Varicella (Human Herpes Virus-3) Vaccine Potential Role Against Herpes (HSV-1/HSV-2) Viruses to Prevent  HIV-1 Pandemic in Sub- Saharan Africa

Background: Synergy exists between DNA and RNA viruses. It was found that the Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV-1) are RNA viruses at the origin of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The DNA recurrent herpes diseases are associated to AIDS virus at the origin of Sub-Saharan cancer AIDS pandemic. Objective: It is speculated that a varicella virus (HHV-3) immune defect could originate HSV- 1/HSV-2 recurrent herpes diseases that can be cured by varicella vaccine (2012). Methods: At a Symposium held in Kampala, Uganda (1962), impressive Sub-Saharan cancer epidemics: Hodgkin lymphomas and Kaposi sarcomas have been reported since the onset of the 20th century and remained unexplained. Over one thousand publications related to these cancer epidemics were presented. For millenniums, Bantu populations have been living in tropical forests close to chimpanzees infected by Simian Immune Deficiency viruses (SIV). SIV became Human Immune Deficiency viruses (HIV-1). AIDS is a zoonosis. Results: The DNA and RNA viruses, herpes with HIV-1 viruses, are correlated to Sub- Saharan AIDS infections. They induce an extensive immune deficiency with other herpes viruses such as HHV-4 and HHV-8, which are linked to lymphomas and Kaposi sarcomas. It is postulated that a primary HHV-3 immune weakness could be linked to herpes partnership with AIDS pandemic. Conclusion: The Oka, anti-HHV-3, varicella vaccine is able to cure HSV1/HSV2 recurrent herpes diseases. It induces a specific increase of the varicella antibodies. Thus varicella vaccination could prevent herpes recurrences in Sub-Saharan Africa. One- child dose varicella vaccine could be proposed as the first step to overcome HHV-3 herpes deficiency in order to prevent AIDS pandemic.

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HSV-1/HSV-2 Infection-Related Cancers in Bantu Populations Driving HIV-1 Prevalence in Africa: Tracking the Origin of AIDS at the Onset of the 20th Century

Case Reports in Oncology ◽

10.1159/000450939 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 815-825

Author(s):

Jacqueline Le Goaster ◽

Patrice Bouree ◽

Franck N. El Sissy ◽

Florence Phuong Bui ◽

Johanna Pokossy Epee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Herpes Simplex Virus ◽

Herpes Simplex ◽

Virus Type ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Simplex Virus ◽

Hiv 1 ◽

Hsv 1

Introduction: At the onset of the 20th century, ancient clinical observations of cancer epidemics in Bantu populations of Sub-Saharan Africa were discovered. They were reported from 1914 to 1960, but remained unexplained. In 1983, in San Francisco, Calif., USA, cancer epidemics were related to infections by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) known as AIDS disease. Yet since 1996, it is known that HIV-1 strains are not the only ones involved. In Sub-Saharan Africa, recurrent orobuccal herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and genital recurrent herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) appeared many times prior to infection by HIV-1. Case Reports: Data on these ancient medical observations regarding African cancer epidemics can today be referred to as the relationship between the unfortunate immune deficiency of herpes in Bantu populations and HIV-1 viral strains. For centuries, the Bantu populations dispersed in forests were living in close proximity to chimpanzees infected by simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and were exposed to SIV contamination which became HIV-1 in human beings. Presently, these unexplained Bantu cancer epidemics can be linked to the viral partnership of HSV-1/HSV-2 to HIV-1 strains. Conclusion: The key issue is now to prevent HSV-1/HSV-2 diseases related to HIV-1. An anti-herpes treatment administered early during childhood to Bantu populations will offer a mean of preventing herpes diseases related to HIV-1 infection and hence avoid cancer epidemics.

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Non-B HIV-1 subtypes in sub-Saharan Africa: impact of subtype on protease inhibitor efficacy

Biological Chemistry ◽

10.1515/hsz-2014-0162 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 395 (10) ◽

pp. 1151-1161 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Previn Naicker ◽

Yasien Sayed

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Resistance Mutations ◽

Subtype C ◽

Subtype B ◽

Aids Pandemic ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Immunodeficiency Syndrome ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract In 2012, 25 million people [71% of global human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection] were estimated to be living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Of these, approximately 1.6 million were new infections and 1.2 million deaths occurred. South Africa alone accounted for 31% of HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. This disturbing statistic indicates that South Africa remains the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, compounded by the fact that only 36% of HIV-positive patients in South Africa have access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. Drug resistance mutations have emerged, and current ARVs show reduced efficacy against non-B subtypes. In addition, several recent studies have shown an increased prevalence of non-B African HIV strains in the Americas and Europe. Therefore, the use of ARVs in a non-B HIV-1 subtype context requires further investigation. HIV-1 subtype C protease, found largely in sub-Saharan Africa, has been under-investigated when compared with the subtype B protease, which predominates in North America and Europe. This review, therefore, focuses on HIV-1 proteases from B and C subtypes.

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Cost effectiveness of single-dose nevirapine regimen for mothers and babies to decrease vertical HIV-1 transmission in sub-Saharan Africa

The Lancet ◽

10.1016/s0140-6736(99)07420-6 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 354 (9185) ◽

pp. 803-809 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

E Marseille

Keyword(s):

Single Dose ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Single Dose Nevirapine ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Hiv 1

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Active Components from Cassia abbreviata Prevent HIV-1 Entry by Distinct Mechanisms of Action

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22095052 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. 5052

Author(s):

Yue Zheng ◽

Xian-Wen Yang ◽

Dominique Schols ◽

Mattia Mori ◽

Bruno Botta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crude Extract ◽

Female Genital Tract ◽

Binding Activity ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Active Components ◽

Chemical Structures ◽

3D Space ◽

In Silico Study ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Hiv 1

Cassia abbreviata is widely used in Sub-Saharan Africa for treating many diseases, including HIV-1 infection. We have recently described the chemical structures of 28 compounds isolated from an alcoholic crude extract of barks and roots ofC. abbreviata, and showed that six bioactive compounds inhibit HIV-1 infection. In the present study, we demonstrate that the six compounds block HIV-1 entry into cells: oleanolic acid, palmitic acid, taxifolin, piceatannol, guibourtinidol-(4α®8)-epiafzelechin, and a novel compound named as cassiabrevone. We report, for the first time, that guibourtinidol-(4α®8)-epiafzelechin and cassiabrevone inhibit HIV-1 entry (IC50 of 42.47 µM and 30.96 µM, respectively), as well as that piceatannol interacts with cellular membranes. Piceatannol inhibits HIV-1 infection in a dual-chamber assay mimicking the female genital tract, as well as HSV infection, emphasizing its potential as a microbicide. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) showed that pharmacophoric groups of piceatannol are strictly required to inhibit HIV-1 entry. By a ligand-based in silico study, we speculated that piceatannol and norartocarpetin may have a very similar mechanism of action and efficacy because of the highly comparable pharmacophoric and 3D space, while guibourtinidol-(4α®8)-epiafzelechin and cassiabrevone may display a different mechanism. We finally show that cassiabrevone plays a major role of the crude extract of CA by blocking the binding activity of HIV-1 gp120 and CD4.

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A Randomized Switch From Nevirapine-Based Antiretroviral Therapy to Single Tablet Rilpivirine/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate in Virologically Suppressed Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1-Infected Rwandans

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofw141 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sean E. Collins ◽

Philip M. Grant ◽

Francois Uwinkindi ◽

Annie Talbot ◽

Eric Seruyange ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Current Therapy ◽

Virologic Suppression ◽

Open Label ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Hiv 1

Abstract Background. Many human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients remain on nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) despite safety and efficacy concerns. Switching to a rilpivirine-based regimen is an alternative, but there is little experience with rilpivirine in sub-Saharan Africa where induction of rilpivirine metabolism by nevirapine, HIV subtype, and dietary differences could potentially impact efficacy. Methods. We conducted an open-label noninferiority study of virologically suppressed (HIV-1 ribonucleic acid [RNA] < 50 copies/mL) HIV-1-infected Rwandan adults taking nevirapine plus 2 nucleos(t)ide reverse-transcriptase inhibitors. One hundred fifty participants were randomized 2:1 to switch to coformulated rilpivirine-emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (referenced as the Switch Arm) or continue current therapy. The primary efficacy endpoint was HIV-1 RNA < 200 copies/mL at week 24 assessed by the US Food and Drug Administration Snapshot algorithm with a noninferiority margin of 12%. Results. Between April and September 2014, 184 patients were screened, and 150 patients were enrolled; 99 patients switched to rilpivirine-emtricitabine-tenofovir, and 51 patients continued their nevirapine-based ART. The mean age was 42 years and 43% of participants were women. At week 24, virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA level <200 copies/mL) was maintained in 93% and 92% in the Switch Arm versus the continuation arm, respectively. The Switch Arm was noninferior to continued nevirapine-based ART (efficacy difference 0.8%; 95% confidence interval, −7.5% to +12.0%). Both regimens were generally safe and well tolerated, although 2 deaths, neither attributed to study medications, occurred in participants in the Switch Arm. Conclusions. A switch from nevirapine-based ART to rilpivirine-emtricitabine-tenofovir disoproxil fumarate had similar virologic efficacy to continued nevirapine-based ART after 24 weeks with few adverse events.

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