Blood-Borne Chronic Viral Infections in a Large Cohort of Immigrants in Southern Italy

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Coppola ◽  
Caterina Monari ◽  
Loredana Alessio ◽  
Lorenzo Onorato ◽  
Luciano Gualderi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Large Cohort ◽  
Chronic Viral Infections

Blood-borne chronic viral infections in a large cohort of immigrants in southern Italy: A seven-centre, prospective, screening study

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 101551
Author(s):  
Nicola Coppola ◽  
Caterina Monari ◽  
Loredana Alessio ◽  
Lorenzo Onorato ◽  
Luciano Gualdieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Southern Italy ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Large Cohort ◽  
Chronic Viral Infections ◽  
Screening Study

scholarly journals Aging and Options to Halt Declining Immunity to Virus Infections

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Ángel Palacios-Pedrero ◽  
Albert D. M. E. Osterhaus ◽  
Tanja Becker ◽  
Husni Elbahesh ◽  
Guus F. Rimmelzwaan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Adaptive Immunity ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Innate And Adaptive Immunity ◽  
Chronic Viral Infections

Immunosenescence is a process associated with aging that leads to dysregulation of cells of innate and adaptive immunity, which may become dysfunctional. Consequently, older adults show increased severity of viral and bacterial infections and impaired responses to vaccinations. A better understanding of the process of immunosenescence will aid the development of novel strategies to boost the immune system in older adults. In this review, we focus on major alterations of the immune system triggered by aging, and address the effect of chronic viral infections, effectiveness of vaccination of older adults and strategies to improve immune function in this vulnerable age group.

scholarly journals Complementary Effects of Interleukin-15 and Alpha Interferon Induce Immunity in Hepatitis B Virus Transgenic Mice

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (19) ◽  
pp. 8563-8574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Di Scala ◽  
Itziar Otano ◽  
Irene Gil-Fariña ◽  
Lucia Vanrell ◽  
Mirja Hommel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Hepatitis ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Chronic Viral Infections ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Interleukin 15

ABSTRACTIn chronic hepatitis B (CHB), failure to control hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with T cell dysfunction. HBV transgenic mice mirror many features of the human disease, including T cell unresponsiveness, and thus represent an appropriate model in which to test novel therapeutic strategies. To date, the tolerant state of CD8+T cells in these animals could be altered only by strong immunogens or by immunization with HBV antigen-pulsed dendritic cells; however, the effectors induced were unable to suppress viral gene expression or replication. Because of the known stimulatory properties of alpha interferon (IFN-α) and interleukin-15 (IL-15), this study explored the therapeutic potential of liver-directed gene transfer of these cytokines in a murine model of CHB using adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery. This combination not only resulted in a reduction in the viral load in the liver and the induction of an antibody response but also gave rise to functional and specific CD8+immunity. Furthermore, when splenic and intrahepatic lymphocytes from IFN-α- and IL-15-treated animals were transferred to new HBV carriers, partial antiviral immunity was achieved. In contrast to previous observations made using either cytokine alone, markedly attenuated PD-L1 induction in hepatic tissue was observed upon coadministration. An initial study with CHB patient samples also gave promising results. Hence, we demonstrated synergy between two stimulating cytokines, IL-15 and IFN-α, which, given together, constitute a potent approach to significantly enhance the CD8+T cell response in a state of immune hyporesponsiveness. Such an approach may be useful for treating chronic viral infections and neoplastic conditions.IMPORTANCEWith 350 million people affected worldwide and 600,000 annual deaths due to HBV-induced liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a major health problem. However, current treatment options are costly and not very effective and/or need to be administered for life. The unprecedented efficacy of the strategy described in our paper may offer an alternative and is relevant for a broad spectrum of readers because of its clear translational importance to other chronic viral infections in which a hyporesponsive antigen-specific T cell repertoire prevents clearance of the pathogen.

scholarly journals GB Virus C E2 Inhibits PD-1-Mediated T Cell Signaling Dysfunction during Chronic Viral Infection

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Nirjal Bhattarai ◽  
Jennifer L. Welch ◽  
Jinhua Xiang ◽  
Muthu Saravanan Manoharan ◽  
Jeffrey A. Martinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Activated T Cells ◽  
E2 Protein ◽  
Gb Virus C ◽  
Cell Dysfunction ◽  
Chronic Viral Infections ◽  
T Cell Dysfunction ◽  
Virus C

Background: Program death receptor 1 (PD-1) is a co-inhibitory receptor that is upregulated and contributes to T cell dysfunction (exhaustion) during chronic viral infections, including HIV and HCV. GB virus C (GBV-C) is a persistent human virus, and co-infection is associated with reduced immune activation and improved clinical outcomes in HIV- and Ebola-infected individuals. Methods: PD-1 levels were measured by flow cytometry on CD38+ T cells from 45 HIV-infected individuals, 20 of whom were co-infected with GBV-C. Jurkat cell lines that stably express GBV-C E2 protein and vector control were used to purify total cellular RNA before, and 24 h following, activation using anti-CD3/CD28 treatment. Gene expression was analyzed by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR. Results: HIV-infected individuals with GBV-C viremia had reduced PD-1 expression on activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells compared to HIV-infected GBV-C negative individuals. GBV-C particles and GBV-C E2 protein each inhibited PD-1 expression on T cells in vitro. Consistent with this, GBV-C E2 reduced gene expression of PD-1, and its ligand PD-L1, in both resting and activated T cells. GBV-C E2 regulated transcription of the PD-1 signaling pathway and T cell activation associated genes, without downregulation of the interferon-stimulated and innate immunity-related genes needed to resolve viral infections. Conclusions: Our current understanding of chronic RNA virus infections is that upregulation of PD-1 with T cell exhaustion is critical for viral persistence. However, these data demonstrate that GBV-C infection reduced PD-1 expression on activated T cells during HIV infection, and that the GBV-C E2 protein inhibits PD-1 signaling in T cells. This may preserve T cell function and contribute to the lack of immune deficiency in people with chronic GBV-C infection. Understanding the mechanisms by which GBV-C E2 alters PD-1 signaling may aid in the development of novel immunomodulatory therapeutics to prevent T cell dysfunction (exhaustion) during chronic viral infections.

scholarly journals AGING WITH HEMOPHILIA: THE CHALLENGE OF APPROPRIATE DRUG PRESCRIPTION

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e2019056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pier Mannuccio Mannucci
Keyword(s):  
Viral Infections ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Drug Prescription ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Inappropriate Drugs ◽  
Chronic Viral Infections ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
Hemophilia Treatment Centers ◽  
Drugs Interaction

In high-income countries persons with severe hemophilia (PWH) A and B are aging, like their age-matched peers without hemophilia from the general population. Aging is associated not only with the comorbidities stemming from their inherited bleeding disorder (arthropathy, chronic viral infections such as hepatitis and AIDS) but also with the multiple chronic ailments associated with aging (cancer, cardiovascular disease, COPD).  Multimorbidity is inevitably associated with polypharmacy, i.e., the chronic daily intake of at least five drugs, and with the related risk of severe adverse events associated with the use of inappropriate drugs and drug-drug interactions. Information on the pattern of drug prescription and usage by PWH is relatively scanty, but on the whole, the available data indicate that the rate of polypharmacy, as well as the risk of drug-drug interaction, is relatively low in PWH and better than that in their age peers without hemophilia followed by general practitioners. It is believed that this advantage results from the collaborative coordination on drug prescribing exerted, through their integration with practitioners and organ specialists, by specialized hemophilia treatment centers in the frame of comprehensive care programs. However, the available cross-sectional data were mainly obtained in relatively young PWH, so that there is a need to obtain more accurate data from the ongoing prospective studies that are being carried out in more and more progressively aging PWH.    Keywords: Hemophilia; Aging; Comorbidity; Drugs Interaction.  

scholarly journals Usefulness of Simultaneous Screening for HIV- and Hepatitis C–Specific Antibodies and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen by Capillary-Based Multiplex Immunochromatographic Rapid Test to Strengthen Prevention Strategies and Linkage to Care in Childbearing-Aged Women Living in Resource-Limited Settings

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph-Sydney Mboumba Bouassa ◽  
Zita Aleyo Nodjikouambaye ◽  
Damtheou Sadjoli ◽  
Ali Mahamat Moussa ◽  
Chatte Adawaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Surface Antigen ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Linkage To Care ◽  
Chronic Viral Infections ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
B Virus

Abstract Childbearing-aged women (n = 266) attending a gynecological clinic in Chad were subjected to multiplex immunochromatographic rapid test for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Ten (3.7%) and 8 (3.0%) were seropositive for HIV and HCV, respectively, and 20 (7.5%) for HBV surface antigen, allowing diagnosis of chronic viral infections in 1 of 7 (14.3%) women.

PATHOGENESIS OF IMMUNE COMPLEX GLOMERULONEPHRITIS OF NEW ZEALAND MICE

1971 ◽  
Vol 134 (3) ◽  
pp. 65-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank J. Dixon ◽  
Michael B. A. Oldstone ◽  
Giorgio Tonietti
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Immune Complex ◽  
Antibody Formation ◽  
Antinuclear Antibody ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Viral Antigens ◽  
Chronic Viral Infections ◽  
Nuclear Antigens ◽  
Antigen Antibody

Observations based on elution of IgG from nephritic kidneys of NZ mice and absorption of the eluted IgG with selected antigens indicate that their immune complex nephritis involves at least two kinds of antigen-antibody complexes. Antibodies reactive with nuclear antigens account for nearly half of the IgG eluted from the kidneys while antibodies reactive with Gross viral antigens make up a significant but lesser amount. Superimposed chronic viral infections affect the nephritis of NZ mice in different ways. LCM and polyoma infections hasten and intensify the antinuclear antibody responses and glomerulonephritis of these mice while LDV infection appears to protect against both antinuclear antibody formation and development of nephritis.

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