A5061214398- HIV Research and Treatment
- Reproductive tract infections research
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Sex work and related issues
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- HIV-related health complications and treatments
- Endometriosis Research and Treatment
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Biosimilars and Bioanalytical Methods
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Biochemical and Molecular Research
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
- Parvovirus B19 Infection Studies
- Sexual function and dysfunction studies
- Reproductive Health and Contraception
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Ectopic Pregnancy Diagnosis and Management
Karolinska University Hospital
2014-2023
Karolinska Institutet
2014-2023
University of Milan
2013-2022
Eastern Virginia Medical School
2022
Luigi Sacco Hospital
2021-2022
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
2011-2018
National Institutes of Health
2011-2018
Regione Puglia
2011
Tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells form a heterogeneous population that provides localized protection against pathogens. Here, we identify CD49a as marker differentiates CD8+ Trm on compartmental and functional basis. In human skin epithelia, CD8+CD49a+ produced interferon-γ, whereas CD8+CD49a− interleukin-17 (IL-17). addition, from healthy rapidly induced the expression of effector molecules perforin granzyme B when stimulated with IL-15, thereby promoting strong cytotoxic response....
The female genital tract (FGT) mucosa is a critically important site for immune defense against microbes. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an innate-like T-cell population that recognizes microbial riboflavin metabolite antigens in MR1-dependent manner. role of MAIT the FGT unknown. Here, we found and MR1+ antigen-presenting were present upper lower FGT, with distinct tissue localization endometrium vs. cervix. from blood displayed phenotype expression interleukin (IL)-18Rα,...
Background.Semen is the main carrier of sexually transmitted viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).However, semen not just a mere passive transporter virions but also plays an active role in HIV-1 transmission through cytokines and other biological factors.Methods.To study relationship between viruses chemokine-cytokine network male genital tract, we measured concentrations 21 cytokines/chemokines loads 6 herpesviruses seminal blood plasma from HIV-1-infected...
The majority of HIV-1 infections in women occur through vaginal intercourse, which virus-containing semen is deposited on the cervico-vaginal mucosa. Semen more than a mere carrier HIV-1, since it contains many biological factors, particular cytokines, that may affect transmission. concentration interleukin (IL)-7, one most prominent cytokines healthy individuals, further increased HIV-1-infected men. Here, we investigated potential role IL-7 transmission an ex vivo system human tissue. We...
Problem Susceptibility to HIV is associated with the menstrual cycle and vaginal microbiome, but their collective impact on inflammation remains unclear. Here, we characterized cervicovaginal proteome, inflammation, microbiome community structure function during cycle. Method of study Cervicovaginal secretions were collected from regularly cycling women (n = 16) at median day 10, 16, 24 each analyzed by mass spectrometry, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, a multiplex bead array immunoassay....
SARS-CoV-2 transmission mainly occurs through exposure of the upper airway mucosa to infected secretions such as saliva, which are excreted by an person. Thus, oral mucosal immunity plays a central role in prevention and early defense against infection. Although virus-specific antibody response has been extensively investigated blood samples SARS-CoV-2-infected patients vaccinees, local humoral cavity its relationship systemic levels needs be further addressed.
Objective: The cytokine/chemokine network is used by the innate and adaptive immune system to orchestrate effective responses. Here, we describe cross-sectional association between cytokine levels stage of HIV infection gain novel insights into HIV-1 immunopathogenesis identify therapeutic targets. Design: Concentrations 31 cytokine/chemokines were retrospectively measured in blood seminal plasma collected from 252 individuals enrolled four well characterized cohorts: HIV-uninfected,...
The most immediate and evident effect of mucosal exposure to semen in vivo is a local release proinflammatory mediators accompanied by an influx leukocytes into the female genital mucosa (FGM). implication such response HIV-1 transmission has never been addressed due limitations currently available experimental models. Using human tissue explants from uterine cervix, we developed system seminal plasma (SP) that supports replication. Treatment ectocervical with SP resulted upregulation...
Citation Merbah M, Introini A, Fitzgerald W, Grivel J‐C, Lisco Vanpouille C, Margolis L. Cervico‐vaginal tissue ex vivo as a model to study early events in HIV‐1 infection. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 65: 268–278 Vaginal intercourse remains the most prevalent route of infection women. In spite many efforts, detailed mechanisms transmission female lower genital tract remain largely unknown. With all obvious restrictions on studying these humans, their understanding depends development adequate...
Problem Although it is established that the levels of individual cytokines are altered by HIV ‐1 infection, changes in cytokine interrelations organize them into networks have been poorly studied. Here, we evaluated these ‐infected and ‐uninfected individuals fluid compartments critical for pathogenesis transmission, namely blood semen. Method Study In samples collected from therapy‐naïve ‐1‐infected ‐1‐uninfected individuals, measured ‐1‐load, CD4 cell count, 21 using a multiplex bead...
Histocultures allow studying intercellular interactions within human tissues, and they can be employed to model host-pathogen under controlled laboratory conditions. Ex vivo infection of tissues with immunodeficiency virus (HIV), among other viruses, has been successfully used investigate early disease pathogenesis, as well a platform test the efficacy toxicity antiviral drugs. In present protocol, we explain how process infect HIV-1 tissue explants from tonsils cervical mucosae, maintain...
Objective: The effects of sex hormones on the immune defenses female genital mucosa and its susceptibility to infections are poorly understood. injectable hormonal contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) may increase risk for HIV-1 acquisition. We assessed local concentration in cationic polypeptides with reported antiviral activity relation DMPA use. Methods: HIV-1–uninfected women were recruited from among couples testing HIV Nairobi, Kenya. Cervicovaginal secretion samples...
Currently, whether hormonal contraceptives affect male to female human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission is being debated. In this study, we investigated the use of progesterone-based intrauterine devices (pIUDs) associated with a thinning effect on ectocervical squamous epithelium, down-regulation epithelial junction proteins, and/or alteration HIV target cell distribution in ectocervix. Ectocervical tissue biopsies from healthy premenopausal volunteers using pIUDs were collected...
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is often accompanied by with other pathogens, in particular herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2). The resulting coinfection involved a vicious circle of mutual facilitations. Therefore, an important task to develop compound that highly potent against both viruses suppress their transmission and replication. Here, we report on the discovery such compound, designated PMEO-DAPym. We compared its properties those structurally related clinically used acyclic...
ABSTRACT Multiple clinical trials have demonstrated that herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) suppressive therapy using acyclovir (ACV) or valacyclovir in HIV-1/HSV-2-infected persons increased the patient's survival and decreased HIV-1 load. It has been shown incorporation of ACV-monophosphate into nascent DNA chain instead dGMP results termination viral elongation directly inhibits laboratory strains HIV-1. We evaluated here anti-HIV activity ACV against primary isolates different clades...
Abstract Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells are innate-like T that respond rapidly with a broad range of effector functions upon recognition glycolipid Ags presented by CD1d. HIV-1 carries Nef- and Vpu-dependent mechanisms to interfere CD1d surface expression, indirectly suggesting role for iNKT in control infection. In this study, we investigated whether can participate the innate cell–mediated immune response HIV-1. Infection dendritic (DCs) Vpu-deficient induced upregulation TLR7-dependent...
Human tissue explants are a valuable tool to study the interactions between host and infectious agents. They reliably mimic many important aspects of cytoarchitecture functions allow us investigation mechanisms microbial pathogenesis under controlled laboratory conditions. One advantages this system is that, unlike isolated cells, infection blocks with HIV-1 does not require exogenous stimulation mitogens or activating factors. Here we describe protocol infect human lymphoid from tonsils...
Genital mucosa is the main portal of entry for various incoming pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hence it an important site host immune defenses. Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells defend tissue barriers against infections and are characterized by expression CD103 CD69. In this study, we describe composition CD8+ TRM in ectocervix healthy HIV-infected women. Study samples were collected from Swedish Kenyan uninfected Customized computerized image-based situ analysis...
Sex hormones can influence the immune defenses of female genital tract (FGT) and its susceptibility to infections. Here we investigated effect different hormonal contraceptives on production antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in compartments mucosa (FGM), secretions tissue. Cervicovaginal (CVS) ectocervical tissue samples obtained from women using progesterone intrauterine devices (pIUD) (n = 23) combined oral (COC) were analyzed for expression situ localization HNP1-3, BD-2, LL-37, SLPI...