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1.
JCI Insight ; 9(10)2024 Apr 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38775152

RESUMO

Children with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) have special vaccination needs, as they make suboptimal immune responses. Here, we evaluated safety and immunogenicity of 2 doses of 4-component group B meningococcal vaccine in antiretroviral therapy-treated children with PHIV and healthy controls (HCs). Assessments included the standard human serum bactericidal antibody (hSBA) assay and measurement of IgG titers against capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis antigens (fHbp, NHBA, NadA). The B cell compartment and vaccine-induced antigen-specific (fHbp+) B cells were investigated by flow cytometry, and gene expression was investigated by multiplexed real-time PCR. A good safety and immunogenicity profile was shown in both groups; however, PHIV demonstrated a reduced immunogenicity compared with HCs. Additionally, PHIV showed a reduced frequency of fHbp+ and an altered B cell subset distribution, with higher fHbp+ frequency in activated memory and tissue-like memory B cells. Gene expression analyses on these cells revealed distinct mechanisms between PHIV and HC seroconverters. Overall, these data suggest that PHIV presents a diverse immune signature following vaccination. The impact of such perturbation on long-term maintenance of vaccine-induced immunity should be further evaluated in vulnerable populations, such as people with PHIV.


Assuntos
Infecções por HIV , Vacinas Meningocócicas , Humanos , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Masculino , Feminino , Criança , Vacinas Meningocócicas/imunologia , Vacinas Meningocócicas/administração & dosagem , Pré-Escolar , Infecções Meningocócicas/imunologia , Infecções Meningocócicas/prevenção & controle , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/imunologia , Anticorpos Antibacterianos/sangue , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Transmissão Vertical de Doenças Infecciosas/prevenção & controle , Imunogenicidade da Vacina , Imunoglobulina G/imunologia , Imunoglobulina G/sangue
2.
Ann Transl Med ; 12(2): 27, 2024 Apr 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38721453

RESUMO

The Integral Theory Paradigm (ITP) has a 25-year track record of successfully treating bladder/bowel/pain symptoms caused by laxity in specific ligaments, even when the prolapse is minimal. The ITP-based treatment involves ligament support and can be nonsurgical or daycare surgical. An accurate diagnostic protocol is required. The Integral Theory Diagnostic system is performed in an outpatient setting. It a step-by-step "how to" resource for clinicians who wish to learn a practical anatomical diagnostic method which can quickly and accurately identify a ligament cause for bladder/bowel/pain symptoms, and therefore, potentially cure them. The structured ITP diagnosis flow chart uses symptoms to diagnose anatomical defects. It comprises 4 related steps. The ITP is holistic, and bladder, bowel, pain symptoms co-occur. The first step, therefore, is to establish all possible symptoms for transfer to the Diagnostic Algorithm which is the second step. Because patients complain of one main symptom, other symptoms must be located by direct questioning, using the Diagnostic Algorithm as an aide memoire, or a questionnaire to locate bladder, bowel, pain symptoms. Second step: symptoms are placed into 3 anatomical zones: anterior zone, pubourethral ligament (PUL) [stress urinary incontinence (SUI)]; middle zone, cardinal ligament (CL) (transverse defect cystocele); posterior zone, uterosacral ligament (USL) (uterine prolapse and enterocele). The third step is a vaginal examination to confirm the ligament damage (prolapses) in the three zones predicted by the algorithm. The fourth step is "simulated operations" (mechanical support of specific ligaments per vaginam) to validate the particular ligament indicated by the diagnostic algorithm, is indeed causing that symptom. For SUI, a hemostat test at midurethra supports PUL vaginally to stop urine loss on coughing; the lower blade of a bivalve speculum gently inserted into the vagina can relieve urge and pain.

3.
Ann Transl Med ; 12(2): 31, 2024 Apr 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38721450

RESUMO

Midurethral slings (MUS) have revolutionized the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MUS operations work by creating a collagenous pubourethral ligament (PUL). Since 1996, more than 10 million operations have been performed worldwide. Early complications with the MUS included bowel perforations, massive retropubic hemorrhages, nerve injuries, even death. Though the invention of the transobturator tape (TOT) operation, and later, minislings, has eliminated many such complications, the most frequent complication, post-operative urinary retention, remains. MUS operations are unavailable in many countries because of expense. Low-cost surgical options discussed include the tension-free artisan minisling which uses a 10 cm × 1 cm tape inserted as a "U" below the urethra; 91% cure was achieved at 5.7 years in a study of 90 women, though it was accompanied by a 4.2% erosion rate. The more recent urethral ligament plication (ULP) is based on transperineal ultrasound studies which showed that the main cause of the SUI was elongation of weak PULs. This allowed the posterior pelvic muscles to open out the posterior urethral wall to cause SUI. Basic science collagen studies indicated that suturing PULs with No. 2 wide-bore polyester sutures would provide sufficient collagen to repair weakened PULs. Cure of SUI, when it occurred, was immediate. Reference to the original experimental animal studies indicated that collagen 1, the key structural support of PUL, had formed by 3 months. This is an optimistic sign for longer term cure, substantiated by very little deterioration after 3 months over a 12-month period in the first surgical trial (unpublished data). In conclusion, the ULP operation can be performed under local anesthesia/sedation. If it fulfils its promise for longer-term cure, SUI cure will be available for hundreds of millions of women in underdeveloped countries for a few dollars per case.

4.
Ann Transl Med ; 12(2): 35, 2024 Apr 22.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38721459

RESUMO

The Lancet PROSPECT Trial has shown that vaginal repair has dismal cure rates of some 20% at 12 months. Meanwhile 10-year data from collagen creating ligament repair methods (implanted mini-sling tapes), with no vaginal excision, report very high, long-term cure rates. The reason for conserving the vagina, is that the vagina's main function is to transmit the muscle forces for external urethral closure or opening. Ligaments provide the main structural support for the organs, much like a suspension bridge. Collagen is the key structural component of the ligaments which structurally support the organs. However, collagen breaks down after the menopause and is excreted as hydroxyproline. If sufficient collagen breaks down, the ligaments weaken, and this explains the 80% failure rates for native ligament in the Lancet PROSPECT Trial. Whereas satisfactory results for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and symptoms have been obtained with native ligament repair in premenopausal women, it has been shown that collagen-creating ligament repair method, for example, precisely inserted tapes, is required in older women. Tension-free" artisan tapes work in the same way as commercial tape kits which have been used to cure stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and POP. The "tension-free" artisan tape results for POP at three years were encouraging, but were applied only in a small number of cases. Very recently, long-term (5.7 years) tension-free artisan tape data has become available from artisan SUI surgery. Results from 93 women using an artisan transobturator tape (TOT) achieved a cure rate of 91.3% at a mean of 5.7 years postoperatively. The only significant complication was a 4.3% erosion rate. The implications are that tension-free artisan tape for POP is also likely to be long-lasting. Another implication is the cost, which, for each tape, is a few Euros. The low cost allows the artisan method to be applied even in the poorest nations.

5.
iScience ; 27(5): 109720, 2024 May 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38706858

RESUMO

In perinatal HIV infection, early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is recommended but questions remain regarding infant immune responses to HIV and its impact on immune development. Using single cell transcriptional and phenotypic analysis we evaluated the T cell compartment at pre-ART initiation of infants with perinatally acquired HIV from Maputo, Mozambique (Towards AIDS Remission Approaches cohort). CD8+ T cell maturation subsets exhibited altered distribution in HIV exposed infected (HEI) infants relative to HIV exposed uninfected infants with reduced naive, increased effectors, higher frequencies of activated T cells, and lower frequencies of cells with markers of self-renewal. Additionally, a cluster of CD8+ T cells identified in HEI displayed gene profiles consistent with cytotoxic T lymphocytes and showed evidence for hyper expansion. Longitudinal phenotypic analysis revealed accelerated maturation of CD8+ T cells was maintained in HEI despite viral control. The results point to an HIV-directed immune response that is likely to influence reservoir establishment.

7.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1334236, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38444847

RESUMO

Introduction: Initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in patients early after HIV-infection and long-term suppression leads to low or undetectable levels of HIV RNA and cell-associated (CA) HIV DNA and RNA. Both CA-DNA and CA-RNA, overestimate the size of the HIV reservoir but CA-RNA as well as p24/cell-free viral RNA can be indicators of residual viral replication. This study describes HIV RNA amounts and levels of cytokines/soluble markers in 40 well-suppressed adolescents who initiated ART early in life and investigated which viral markers may be informative as endpoints in cure clinical trials within this population. Methods: Forty adolescents perinatally infected with HIV on suppressive ART for >5 years were enrolled in the CARMA study. HIV DNA and total or unspliced CA-RNA in PBMCs were analyzed by qPCR/RT-qPCR and dPCR/RT-dPCR. Cell-free HIV was determined using an ultrasensitive viral load (US-VL) assay. Plasma markers and p24 were analyzed by digital ELISA and correlations between total and unspliced HIV RNA and clinical markers, including age at ART, Western Blot score, levels of cytokines/inflammation markers or HIV CA-DNA, were tested. Results: CA-RNA was detected in two thirds of the participants and was comparable in RT-qPCR and RT-dPCR. Adolescents with undetectable CA-RNA showed significantly lower HIV DNA compared to individuals with detectable CA-RNA. Undetectable unspliced CA-RNA was positively associated with age at ART initiation and Western Blot score. We found that a higher concentration of TNF-α was predictive of higher CA-DNA and CA-RNA. Other clinical characteristics like US-VL, time to suppression, or percent CD4+ T-lymphocytes were not predictive of the CA-RNA in this cross-sectional study. Conclusions: Low CA-DNA after long-term suppressive ART is associated with lower CA-RNA, in concordance with other reports. Patients with low CA-RNA levels in combination with low CA-DNA and low Western Blot scores should be further investigated to characterize candidates for treatment interruption trials. Unspliced CA-RNA warrants further investigation as a marker that can be prioritized in paediatric clinical trials where the sample volume can be a significant limitation.


Assuntos
Ácidos Nucleicos Livres , Infecções por HIV , Humanos , Adolescente , Criança , Estudos Transversais , RNA , Antirretrovirais/uso terapêutico , Citocinas , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , DNA
8.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol ; 14: 1335450, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38318164

RESUMO

Introduction: Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in early 2020, it has been apparent that children were partially protected from both infection and the more severe forms of the disease. Many different mechanisms have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, including children's frequent exposure to other upper respiratory infections and vaccines, and which inflammatory cytokines they are more likely to produce in response to infection. Furthermore, given the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the intestine and its ability to infect enterocytes, combined with the well described immunomodulatory capabilities of the microbiome, another potential contributing factor may be the presence of certain protective microbial members of the gut microbiota (GM). Methods: We performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing and profiled both the bacteriome and virome of the GM of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 patients compared to healthy, age-matched subjects. Results: We found that, while pediatric patients do share some pro-inflammatory microbial signatures with adult patients, they also possess a distinct microbial signature of protective bacteria previously found to be negatively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and COVID-19 severity. COVID-19 was also associated with higher fecal Cytomegalovirus load, and with shifts in the relative abundances of bacteriophages in the GM. Furthermore, we address how the preventative treatment of COVID-19 patients with antibiotics, a common practice especially in the early days of the pandemic, affected the bacteriome and virome, as well as the abundances of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in these patients. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to address the bacteriome, virome, and resistome of pediatric patients in response to COVID-19 and to preventative antibiotics use.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Microbiota , Adulto , Humanos , Criança , Viroma , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico
9.
Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy ; 19(1): 16, 2024 Feb 28.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38414042

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) report high rates of problematic alcohol use, anxiety, and depression. This may, in part, be due to stressors related to their sexual identity (i.e., minority stressors). However, few studies have examined both distal and proximal stressors, as well as the specific psychological mechanisms by which these stressors may be related to alcohol use outcomes, in a representative sample of GBM. We explored the relationship between distal and proximal stressors and alcohol use outcomes, as well as the role of anxiety and depression as potential mediators of these relationships. METHODS: We analyzed the baseline data of 2,449 GBM from Engage, a cohort study of sexually active GBM recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver from February 2017 to August 2019. Using structural equation modeling, we examined the associations between distal minority stressors (i.e., experiences of heterosexist harassment, rejection, and discrimination), proximal minority stressors (i.e., internalized homonegativity, concerns about acceptance, concealment, and lack of affirmation), anxiety and depression, and alcohol consumption and alcohol use problems. RDS-adjusted analyses controlled for age, income, sexual orientation, ethnicity, recruitment city, and HIV serostatus. RESULTS: There were positive direct associations between distal stress and proximal stress, anxiety, and depression, but not alcohol use outcomes. Proximal stress had a positive direct association with anxiety, depression, and alcohol use problems, but not alcohol consumption. Anxiety was positively associated with alcohol consumption and alcohol use problems. Depression was negatively associated with alcohol consumption but not alcohol use problems. Regarding indirect effects, distal stress was associated with alcohol use outcomes via proximal stress and anxiety, but not via depression. CONCLUSIONS: We found support for a minority stress model as it relates to alcohol use outcomes among GBM. Findings suggest that proximal minority stress and anxiety differentially impact the problematic alcohol use among GBM who experience heterosexist discrimination. Clinical providers should consider incorporating the treatment of proximal minority stressors and anxiety into existing alcohol interventions for GBM.


Assuntos
Minorias Sexuais e de Gênero , Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Homossexualidade Masculina/psicologia , Estudos de Coortes , Comportamento Sexual , Ansiedade/epidemiologia , Ansiedade/psicologia , Canadá/epidemiologia , Consumo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/epidemiologia
10.
Sex Transm Dis ; 51(3): 178-185, 2024 Mar 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38412464

RESUMO

BACKGROUNDS: Positive attitudes toward human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, such as reduced concern about HIV transmissibility, are associated with sexual behaviors that may increase the risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM). We examined associations between HIV treatment attitudes and bacterial STI diagnoses among GBM in Canada's three largest cities. METHODS: We fit a structural equation model between HIV treatment attitudes and bacterial STI diagnoses via sexual behaviors in the Engage study's baseline data. We estimated direct and indirect paths between scores on HIV treatment attitudes and STIs via number of male anal sex partners, condomless anal sex, and oral sex. We conducted sub-analyses with participants stratified by HIV serostatus. RESULTS: Among 2449 GBM recruited in 2017 to 2019, there was a direct association between HIV treatment attitudes and current STI diagnoses (ß = 0.13; 95% CI, 0.07-0.19; P < 0.001). The mediated model revealed a positive total indirect effect through 2 pathways: (1) engaging in condomless anal sex and (2) number of male anal sex partners and condomless anal sex. These 2 indirect pathways remained in the stratified mediation models for both HIV negative GBM and for GBM living with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: The association between HIV treatment attitudes and diagnosed STIs is mediated through a higher number of male anal sex partners and condomless anal sex. The results highlight the importance of providers educating patients when providing effective STI counseling, testing, and prevention for GBM about how accurate HIV treatment attitudes may inadvertently be associated with the bacterial STI epidemic.


Assuntos
Infecções por HIV , Minorias Sexuais e de Gênero , Doenças Bacterianas Sexualmente Transmissíveis , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis , Humanos , Masculino , Homossexualidade Masculina/psicologia , HIV , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/diagnóstico , Comportamento Sexual , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/epidemiologia , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/prevenção & controle , Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis/diagnóstico , Doenças Bacterianas Sexualmente Transmissíveis/epidemiologia
11.
Vaccine ; 42(2): 263-270, 2024 Jan 12.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38071105

RESUMO

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: mRNA vaccines elicit a durable humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 in adults, whereas evidence in children is scarce. This study aimed to assess the early and long-term immune response to the mRNA vaccine in children with or without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: In a multicentre prospective observational study, we profiled the immune response to the Pfizer BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine in 5-11-year-old children attending the University Pediatric Hospital of Padua and Bambino-Gesù Hospital in Rome (Italy) from December-2021 to February-2023. Blood samples were collected pre-, 1-, and 6-months after vaccination. Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) and anti-spike-receptor-binding-domain (anti-S-RBD) IgG titers were analyzed through Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) and chemiluminescent immune-enzymatic assay (CLIA), respectively. Immune cell phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Sixty children (26 [43 %] female, median age = 8 years [IQR = 7-10.7]) were enrolled in the study, including 46 children with a laboratory-confirmed previous COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2-recovered) and 14 SARS-CoV-2-naïve participants defined as the absence of antigen-specific antibodies before vaccination. SARS-CoV-2-recovered participants recorded higher anti-S-RBD IgG and Wild-type and Omicron BA.2 NAbs titers than SARS-CoV-2-naïve participants at both 1- and 6-months after vaccination. Antibody titers correlated with T (Tregs) and B (Bregs) regulatory cell frequencies in SARS-CoV-2-recovered children. Both SARS-CoV-2-recovered and SARS-CoV-2-naïve participants decreased antibody titers by approximately 100 to 250 % from 1 to 6 months. While children with immunocompromising underlying conditions developed immune responses comparable to those of healthy children, solid organ transplant recipients exhibited lower levels of NAbs and anti-S-RBD IgG titers, as well as reduced frequencies of Tregs and Bregs. CONCLUSIONS: mRNA vaccination triggered a higher production of specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies along with increased levels of regulatory cells in children with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection up to the following 6 months. These findings provide insights into boosting pre-existing immunity.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Adulto , Humanos , Feminino , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Masculino , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Vacinas de mRNA , Vacina BNT162 , Anticorpos Neutralizantes , Anticorpos Antivirais , Hospitais Pediátricos , Imunidade , Imunoglobulina G , Vacinação
13.
J Allergy Clin Immunol ; 153(1): 12-27, 2024 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37890706

RESUMO

Repetitive or persistent cellular stimulation in vivo has been associated with the development of a heterogeneous B-cell population that exhibits a distinctive phenotype and, in addition to classical B-cell markers, often expresses the transcription factor T-bet and myeloid marker CD11c. Research suggests that this atypical population consists of B cells with distinct B-cell receptor specificities capable of binding the antigens responsible for their development. The expansion of this population occurs in the presence of chronic inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases where different nomenclatures have been used to describe them. However, as a result of the diverse contexts in which they have been investigated, these cells have remained largely enigmatic, with much ambiguity remaining regarding their phenotype and function in humoral immune response as well as their role in autoimmunity. Atypical B cells have garnered considerable interest because of their ability to produce specific antibodies and/or autoantibodies and because of their association with key disease manifestations. Although they have been widely described in the context of adults, little information is present for children. Therefore, the aim of this narrative review is to describe the characteristics of this population, suggest their function in pediatric immune-related diseases and chronic infections, and explore their potential therapeutic avenues.


Assuntos
Doenças Autoimunes , Doenças Transmissíveis , Adulto , Humanos , Criança , Linfócitos B , Autoanticorpos , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos B , Autoimunidade
14.
Trends Immunol ; 45(1): 32-47, 2024 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38135599

RESUMO

The human immune system is a complex network of coordinated components that are crucial for health and disease. Animal models, commonly used to study immunomodulatory agents, are limited by species-specific differences, low throughput, and ethical concerns. In contrast, in vitro modeling of human immune responses can enable species- and population-specific mechanistic studies and translational development within the same study participant. Translational accuracy of in vitro models is enhanced by accounting for genetic, epigenetic, and demographic features such as age, sex, and comorbidity. This review explores various human in vitro immune models, considers evidence that they may resemble human in vivo responses, and assesses their potential to accelerate and de-risk vaccine discovery and development.


Assuntos
Vacinação , Vacinas , Animais , Humanos , Imunidade
15.
bioRxiv ; 2023 Nov 21.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38045254

RESUMO

With the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART), perinatal HIV infection is declining globally but prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa is still greater than other nations. The relationship of HIV replication in early infancy and the developing immune system is not well understood. In this study, we investigated cellular components of the innate immune system including Natural Killer (NK) cells, monocytes, and Dendritic Cells (DC) in a cohort of HIV exposed infected (HEI) and age-matched HIV exposed uninfected (HEU) infants from Mozambique. Study entry was at the first visit after delivery at age 1-2 months for HIV diagnosis and initiation of ART. Phenotypic analysis by multi-parameter flow cytometry revealed an expansion of total NK cells and the dysfunctional, CD56-CD16+, NK cell subset; increased activation in monocytes and DC; and higher levels of inflammatory homing receptor CCR5 on circulating DC subsets in the HEI infants. NKG2A, an inhibitory receptor for NK cytolytic function, was reduced in HEI compared to HEU and positively correlated with pre-ART viral load (VL) while expression of CCR2, the inflammatory homing receptor, on NK was negatively correlated with VL. Other subsets exhibited positive correlations with VL including the frequency of intermediate monocytes amongst total monocytes. Longitudinal analysis of VL indicated suboptimal ART adherence in HEI. Regardless of level of viral suppression achieved, the frequencies of specific innate immune subsets in HEI were normalized to HEU by 18m. These data support the notion that in early life, NK cells play a role in virus control and should be explored for functional attributes that are effective against HIV at this time during development. Overall, our study provides high resolution overview of the innate immune system during perinatal HIV infection.

16.
Front Cell Infect Microbiol ; 13: 1281440, 2023.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37965266

RESUMO

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite and one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis in the world, primarily affecting very young children and immunocompromised patients. While infection is usually self-limiting, it can become chronic and even lethal in these vulnerable populations, in whom Cryptosporidium treatments are generally ineffective, due to their acting in concert with a functioning immune system. Here, we describe a case of chronic cryptosporidiosis in a European child with severe CD40L immunodeficiency infected with Cryptosporidium parvum of the IIa20G1 subgenotype, a lineage which has thus far only ever been described in the Middle East. After years of on-off treatment with conventional and non-conventional anti-parasitic drugs failed to clear parasitosis, we performed targeted metagenomics to observe the bacterial composition of the patient's gut microbiota (GM), and to evaluate fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a potential treatment option. We found that C. parvum infection led to significant shifts in GM bacterial composition in our patient, with consequent shifts in predicted intestinal functional signatures consistent with a state of persistent inflammation. This, combined with the patient's poor prognosis and increasing parasitic burden despite many rounds of anti-parasitic drug treatments, made the patient a potential candidate for an experimental FMT procedure. Unfortunately, given the many comorbidities that were precipitated by the patient's immunodeficiency and chronic C. parvum infection, FMT was postponed in favor of more urgently necessary liver and bone marrow transplants. Tragically, after the first liver transplant failed, the patient lost his life before undergoing FMT and a second liver transplant. With this case report, we present the first description of how cryptosporidiosis can shape the gut microbiota of a pediatric patient with severe immunodeficiency. Finally, we discuss how both our results and the current scientific literature suggest that GM modulations, either by probiotics or FMT, can become novel treatment options for chronic Cryptosporidium infection and its consequent complications, especially in those patients who do not respond to the currently available anti-parasitic therapies.


Assuntos
Criptosporidiose , Cryptosporidium parvum , Cryptosporidium , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Síndromes de Imunodeficiência , Parasitos , Animais , Humanos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Criptosporidiose/complicações , Criptosporidiose/parasitologia , Ligante de CD40 , Cryptosporidium/genética , Intestinos/microbiologia , Síndromes de Imunodeficiência/complicações , Bactérias/genética , Propionibacterium acnes
17.
Pediatr Infect Dis J ; 42(11): e403-e406, 2023 Nov 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37773636

RESUMO

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in children with autoimmune neutropenia may be a cause for concern. In this retrospective study, none of the 24 autoimmune neutropenia cases manifested severe coronavirus disease 2019. We found a significant improvement in neutrophils and a reduction in lymphocytes at post-infection follow-up compared with the median of previous values. We speculate that this paradoxical effect may be due to postinfection immunological phenomena.

18.
Eur J Pediatr ; 182(11): 4851-4857, 2023 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37702769

RESUMO

Coronavirus disease 2019 in children presents with distinct phenotype in comparison to adults. Overall, the pediatric infection with a generally milder clinical course of the acute infection compared to adults still faces several unknown aspects. Specifically, the presence of a wide range of inflammatory manifestations, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), myocarditis, and long COVID in the period after infection suggests a particular susceptibility of some children upon severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Albeit peculiar complications such as long covid are less frequent in children compared to adults, research on the relationship between inflammatory syndromes and SARS-CoV-2 is rapidly evolving.     Conclusions: new studies and findings continue to emerge, providing further insights into the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies. In the present work, we revised current knowledge of the main factors accounting for such variability upon SARS-CoV-2 infection over the pediatric age group. What is Known: • COVID19 in children overall showed a milder course compared to adults during the acute phase of the infection. • Children showed to be susceptible to a wide range of post infectious complications including multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), myocarditis, neuroinflammation, and long COVID. What is New: • Mechanisms underlying susceptibility to a severe course of the infection were recently shown to pertain to the host. • A specific combination of HLA was recently shown to be associated to higher susceptibility to MIS-C in children.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Miocardite , Adulto , Criança , Humanos , COVID-19/complicações , Síndrome de COVID-19 Pós-Aguda , RNA Viral , SARS-CoV-2 , Miocardite/etiologia
19.
Clin Immunol ; 255: 109751, 2023 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37660743

RESUMO

Despite the multiple benefits of vaccination, cardiac adverse Events Following COVID-19 Immunization (c-AEFI) have been reported. These events as well as the severe cardiac involvement reported in Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) appear more frequent in young adult males. Herein, we firstly report on the inflammatory profiles of patients experiencing c-AEFI in comparison with age, pubertal age and gender matched MIS-C with cardiac involvement. Proteins related to systemic inflammation were found higher in MIS-C compared to c-AEFI, whereas a higher level in proteins related to myocardial injury was found in c-AEFI. In addition, higher levels of DHEAS, DHEA, and cortisone were found in c-AEFI which persisted at follow-up. No anti-heart muscle and anti-endothelial cell antibodies have been detected. Overall current comparative data showed a distinct inflammatory and androgens profile in c-AEFI patients which results to be well restricted on heart and to persist months after the acute event.


Assuntos
Vacinas contra COVID-19 , COVID-19 , Miocardite , Criança , Humanos , Masculino , Adulto Jovem , Sistemas de Notificação de Reações Adversas a Medicamentos , Vacinas contra COVID-19/efeitos adversos , Miocardite/etiologia , Síndrome , Vacinação/efeitos adversos , Vacinas de mRNA
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