ABSTRACT
The pool of beta cell-specific CD8+ T cells in type 1 diabetes (T1D) sustains an autoreactive potential despite having access to a constant source of antigen. To investigate the long-lived nature of these cells, we established a DNA methylation-based T cell 'multipotency index' and found that beta cell-specific CD8+ T cells retained a stem-like epigenetic multipotency score. Single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing confirmed the coexistence of naive and effector-associated epigenetic programs in individual beta cell-specific CD8+ T cells. Assessment of beta cell-specific CD8+ T cell anatomical distribution and the establishment of stem-associated epigenetic programs revealed that self-reactive CD8+ T cells isolated from murine lymphoid tissue retained developmentally plastic phenotypic and epigenetic profiles relative to the same cells isolated from the pancreas. Collectively, these data provide new insight into the longevity of beta cell-specific CD8+ T cell responses and document the use of this methylation-based multipotency index for investigating human and mouse CD8+ T cell differentiation.
Subject(s)
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/physiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology , Insulin-Secreting Cells/immunology , Pluripotent Stem Cells/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Autoantigens/immunology , Cell Plasticity , Cells, Cultured , DNA Methylation , Epigenesis, Genetic , Female , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Immunologic Memory , Male , Mice , Single-Cell Analysis , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Antibodies to programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) may perturb human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) persistence during antiretroviral therapy (ART) by reversing HIV latency and/or boosting HIV-specific immunity, leading to clearance of infected cells. We tested this hypothesis in a clinical trial of anti-PD-1 alone or in combination with anti-CTLA-4 in people living with HIV (PLWH) and cancer. METHODS: This was a substudy of the AIDS Malignancy Consortium 095 Study. ART-suppressed PLWH with advanced malignancies were assigned to nivolumab (anti-PD-1) with or without ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4). In samples obtained preinfusion and 1 and 7 days after the first and fourth doses of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), we quantified cell-associated unspliced (CA-US) HIV RNA and HIV DNA. Plasma HIV RNA was quantified during the first treatment cycle. Quantitative viral outgrowth assay (QVOA) to estimate the frequency of replication-competent HIV was performed before and after ICB for participants with samples available. RESULTS: Of 40 participants, 33 received nivolumab and 7 nivolumab plus ipilimumab. Whereas CA-US HIV RNA did not change with nivolumab monotherapy, we detected a median 1.44-fold increase (interquartile range, 1.16-1.89) after the first dose of nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy (P = .031). There was no decrease in the frequency of cells containing replication-competent HIV, but in the 2 individuals on combination ICB for whom we had longitudinal QVOA, we detected decreases of 97% and 64% compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-PD-1 alone showed no effect on HIV latency or the latent HIV reservoir, but the combination of anti-PD-1 and anti-CTL-4 induced a modest increase in CA-US HIV RNA and may potentially eliminate cells containing replication-competent HIV. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02408861.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , HIV Infections , HIV-1 , Neoplasms , CTLA-4 Antigen , HIV Infections/complications , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Humans , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor , Virus LatencyABSTRACT
Pharmacologic inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in the setting of renal transplantation has previously been associated with lower human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) DNA burden, and in vitro studies suggest that mTOR inhibition may lead to HIV transcriptional silencing. Because prospective clinical trials are lacking, we conducted an open-label, single-arm study to determine the impact of the broad mTOR inhibitor, everolimus, on residual HIV burden, transcriptional gene expression profiles, and immune responses in HIV-infected adult solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients on antiretroviral therapy. Whereas everolimus therapy did not have an overall effect on cell-associated HIV-1 DNA and RNA levels in the entire cohort, participants who maintained everolimus time-averaged trough levels >5 ng/mL during the first 2 months of therapy had significantly lower RNA levels up to 6 months after the cessation of study drug. Time-averaged everolimus trough levels significantly correlated with greater inhibition of mTOR gene pathway transcriptional activity. Everolimus treatment also led to decreased PD-1 expression on certain T cell subsets. These data support the rationale for further study of the effects of mTOR inhibition on HIV transcriptional silencing in non-SOT populations, either alone or in combination with other strategies. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02429869.
Subject(s)
Organ Transplantation , Pharmaceutical Preparations , Adult , Everolimus/therapeutic use , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
We assessed the real-world utility of universal broad-range polymerase chain reaction sequencing for pathogen detection. Among 1062 clinical samples, 107/1062 (10.1%) had a clinically significant, positive result, with substantial variation by specimen type. Clinical management was changed in 44/1062 (4.1%). These data can help maximize utility of this emerging diagnostic.
Subject(s)
Polymerase Chain Reaction , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
CD4(+) T cells differentiate into multiple effector types, but it is unclear how they form memory T cells during infection in vivo. Profiling virus-specific CD4(+) T cells revealed that effector cells with T helper 1 (Th1) or T follicular helper (Tfh) cell characteristics differentiated into memory cells, although expression of Tfh cell markers declined over time. In contrast to virus-specific effector CD8(+) T cells, increased IL-7R expression was not a reliable marker of CD4(+) memory precursor cells. However, decreased Ly6C and T-bet (Tbx21) expression distinguished a subset of Th1 cells that displayed greater longevity and proliferative responses to secondary infection. Moreover, the gene expression profile of Ly6C(lo)T-bet(int) Th1 effector cells was virtually identical to mature memory CD4(+) T cells, indicating early maturation of memory CD4(+) T cell features in this subset during acute viral infection. This study provides a framework for memory CD4(+) T cell development after acute viral infection.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Ly/immunology , Immunologic Memory , T-Box Domain Proteins/immunology , Th1 Cells/immunology , Animals , Antigens, Ly/genetics , Cell Proliferation , Gene Expression Regulation , Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , T-Box Domain Proteins/genetics , Th1 Cells/cytology , Th1 Cells/virologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Elite controllers (EC), a small subset of the HIV-positive population (< 1%), suppress HIV viremia below the limit of quantification of clinical viral load assays in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, there is a paucity of longitudinal data detailing the viral and immune dynamics or HIV reservoir seeding during acute infection in individuals that go on to become Elite Controllers. CASE PRESENTATION: In this report, we describe a case of a 42 year old woman diagnosed during acute infection who rapidly and permanently suppressed her viremia in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Rapid antibody/antigen testing was either negative or equivocal during acute infection, despite subsequent viral load testing at that time point with 71,550 plasma HIV RNA copies/mL, making initial diagnosis challenging. The patient subsequently developed detectable anti-HIV antibodies and an increase in HIV-specific CD8+ T cell responses to overlapping subtype C HIV gag peptide; very low-level plasma viremia (0.84 RNA copies/mL) was detected by an ultrasensitive assay 2 years following infection. Subsequently, she was started on ART for multifocal furunculosis despite continued suppression of virus and stable CD4+ T cell counts. Following ART initiation, HIV specific antibody levels and CD8+ T cell responses increased, but no HIV DNA or RNA was able to be isolated from large numbers of peripheral blood CD4+ T cells. CONCLUSION: This case provides important information regarding the establishment of elite HIV control during acute infection and also demonstrates an increase in HIV-specific immune responses following ART despite undetectable peripheral blood cellular measures of HIV persistence. This case also highlights the challenges in diagnosing acute HIV infection without the use of viral load testing in this rare elite controller phenotype.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV-1/isolation & purification , Adult , Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Female , HIV Antibodies/blood , HIV Infections/immunology , HIV Infections/pathology , HIV-1/genetics , Humans , RNA, Viral/blood , Viral LoadABSTRACT
After publication of the original article [1], we were notified in Table 1 a column should be removed.
ABSTRACT
During acute infections, a small population of effector CD8(+) T cells evades terminal differentiation and survives as long-lived memory T cells. We demonstrate that the transcriptional repressor Blimp-1 enhanced the formation of terminally differentiated CD8(+) T cells during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection, and Blimp-1 deficiency promoted the acquisition of memory cell properties by effector cells. Blimp-1 expression was preferentially increased in terminally differentiated effector and "effector memory" (Tem) CD8(+) T cells, and gradually decayed after infection as central memory (Tcm) cells developed. Blimp-1-deficient effector CD8(+) T cells showed some reduction in effector molecule expression, but primarily developed into memory precursor cells that survived better and more rapidly acquired several Tcm cell attributes, including CD62L and IL-2 expression and enhanced proliferative responses. These results reveal a critical role for Blimp-1 in controlling terminal differentiation and suppressing memory cell developmental potential in effector CD8(+) T cells during viral infection.
Subject(s)
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Immunologic Memory , Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis/immunology , Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus/immunology , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Transcriptional Activation/immunology , Animals , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/virology , Cell Differentiation/immunology , Cytokines/immunology , Cytokines/metabolism , Gene Expression Profiling , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Knockout , Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1 , Transcription Factors/geneticsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is unknown if extremely early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) may lead to long-term ART-free HIV remission or cure. As a result, we studied 2 individuals recruited from a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program who started prophylactic ART an estimated 10 days (Participant A; 54-year-old male) and 12 days (Participant B; 31-year-old male) after infection with peak plasma HIV RNA of 220 copies/mL and 3,343 copies/mL, respectively. Extensive testing of blood and tissue for HIV persistence was performed, and PrEP Participant A underwent analytical treatment interruption (ATI) following 32 weeks of continuous ART. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Colorectal and lymph node tissues, bone marrow, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), plasma, and very large numbers of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained longitudinally from both participants and were studied for HIV persistence in several laboratories using molecular and culture-based detection methods, including a murine viral outgrowth assay (mVOA). Both participants initiated PrEP with tenofovir/emtricitabine during very early Fiebig stage I (detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA, antibody negative) followed by 4-drug ART intensification. Following peak viral loads, both participants experienced full suppression of HIV-1 plasma viremia. Over the following 2 years, no further HIV could be detected in blood or tissue from PrEP Participant A despite extensive sampling from ileum, rectum, lymph nodes, bone marrow, CSF, circulating CD4+ T cell subsets, and plasma. No HIV was detected from tissues obtained from PrEP Participant B, but low-level HIV RNA or DNA was intermittently detected from various CD4+ T cell subsets. Over 500 million CD4+ T cells were assayed from both participants in a humanized mouse outgrowth assay. Three of 8 mice infused with CD4+ T cells from PrEP Participant B developed viremia (50 million input cells/surviving mouse), but only 1 of 10 mice infused with CD4+ T cells from PrEP Participant A (53 million input cells/mouse) experienced very low level viremia (201 copies/mL); sequence confirmation was unsuccessful. PrEP Participant A stopped ART and remained aviremic for 7.4 months, rebounding with HIV RNA of 36 copies/mL that rose to 59,805 copies/mL 6 days later. ART was restarted promptly. Rebound plasma HIV sequences were identical to those obtained during acute infection by single-genome sequencing. Mathematical modeling predicted that the latent reservoir size was approximately 200 cells prior to ATI and that only around 1% of individuals with a similar HIV burden may achieve lifelong ART-free remission. Furthermore, we observed that lymphocytes expressing the tumor marker CD30 increased in frequency weeks to months prior to detectable HIV-1 RNA in plasma. This study was limited by the small sample size, which was a result of the rarity of individuals presenting during hyperacute infection. CONCLUSIONS: We report HIV relapse despite initiation of ART at one of the earliest stages of acute HIV infection possible. Near complete or complete loss of detectable HIV in blood and tissues did not lead to indefinite ART-free HIV remission. However, the small numbers of latently infected cells in individuals treated during hyperacute infection may be associated with prolonged ART-free remission.
Subject(s)
Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use , Biomarkers/analysis , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV-1 , Adult , Flow Cytometry , HIV Infections/immunology , HIV Infections/virology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Phenotype , Prospective Studies , Recurrence , Secondary Prevention , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Disseminated acanthamoebiasis is a rare, often fatal, infection most commonly affecting immunocompromised patients. We report a case involving sinuses, skin, and bone in a 60-year-old woman 5 months after heart transplantation. She improved with a combination of flucytosine, fluconazole, miltefosine, and decreased immunosuppression. To our knowledge, this is the first case of successfully treated disseminated acanthamoebiasis in a heart transplant recipient and only the second successful use of miltefosine for this infection among solid organ transplant recipients. Acanthamoeba infection should be considered in transplant recipients with evidence of skin, central nervous system, and sinus infections that are unresponsive to antibiotics. Miltefosine may represent an effective component of a multidrug therapeutic regimen for the treatment of this amoebic infection.
Subject(s)
Acanthamoeba/isolation & purification , Amebiasis/drug therapy , Amebicides/therapeutic use , Drugs, Investigational/therapeutic use , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Phosphorylcholine/analogs & derivatives , Sinusitis/drug therapy , Amebiasis/blood , Amebiasis/diagnosis , Amebiasis/parasitology , Amebicides/administration & dosage , Amebicides/adverse effects , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Antilymphocyte Serum/adverse effects , Antilymphocyte Serum/therapeutic use , Biopsy , Cardiomyopathies/surgery , Drugs, Investigational/administration & dosage , Drugs, Investigational/adverse effects , Endoscopy , Female , Fluconazole/therapeutic use , Flucytosine/therapeutic use , Heart Transplantation/adverse effects , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Metacarpal Bones/diagnostic imaging , Metacarpal Bones/parasitology , Metacarpal Bones/pathology , Metacarpal Bones/surgery , Metronidazole/therapeutic use , Middle Aged , Phosphorylcholine/administration & dosage , Phosphorylcholine/adverse effects , Phosphorylcholine/therapeutic use , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Radiography , Sinusitis/diagnosis , Sinusitis/parasitology , Skin/parasitology , Skin/pathologyABSTRACT
SUMMARY: In response to acute infections or vaccines, naive antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells proliferate and differentiate into effector cytotoxic lymphocytes that acquire the ability to kill infected cells. While the majority of differentiated effector cells die after pathogen clearance, a small number evade terminal differentiation, downregulate active effector functions, and survive as long-lived, self-renewing memory T cells. Our understanding of how effector CD8(+) T cells adopt these different cell fates has grown greatly in recent years. In this review, we discuss the transcriptional regulators that are known to support general effector differentiation, terminal effector differentiation, and memory cell formation. We propose that the diversity of activated CD8(+) T-cell differentiation states is achieved via gradients of activity or expression of transcriptional regulators that are regulated by the level of inflammation and antigenic signaling the T cells experience during infection.
Subject(s)
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Genetic Variation , Immunologic Memory/genetics , Lymphocyte Activation/genetics , Transcription, Genetic , Animals , Communicable Diseases/immunology , Humans , Inflammation/immunology , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Vaccines/immunologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: There is growing consensus that eliciting CD8 + T cells in addition to antibodies may be required for an effective HIV vaccine for both prevention and cure. Here, we review key qualities of vaccine-elicited CD8 + T cells as well as major CD8 + T cell-based delivery platforms used in recent HIV vaccine clinical trials. RECENT FINDINGS: Much progress has been made in improving HIV immunogen design and delivery platforms to optimize CD8 + T cell responses. With regards to viral vectors, recent trials have tested newer chimp and human adenovirus vectors as well as a CMV vector. DNA vaccine immunogenicity has been increased by delivering the vaccines by electroporation and together with adjuvants as well as administering them as part of a heterologous regimen. In preclinical models, self-amplifying RNA vaccines can generate durable tissue-based CD8 + T cells. While it may be beneficial for HIV vaccines to recapitulate the functional and phenotypic features of HIV-specific CD8 + T cells isolated from elite controllers, most of these features are not routinely measured in HIV vaccine clinical trials. SUMMARY: Identifying a vaccine capable of generating durable T cell responses that target mutationally vulnerable epitopes and that can rapidly intercept infecting or rebounding virus remains a challenge for HIV. Comprehensive assessment of HIV vaccine-elicited CD8 + T cells, as well as comparisons between different vaccine platforms, will be critical to advance our understanding of how to design better CD8 + T cell-based vaccines for HIV.
Subject(s)
AIDS Vaccines , HIV Infections , Humans , HIV Infections/prevention & control , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes , Genetic Vectors , EpitopesSubject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Communicable Diseases/drug therapy , Drug Resistance, Microbial , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Congresses as Topic , Fellowships and Scholarships/economics , Humans , Infection Control Practitioners/economics , United Nations , United StatesABSTRACT
It is unclear where within tissues subsets of effector and memory CD8 T cells persist during viral infection and whether their localization affects function and long-term survival. Following lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, we found most killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1)(lo)IL-7R(hi) effector and memory cells, which are long-lived and high proliferative capacity, in the T cell zone of the spleen. In contrast, KLRG1(hi)IL-7R(lo) cells, which appear terminally differentiated and have shorter life spans, were exclusively localized to the red pulp. KLRG1(lo)IL-7R(hi) T cells homed to the T cell zone using pertussis toxin-sensitive chemokine receptors and appeared to contact gp38(+) stromal cells, which produce the chemokines CCL19 and CCL21 and the T cell survival cytokine IL-7. The transcription factors T-bet and B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 controlled effector CD8 T cell splenic migration. Effector CD8 T cells overexpressing T-bet homed to the red pulp, whereas those lacking B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 homed to the T cell zone. Upon memory formation, CD62L(+) memory T cells were predominantly found in the T cell zone, whereas CD62L(-) cells were found in the red pulp. Thus, effector and memory CD8 T cell subset localization within tissues is linked to their differentiation states, and this may identify anatomical niches that regulate their longevity and homeostasis.
Subject(s)
Arenaviridae Infections/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/cytology , Chemotaxis, Leukocyte/immunology , Immunologic Memory/immunology , Spleen/cytology , T-Lymphocyte Subsets/cytology , Animals , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Microscopy, Fluorescence , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , Spleen/immunology , T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Immunological studies of spontaneous HIV and simian virus (SIV) controllers have identified virus-specific CD8 + âT cells as a key immune mechanism of viral control. The purpose of this review is to consider how knowledge about the mechanisms that are associated with CD8 + âT cell control of HIV/SIV in natural infection can be harnessed in HIV remission strategies. RECENT FINDINGS: We discuss characteristics of CD8 + âT-cell responses that may be critical for suppressing HIV replication in spontaneous controllers comprising HIV antigen recognition including specific human leukocyte antigen types, broadly cross-reactive T cell receptors and epitope targeting, enhanced expansion and antiviral functions, and localization of virus-specific T cells near sites of reservoir persistence. We also discuss the need to better understand the timing of CD8 + âT-cell responses associated with viral control of HIV/SIV during acute infection and after treatment interruption as well as the mechanisms by which HIV/SIV-specific CD8 + âT cells coordinate with other immune responses to achieve control. SUMMARY: We propose implications as to how this knowledge from natural infection can be applied in the design and evaluation of CD8 + âT-cell-based remission strategies and offer questions to consider as these strategies target distinct CD8 + âT-cell-dependent mechanisms of viral control.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Simian Immunodeficiency Virus , Animals , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes , HIV Non-Progressors , Humans , Macaca mulatta , Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/physiology , Viral LoadABSTRACT
Although generating high neutralizing antibody levels is a key component of protective immunity after acute viral infection or vaccination, little is known about why some individuals generate high versus low neutralizing antibody titers. Here, we leverage the high-dimensional single-cell profiling capacity of mass cytometry to characterize the longitudinal cellular immune response to Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in viremic blood donors in Puerto Rico. During acute ZIKV infection, we identify widely coordinated responses across innate and adaptive immune cell lineages. High frequencies of multiple activated cell types during acute infection are associated with high titers of ZIKV neutralizing antibodies 6 months post-infection, while stable immune features suggesting a cytotoxic-skewed immune set point are associated with low titers. Our study offers insight into the coordination of immune responses and identifies candidate cellular biomarkers that may offer predictive value in vaccine efficacy trials aimed at inducing high levels of antiviral neutralizing antibodies.
Subject(s)
Zika Virus Infection , Zika Virus , Antibodies, Neutralizing , Antibodies, Viral , Humans , VaccinationABSTRACT
HIV-specific chimeric antigen receptor-T cell (CAR T cell) therapies are candidates to functionally cure HIV infection in people with HIV (PWH) by eliminating reactivated HIV-infected cells derived from latently infected cells within the HIV reservoir. Paramount to translating such therapeutic candidates successfully into the clinic will require anti-HIV CAR T cells to localize to lymphoid tissues in the body and eliminate reactivated HIV-infected cells such as CD4+ T cells and monocytes/macrophages. Here we show that i.v. injected anti-HIV duoCAR T cells, generated using a clinical-grade anti-HIV duoCAR lentiviral vector, localized to the site of active HIV infection in the spleen of humanized mice and eliminated HIV-infected PBMCs. CyTOF analysis of preinfusion duoCAR T cells revealed an early memory phenotype composed predominantly of CCR7+ stem cell-like/central memory T cells (TSCM/TCM) with expression of some effector-like molecules. In addition, we show that anti-HIV duoCAR T cells effectively sense and kill HIV-infected CD4+ T cells and monocytes/macrophages. Furthermore, we demonstrate efficient genetic modification of T cells from PWH on suppressive ART into anti-HIV duoCAR T cells that subsequently kill autologous PBMCs superinfected with HIV. These studies support the safety and efficacy of anti-HIV duoCAR T cell therapy in our presently open phase I/IIa clinical trial (NCT04648046).
Subject(s)
HIV Infections , HIV-1 , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , Animals , Mice , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Leukocytes, Mononuclear , Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic , Clinical Trials, Phase II as TopicABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is a leading cause of death worldwide and is a major health-care challenge in people living with HIV. Despite this, the causes of pneumonia in this population remain poorly understood. We aimed to assess the feasibility of metatranscriptomics for epidemiological surveillance of pneumonia in patients with HIV in Uganda. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study in patients with HIV who were admitted to Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda between Oct 1, 2009, and Dec 31, 2011. Inclusion criteria were age 18 years or older, HIV-positivity, and clinically diagnosed pneumonia. Exclusion criteria were contraindication to bronchoscopy or an existing diagnosis of tuberculosis. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected within 72 h of admission and a combination of RNA sequencing and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture plus PCR were performed. The primary outcome was detection of an established or possible respiratory pathogen in the total study population. FINDINGS: We consecutively enrolled 217 patients during the study period. A potential microbial cause for pneumonia was identified in 211 (97%) patients. At least one microorganism of established respiratory pathogenicity was identified in 113 (52%) patients, and a microbe of possible pathogenicity was identified in an additional 98 (45%). M tuberculosis was the most commonly identified established pathogen (35 [16%] patients; in whom bacterial or viral co-infections were identified in 13 [37%]). Streptococcus mitis, although not previously reported as a cause of pneumonia in patients with HIV, was the most commonly identified bacterial organism (37 [17%] patients). Haemophilus influenzae was the most commonly identified established bacterial pathogen (20 [9%] patients). Pneumocystis jirovecii was only identified in patients with a CD4 count of less than 200 cells per mL. INTERPRETATION: We show the feasibility of using metatranscriptomics for epidemiologic surveillance of pneumonia by describing the spectrum of respiratory pathogens in adults with HIV in Uganda. Applying these methods to a contemporary cohort could enable broad assessment of changes in pneumonia aetiology following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. FUNDING: US National Institutes of Health, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , HIV Infections , Pneumonia , Adolescent , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , HIV Infections/complications , Humans , Pneumonia/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Uganda/epidemiology , United StatesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Limited data are available on the long-term clinical and immunologic consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection in people with HIV (PWH). METHODS: We measured SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cellular responses in people with and without HIV recovering from COVID-19 ( n â=â39 and n â=â43, respectively) using binding antibody, surrogate virus neutralization, intracellular cytokine staining, and inflammatory marker assays. We identified individuals experiencing postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) and evaluated immunologic parameters. We used linear regression and generalized linear models to examine differences by HIV status in the magnitude of inflammatory and virus-specific antibody and T-cell responses, as well as differences in the prevalence of PASC. RESULTS: Among PWH, we found broadly similar SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and T-cell responses as compared with a well matched group of HIV-negative individuals. PWH had 70% lower relative levels of SARS-CoV-2-specific memory CD8 + T cells ( P â=â0.007) and 53% higher relative levels of PD-1+ SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 + T cells ( P â=â0.007). Higher CD4 + /CD8 + ratio was associated with lower PD-1 expression on SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 + T cells (0.34-fold effect, P â=â0.02). HIV status was strongly associated with PASC (odds ratio 4.01, P â=â0.008), and levels of certain inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IP-10) were associated with persistent symptoms. CONCLUSION: We identified potentially important differences in SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in PWH and HIV-negative participants that might have implications for long-term immunity conferred by natural infection. HIV status strongly predicted the presence of PASC. Larger and more detailed studies of PASC in PWH are urgently needed.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , HIV Infections , Humans , Antibodies, Viral/metabolism , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes , COVID-19/complications , HIV Infections/complications , HIV Infections/metabolism , Immunologic Memory , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism , SARS-CoV-2 , Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is mounting evidence for the presence of postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC), but there is limited information on the spectrum, magnitude, duration, and patterns of these sequelae as well as their influence on quality of life. METHODS: We assembled a cohort of adults with a documented history of SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity atâ ≥2 weeks past onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms or, if asymptomatic, first positive test. At 4-month intervals, we queried physical and mental health symptoms and quality of life. RESULTS: Of the first 179 participants enrolled, 10 were asymptomatic during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection, 125 were symptomatic but not hospitalized, and 44 were symptomatic and hospitalized. During the postacute phase, fatigue, shortness of breath, concentration problems, headaches, trouble sleeping, and anosmia/dysgeusia were most common through 8 months of observation. Symptoms were typically at least somewhat bothersome and sometimes exhibited a waxing-and-waning course. Some participants experienced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, as well as difficulties with performance of usual activities. The median visual analogue scale rating of general health was lower at 4 and 8 months compared with pre-COVID-19. Two clusters of symptom domains were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Many participants report bothersome symptoms following onset of COVID-19 with variable patterns of persistence and impact on quality of life. The substantial variability suggests the existence of multiple subphenotypes of PASC. A rigorous approach to the prospective measurement of symptoms and functional manifestations sets the stage for the next phase of research focusing on the pathophysiologic causes of the various subgroups of PASC.