repertoire over the course of three SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations in patients with IMIDs treated with methotrexate (MTX) and/or tumour necrosis factor-inhibitors (TNFi), anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, no systemic therapy, and healthy controls (total N = 878).

Congenital malaria in newborns of mothers living in highly endemic parts of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Congenital malaria, characterised by low parasitaemia in newborns' peripheral blood, is difficult to diagnose by conventional techniques. Owing to its high sensitivity, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows for effective detection of low-density plasmodium infections. This study determined the prevalence of congenital malaria by PCR in newborns of mothers living in a malaria-endemic area of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Intermittent screening using ultra-sensitive malaria rapid diagnostic test and treatment with pyronaridine-artesunate compared to standard preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prevention in pregnant women in Kinshasa, DRC.

Background: The declining effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) due to the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance highlights the need for alternative malaria prevention strategies in pregnant women. A novel approach was proposed: screening with an ultra-sensitive rapid diagnostic test and treating positive with pyronaridine-artesunate (ISTp-uRDT-PA). This trial compared the impact of both strategies on maternal malaria and anaemia, abortion, intrauterine death, birth weight, preterm delivery.

Virological and serological outcomes in people with HIV-HBV coinfection who had discontinued tenofovir-containing antiretroviral therapy: Results from a prospective cohort study.

Background And Aims: Given advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), some people with HIV are transitioned to non-tenofovir-containing ART; the implications for people with HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV) are unknown. We characterized HBV-related outcomes in people with HIV-HBV coinfection while not taking tenofovir-containing ART.

Methods: We analyzed participants from the French HIV-HBV Cohort Study in three treatment groups: (1) continuous tenofovir; (2) discontinued tenofovir; (3) never initiated tenofovir.

A Longitudinal Description of the Health-Related Quality of Life Among Individuals at High Risk After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Dutch Multicenter Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data post-COVID-19 in patients with medical conditions associated with severe disease are lacking. Here, we assess the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 on HRQoL and employment status in individuals at high risk.

Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study included individuals at high risk for severe disease who were hospitalized or not-hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection (September 2021-February 2024).

Deep profiling of B cells responding to various pathogens uncovers compartments in IgG memory B cell and antibody-secreting lineages.

Improving our understanding of B cell transition to memory B cells (MBCs) and antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) is crucial for clinical monitoring and vaccine strategies. To explore these dynamics, we compared prepandemic antigen responses (influenza hemagglutinin, respiratory syncytial virus fusion glycoprotein, and tetanus toxoid) with recently encountered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen responses in convalescent COVID-19 patients using spectral flow cytometry. Our analysis revealed the CD43+CD71+IgG+ activated B cell subset, highly enriched for SARS-CoV-2 specificities, as a juncture for ASC and MBC differentiation, with CD86+ phenotypically similar to ASCs and CD86- to IgG+ MBCs.

Time to direct-acting antivirals initiation and liver-related events in people with HIV and Hepatitis C virus.

Objective: People with HIV-HCV co-infection need antiretroviral treatment (ART) to suppress HIV and direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to cure HCV. ART is typically prioritized, but delays in DAA initiation may increase the risk of liver-related events and HCV transmission to others.

Design: Target trial emulation with observational data collected in routine clinical practice from a collaboration of cohorts from Europe and North America.

Soluble CD14 and IL-12p70 on early ART predict HIV load setpoint after treatment interruption.

Objective: After analytical treatment interruption (ATI), viral rebound occurs in most people with HIV. The time to viral rebound (TTVR) is likely determined by the properties of the viral reservoir as well as the anti-viral immune response. Soluble biomarkers of immune activation may be predictive of TTVR and plasma viral load (pVL) setpoint after ATI.

Travellers' adherence to atovaquone/proguanil malaria chemoprophylaxis after return from endemic areas.

Background: According to current guidelines, atovaquone/proguanil (AP) malaria chemoprophylaxis is taken once daily during travel, and continued for seven days after return from malaria-endemic areas. However, pharmacokinetic data and studies on drug-sparing AP regimens suggest that AP could possibly be discontinued upon return without loss of protection. Besides being more cost-effective, shorter AP regimens may enhance adherence.

Inflammatory microglia correlate with impaired oligodendrocyte maturation in multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Remyelination of demyelinated axons can occur as an endogenous repair mechanism in multiple sclerosis (MS), but its efficacy varies between both MS individuals and lesions. The molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive remyelination remain poorly understood. Here, we studied the relation between microglia activation and remyelination activity in MS.

High Prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Found in Well-Treated People with HIV after the Introduction of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

People with HIV (PWH) are at greater risk of experiencing mental health problems, such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of our study was to determine the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder PTSD in PWH. PWH in care Amsterdam University Medical center (Amsterdam UMC) with access to the electronic patient portal were offered patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) between May 2022 and May 2023, including the PC-PTSD-5 screen for PTSD as part of routine clinical care.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination status in six ethnic groups in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May to November 2022.

We studied severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and vaccination status among six ethnic groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We analysed participants of the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting cohort who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies between 17 May and 21 November 2022. We categorized participants with antibodies as only infected, only vaccinated (≥1 dose), or both infected and vaccinated, based on self-reported prior infection and vaccination status and previous seroprevalence data.

Wall teichoic acid glycosylation of bovine-associated Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the major causes of bovine mastitis, a disease with detrimental effects on health and wellbeing. Current control measures are costly, laborious and not always effective in eradicating S.

Gut bacterium Intestinimonas butyriciproducens improves host metabolic health: evidence from cohort and animal intervention studies.

Background: The human gut microbiome strongly influences host metabolism by fermenting dietary components into metabolites that signal to the host. Our previous work has shown that Intestinimonas butyriciproducens is a prevalent commensal bacterium with the unique ability to convert dietary fructoselysine to butyrate, a well-known signaling molecule with proven health benefits. Dietary fructoselysine is an abundant Amadori product formed in foods during thermal treatment and is part of foods rich in dietary advanced glycation end products which have been associated with cardiometabolic disease.

Reevaluating Anti-Inflammatory Therapy: Targeting Senescence to Balance Anti-Cancer Efficacy and Vascular Disease.

Modulating immune function is a critical strategy in cancer and atherosclerosis treatments. For cancer, boosting or maintaining the immune system is crucial to prevent tumor growth. However, in vascular disease, mitigating immune responses can decrease inflammation and slow atherosclerosis progression.

Generation of Bona Fide Human Induced Trophoblast Stem Cells by Direct Reprogramming of Term Umbilical Cord Cells.

Placentation disorders, including severe preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, have their origins in early pregnancy, whereas symptoms typically present later on. To investigate the pathogenesis of these diseases, there is a need for a reliable in vitro model system of early placenta development with known pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, we optimized the generation of human induced trophoblast stem cells (iTSCs) from term umbilical cord, enabling non-invasive collection of patient-derived material immediately after birth.