OBJECTIVETo describe and evaluate a double-antigen sandwich ELISA for detecting human immunodeficiency virus type 1/2 (HIV-1/2) specific antibodies.

METHODSThe peptides gp41.1(sp1), gp41.2(sp2), gp120(sp3) and p24(sp4) of HIV-1 and gp36(sp5) of HIV-2 were artificially synthesized. Then sp1, sp3, sp4 and sp5 were used as coating antigens; sp1, sp2, sp4 and sp5 labeled with HRP were used as conjugates in this sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSThe specificity and sensitivity of the assay were both 100% in detecting anti-HIV of 40 control sera of the second generation panel, higher than indirect ELISA (specificity 90% and sensitivity, 65%, respectively). All of 210 sera from individuals with other diseases were negative for anti-HIV. The consistency rate was 100% when our sandwich ELISA and Abbott HIVAB were used to detect anti-HIV in 90 healthy blood donors and 88 HIV infected individuals.

CONCLUSIONSThe results showed that this sandwich ELISA for detection of anti-HIV is specific, sensitive and convenient, and it is suitable for screening blood donors and detecting HIV infection.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; HIV Infections ; blood ; virology ; HIV-1 ; immunology ; HIV-2 ; immunology ; Humans

AIDS Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Animals ; HIV Infections ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal

This is a retrospective study of fourteen patients who had proven Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of the gastrointestinal tract with no Human Immunodeficiency virus infection. The median age was 60.5 (Range 28 to 81) years. Eight patients were below (Group 1) and six above sixty five years old (Group 2). Areas of gastro-intestinal involvement were: oesophagus (2), stomach (1), colon (10) and multiple sites (1). Seven patients from Group 1 had received immunosuppressive therapy at the time of presentation and one had diabetes mellitus. We found a high prevalence of co-morbidities such as chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus in Group 2. At median follow up of 13.9 months, there was a mortality rate of 50%. Only four patients were treated with ganciclovir. Our study concludes that the gastrointestinal CMV diseases in young patients were associated with immunosuppression whereas the older patients had chronic renal failure or diabetes.
Cytomegalovirus Infections/*immunology ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/*virology ; HIV Infections ; *Immunocompetence ; Retrospective Studies

A safe and effective vaccine against the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is expected to have a considerable impact on elimination of acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Despite decades of effort, an effective vaccine against HIV-1 remains elusive. In recent years, the Thai HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trial (known as RV144) showed a reduction in HIV-1 acquisition by 31%, but this agent could not delay disease progression in vaccinated individuals. Clinical analyses of experimental data and experiments in vitro have revealed two main types of immunogen design: induction of broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody (bNAb) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses. bNAb can prevent or reduce acquisition of infection, and its main immunogens are virus-like particles, natural envelope trimers and stable bNAb epitopes. An effective CTL response can slow-down viral infection, and its main immunogens are "mosaic" vaccines, "conserved immunogens", and the "fitness landscape" of HIV-1 proteins. This review summarizes the strategies as well as progress in the design and testing of HIV-1 immunogens to elicit bNAb and CTL responses.
AIDS Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology ; Animals ; Drug Design ; HIV Antibodies ; immunology ; HIV Infections ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo determine the relative resistance to HIV-1 infection of CD4 + T lymphocytes in HIV-exposed seronegative individuals (ESNs) in China.

METHODSHIV primary isolates were obtained from peripheral whole blood of HIV-infected persons. CD4 + T lymphocytes of Chinese ESNs were separated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells with magnetic cell sorting (MACS). The purified CD4 + T lymphocytes were cocultured with HIV primary isolates. The p24 level was detected and the culture medium was refreshed every 3 days within 2 weeks.

RESULTSFor M tropic HIV strains, p24 level was significantly lower in ESN group than in control group (P < 0.05); for some M tropic HIV strains, even no p24 replicated in ESN group. However, T tropic virus strains had no significant difference between these two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCD4 + T lymphocytes of Chinese ESNs may possess relative resistance to M tropic HIV strains, which may be one of the main influencing factors that result in ESN.

Adult ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; virology ; China ; Female ; HIV ; classification ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; HIV Infections ; virology ; HIV Seronegativity ; immunology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Sexual Partners

Animals ; Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; HIV ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; immunology ; virology ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

OBJECTIVEThis review discusses progress in the studies of hepatitis B virus (HBV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection and focuses on the interaction among HIV infection, chronic HBV infection, and host immunity.

DATA SOURCESData and studies published mainly from 2008 to 2011 were selected using PubMed.

STUDY SELECTIONOriginal articles and critical reviews concerning HBV/HIV coinfection and HBV and HIV pathogenesis were selected.

RESULTSHIV may accelerate HBV progression by lowering CD4 count, weakening HBV-specific immunity, "enriching" HBV mutants, causing immune activation, etc. On the other hand, HBV may enhance HIV replication by activating HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) with X protein (HBX) and cause immune activation in synergy with HIV. Paradoxically, HBV may also inhibit HIV dissemination via dendritic cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe interaction among HIV, HBV, and host immunity remains poorly understood. Further research is warranted to elucidate the detailed molecular mechanisms and to translate these mechanisms into clinical practice.

HIV ; pathogenicity ; HIV Infections ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; immunology

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play a critical role in the control of HIV-1 infection and replication. HIV-1 evades CTL mediated pressure through viral escape mutations within targeted CTLs epitopes or flanking regions, but this process is usually associated with a viral fitness cost. The mutated epitopes may weaken the level of the original CTL responses, however, the immune system holds potential to mount denovo responses towards those newly emerged epitopes. This article briefly summarizes recent research progress regarding the competition between HIV-1's escape mutations and host CTL responses.
Animals ; HIV Infections ; genetics ; immunology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Mutation ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; virology

Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; virology ; HIV ; physiology ; HIV Infections ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunity, Mucosal ; immunology ; Mucous Membrane ; cytology ; immunology ; Virus Attachment ; Virus Internalization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell counts, HIV RNA load, HCV RNA load, CD8+ T cell responses to HCV of HIV/HCV co-infected and HCV mono-infected patients and to assess the mutual influences of the two viruses in the infection.

METHODSFifty-nine patients with HIV/HCV co-infection were enrolled in this study. Thirty-six patients with HCV mono-infection served as a comparison group. The liver function, peripheral blood CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell counts, HIV RNA load and HCV RNA load were compared between the groups. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by interferon-gamma ELISpot using a panel of HCV antigens.

RESULTSThe frequency of HIV/HCV co-infection in those blood donors in Henan, China was 60.8%. ALT and AST in the HIV/HCV co-infection patients were not different from those of the HCV group. Globulin in the HIV/HCV co-infection group was higher than that in the HCV group (P<0.01). CD4+ T cell counts in the HIV/HCV co-infection group were lower than those in the HCV group, but CD8+ T cell counts in the HIV/HCV co-infection group were higher than those in the HCV group (P<0.01). The HCV RNA loads were higher in the HIV/HCV co-infection group than in the HCV group(P<0.01). The magnitude of HCV-specific CTL response to HCV-NS3 overlapping peptides in the HIV/HCV co-infection group (649.34+/-685.90) was higher than that in the HCV group (1233.70+/-1085.16). Albumin was negatively correlated with HCV RNA (log10copies/ml) in the HIV/HCV co-infection group (r=-0.540). A positive correlation was found between platelet and peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts (P<0.05). No linear correlation was found between HCV virus loads, HIV virus loads or peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts.

CONCLUSIONThe frequency of HIV/HCV co-infection in the blood donors in Henan, China was 60.8%. HIV/HCV co-infection aggravated the progress of chronic hepatitis C.

Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Female ; HIV ; HIV Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; immunology ; virology ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; diagnosis ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Superinfection ; diagnosis ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Viral Load