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Background Chronic inflammation is prevalent with antiretroviral therapy (ART)-suppressed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and one immune cell subset putatively driving this phenomenon is TIGIT+ γδ T cells. Methods To elucidate γδ T-cell phenotypic diversity, spectral flow cytometry was performed on blood lymphocytes from individuals of a HIV and aging cohort and data were analyzed using bioinformatic platforms. Plasma inflammatory markers were measured and correlated with γδ T-cell subset frequencies. Results Thirty-nine distinct γδ T-cell subsets were identified (22 Vδ1+, 14 Vδ2+, and 3 Vδ1−Vδ2−Vγ9+) and TIGIT was nearly exclusively found on the Vδ1+CD45RA+CD27− effector populations. People with ART-suppressed HIV infection (PWH) exhibited high frequencies of distinct clusters of Vδ1+ effectors distinguished via CD8, CD16, and CD38 expression. Among Vδ2+ cells, most Vγ9+ (innate-like) clusters were lower in PWH; however, CD27+ subsets were similar in frequency between participants with and without HIV. Comparisons by age revealed lower 'naive' Vδ1+CD45RA+CD27+ cells in older individuals, regardless of HIV status. Plasma inflammatory markers were selectively linked to subsets of Vδ1+ and Vδ2+ cells. Conclusions These results further elucidate γδ T-cell subset complexity and reveal distinct alterations and connections with inflammatory pathways of Vδ1+ effector and Vδ2+ innate-like subsets during ART-suppressed HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV-1 acquisition occurs most commonly after sexual contact. To establish infection, HIV-1 must infect cells that support high-level replication, namely [CD4.sup.+] T cells, which are absent from the outermost genital epithelium. Dendritic cells (DCs), present in mucosal epithelia, potentially facilitate HIV-1 acquisition. We show that vaginal epithelial DCs, termed [CD1a.sup.+] VEDCs, are unlike other blood- and tissue-derived DCs because they express langerin but not DC-SIGN, and unlike skin-based [langerin.sup.+] DC subset Langerhans cells (LCs), they do not harbor Birbeck granules. Individuals primarily acquire HIV-1 that utilizes the CCR5 receptor (termed either R5 or R5X4) during heterosexual transmission, and the mechanism for the block against variants that only use the CXCR4 receptor (classified as X4) remains unclear. We show that X4 as compared with R5 HIV-1 shows limited to no replication in [CD1a.sup.+] VEDCs. This differential replication occurs after fusion, suggesting that receptor usage influences postentry steps in the virus life cycle. Furthermore, [CD1a.sup.+] VEDCs isolated from HIV-1-infected virologically suppressed women harbor HIV-1 DNA. Thus, [CD1a.sup.+] VEDCs are potentially infected early during heterosexual transmission and also retain virus during treatment. Understanding the interplay between HIV-1 and [CD1a.sup.+] VEDCs is important for future prevention and cure strategies., Introduction The majority of new HIV-1 infections occur in women after heterosexual contact. To establish a systemic infection in a naive woman, HIV-1 must cross the genital epithelium and infect [...]

Intercropping perennial cereal crops with legume species can offer multiple ecosystem functions and agronomic benefits. This study evaluated the forage dry matter yield (FDMY) and the nutritive value of two perennial cereal grain crop species [ACE 1-rye and Kenza, intermediate wheatgrass (IWG)] intercropped with three perennial legume species (alfalfa, white clover, and sainfoin) using alternate- and same-row seeding methods at five different sites in Alberta. The experimental sites were established in June 2022 using a factorial experimental model with eight treatment factors, including perennial monocultures or intercrop with a legume species. One year after establishment in 2023, the forage dry matter yield (FDMY) varied significantly (P < 0.05) across experimental sites, ranging from 228 kgּ·ha-1ּ·yr-1 for the IWG/sainfoin intercrop to 6,833 kgּ·ha-1ּ·yr-1 for the IWG and alfalfa intercrop treatment. Seeding methods (Same or Alternate row) and site location had a significant effect on the FDMY (P = 0.00126), indicating consistent performance in the two cropping systems across diverse environments and site locations. The study assessed eight treatments (cereal-legume combinations) for forage quality performance, of which seven treatments, including RyeClover, Rye-Sainfoin, Wheat-Alfalfa, Wheat-Clover, Wheat-Sainfoin, Wheat mono, and Rye mono, showed significant effects on forage quality factors of crude protein (CP), NDF, NDFD-48, and the Relative Feed Value (RFV). The nutritive value of forage varied across different treatments, with CP content ranging from 6.28% to 18.94% and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content ranging from 10.28% to 40.27%. This variation suggests that the protein and digestibility requirements for livestock consumption are met at different stages. Additionally, the study suggests that intercropping perennial cereal grain crops with legume species using either alternate or the same row seeding methods can lead to consistent forage productivity across different sites. The forages from these intercropping systems exhibit adequate concentrations of CP and total digestible nutrient (TDN), with an average TDN concentration across all sites of approximately 59.3%. This makes them suitable for fulfilling the dietary requirements of beef or dairy cows at various developmental stages. Further research is ongoing to investigate ecosystem functions such as biological nitrogen fixation and water-use efficiency to optimize management practices for sustainable forage production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 have increased inflammation, which has been associated with age-associated diseases. Plasma markers, cell-associated virus levels, and ability to stimulate RNA transcription in latently infected cell lines was examined in younger and older HIV-1-infected individuals with suppressed virus. Cell-associated RNA, but not intact provirus level, had positive correlation with plasma D-dimer levels. Compared with the younger group, the older group had higher D-dimer levels and a trend toward more cell-associated RNA but similar levels of intact proviruses. Even though all measured inflammatory markers were relatively higher in the older group, this greater inflammation did not induce more HIV-1 transcription in latently infected cell lines. Inflammation and HIV-1 RNA expression increase with age despite similar levels of intact infectious HIV DNA. While plasma inflammation is correlated with HIV-1 RNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, it does not induce HIV-1 transcription in latently infected cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), which amplify and detect pathogen nucleic acids, are vital methods to diagnose diseases, particularly in cases where patients exhibit low levels of infection. For many blood-borne pathogens such as HIV or Plasmodium falciparum, it is necessary to first extract pathogen RNA or DNA from patient blood prior to NAAT analysis. Traditional nucleic acid extraction methods are expensive, resource-intensive and are often difficult to deploy to resource-limited areas where many blood-borne infections are widespread. Here, we describe a portable, paper-and-plastic device, called SNAPflex, for instrument-free nucleic acid extraction from whole blood, which builds upon our previous work for RNA extraction using a pressure-driven extraction system. SNAPflex shows improved HIV RNA extraction from simulated patient samples compared to traditional extraction methods as well as long-term stability of extracted RNA without the need for cold storage. We further demonstrated successful extraction and recovery of P. falciparum DNA from cultured parasites in whole blood. SNAPflex was designed to be easily manufacturable and deployable to resource-limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]