A5050528207- Reproductive tract infections research
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment
- Gut microbiota and health
- Urinary Tract Infections Management
- Genital Health and Disease
- Reproductive Health and Contraception
- Pelvic floor disorders treatments
- Sex work and related issues
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- HIV-related health complications and treatments
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
University of Cape Town
2016-2025
National Health Laboratory Service
2016-2025
Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa
2015-2025
Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa
2005-2025
South African Medical Research Council
2018-2023
Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation
2021-2022
University of KwaZulu-Natal
2009-2021
Groote Schuur Hospital
2001-2019
Background. Women in Africa, especially young women, have very high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence rates that cannot be fully explained by behavioral risks. We investigated whether genital inflammation influenced HIV acquisition this group. Methods. Twelve selected cytokines, including 9 inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (interleukin [IL]-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-8, interferon-γ inducible protein-10 [IP-10], monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage...
Antiretroviral-based strategies for HIV prevention have shown inconsistent results in women. We investigated whether vaginal microbiota modulated tenofovir gel microbicide efficacy the CAPRISA (Centre AIDS Program of Research South Africa) 004 trial. Two major bacterial community types-one dominated by Lactobacillus (59.2%) and other where Gardnerella vaginalis predominated with anaerobic bacteria (40.8%)-were identified 688 women profiled. Tenofovir reduced incidence 61% (P = 0.013)...
Background: Both T-cell activation during early HIV-1 infection and soluble markers of immune chronic are predictive HIV disease progression. Although the acute phase is associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine production, relationship between concentrations pathogenesis unknown. Objectives: To identify biomarkers measurable in plasma that predict Design: Study including 40 South African women who became infected were followed longitudinally from time infection. Methods: The 30...
Diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a public health priority, particularly in regions where the incidence human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection high. In most developing countries, STIs are managed syndromically. We assessed adequacy syndromic diagnosis STIs, compared with laboratory evaluated association between STI risk HIV acquisition cohort high-risk women.HIV-uninfected women (n = 242) were followed for 24 months. Symptoms recorded, common...
<h3>Objectives</h3> Sexually transmitted infections (STI) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) cause female genital tract inflammation. This inflammation, which is often present in the absence of symptoms, associated with increased susceptibility to HIV infection. We aimed evaluate cytokine profiles degree inflammation common STIs BV. <h3>Methods</h3> HIV-uninfected women (n=227) were screened for BV, <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i>, <i>Neisseria gonorrhoeae</i>, Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),...
Young African females are at an increased risk of HIV acquisition, and genital inflammation or the vaginal microbiome may contribute to this risk. We studied these factors in 168 HIV-negative South adolescent aged 16 22 years. Unsupervised clustering 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed three clusters (subtypes), one which was strongly associated with inflammation. In a multivariate model, compositional subtype hormonal contraception were significantly identified 40 taxa inflammation, including...
Abstract Background Women with a cervicovaginal microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus spp. are at reduced risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections including HIV, but the biological mechanisms involved remain poorly defined. Here, we performed metaproteomics on vaginal swab samples from young South African women ( n = 113) and transcriptomics analysis epithelial cell cultures to examine ability lactic acid, metabolite produced lactobacilli, modulate genital barrier function. Results...
CD4 + T cells expressing α 4 β 7 play an important role in HIV pathogenesis.
The objectives of the study were to investigate prevalence cervical human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes inform HPV vaccination strategy in South Africa and factors associated with prevalence. Sexually active, HIV-negative women, aged 16–22 years recruited from Soweto (n = 143) Cape Town 148) tested for other genital infections. Overall was 66.7% (194/291) young women. women more likely have multiple infections than (48.0%, 71/148 versus 35.0%, 50/143 respectively, p 0.033) probable HR-HPV...
Objectives Vaginal dysbiosis and STIs are important drivers of the HIV epidemic reproductive complications. These conditions remain prevalent, partly because most cases asymptomatic. We have shown that inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β interferon-γ-induced protein (IP)-10 biomarkers for detecting asymptomatic vaginal (bacterial vaginosis (BV) or intermediate microbiota). This study aimed to validate performance these in African women recruited regardless symptoms. Methods...
Untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) cause genital inflammation increase the risk of HIV infection. WHO-recommended syndromic STI BV management is severely limited as many women with asymptomatic go untreated. The purpose this cross-sectional study was to evaluate cytokine profiles a biomarker STIs identify asymptomatic, treatable infections.
Abstract Female genital tract (FGT) inflammation increases HIV infection susceptibility. Non-optimal cervicovaginal microbiota, characterized by depletion of Lactobacillus species and increased bacterial diversity, is associated with FGT cytokine production. may protect against partly reducing inflammation. We isolated 80 lactobacilli from South African women non-optimal (Nugent 4–10; n = 18) optimal microbiota 0–3; 14). Cytokine production vaginal epithelial cells in response to the...
Antibiotics continue to be the standard-of-care for bacterial vaginosis (BV), although recurrence rates are high. Vaginal probiotics may improve durability of BV treatment, few vaginal health contain Lactobacillus spp. that commonly colonize lower female genital tract. Characteristics strains from South African women were evaluated their probiotic potential in vitro compared commercial products, including growth at varying pHs, ability pH, produce D-/L-lactate and H2O2, influence...
The female genital tract is the major route of heterosexual human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition and transmission. Here, we investigated whether HIV-specific CD8 T-cell-mediated immune responses could be detected in mucosa chronically HIV-infected women these were associated with either local mucosal HIV shedding or factors. We found that CD8(+) T-cell gamma interferon to Gag detectable at cervix but magnitude did not correlate those similarly blood. This indicates ex vivo one...
Background. The biggest challenge in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) prevention Africa is the high HIV-1 burden young women. In macaques, proinflammatory cytokine production genital tract necessary for target cell recruitment and establishment of simian (SIV) infection following vaginal inoculation. purpose this study was to assess if inflammation during early predisposes women rapid disease progression. Methods. Inflammatory concentrations were measured cervicovaginal lavage...
Adolescents in Africa are at high risk for HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Since behavior burden of STIs/BV may influence risk, behavioral factors prevalence were compared HIV-seronegative adolescent females (n = 298; 16–22 years) from two South African communities (Soweto Cape Town). STIs ( Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Mycoplasma genitalium, herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, HSV-2, Treponema...
Background Schistosoma haematobium is a waterborne parasite that may cause female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), characterized by mucosal lesions. There clinical and epidemiological evidence for relationship between FGS HIV. We investigated the impact of on HIV target cell density expression co-receptor CCR5 in blood cervical cytobrush samples. Furthermore we evaluated effect anti-schistosomal treatment these populations. Design The study followed case-control design with post follow-up,...
T helper type 17 (Th17) cells play an important role in immunity to fungal and bacterial pathogens, although their the female genital tract, where exposure these pathogens is common, not well understood. We investigated relationship between tract infections, cervicovaginal interleukin-17 (IL-17) concentrations Th17 cell frequencies. Forty-two cytokines were measured lavages from HIV-uninfected HIV-infected women. Frequencies of (CD3(+) CD4(+) IL-17a(+)) evaluated cervical cytobrushes blood...