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Since the 1980s, the volunteers of the ornithological group of the Nature Midi-Pyrénées association have been monitoring the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) population in the Ariège Pyrenees and in the Toulouse agglomeration. The data collected over the last 30 years show stability of the Ariège population: little variation has been observed in brood size, occupation rate of the sites or reproductive success. Only the increasing number of known nesting sites is significant, due to better knowledge of the territory by observers over time. In 2017, the breeding population was estimated to be 24 pairs. Urban monitoring proved the presence of individuals in passage, wintering or resident in Toulouse. Since 2002, downtown Toulouse has been visited by several individuals of both sexes and interactions between males and females have been observed since 2005. Despite the multiplicity of possible eyries or nesting sites in Toulouse, and the massive presence of Peregrine Falcons and dedicated bird watchers, no case of breeding has been reported. In addition to monitoring, measures to protect and support the presence of the species have been put in place. In the Pyrenees, in the light of the growth of human activities near nesting sites, some sites are now subject to official protective measures, coupled with constant vigilance and awareness. In Toulouse, to encourage the breeding of the individuals present, two nesting boxes were installed in 2016, on two buildings frequented by a female and a male. In 2017, a first attempt to reproduce in one of these installations confirmed the value of such developments in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of the effects of electromagnetic waves on Saccharomyces cerevisiae emphasize the need to develop instrumented experimental systems ensuring a characterization of the exposition level to enable unambiguous assessment of their potential effects on living organisms. A bioreactor constituted with two separate compartments has been designed. The main element (75% of total volume) supporting all measurement and control systems (temperature, pH, agitation, and aeration) is placed outside the exposure room whereas the secondary element is exposed to irradiation. Measurements of the medium dielectric properties allow the determination of the electromagnetic field at any point inside the irradiated part of the reactor and are consistent with numerical simulations. In these conditions, the growth rate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the ethanol yield in aerobic conditions are not significantly modified when submitted to an electromagnetic field of 900 and 2400 MHz with an average exposition of 6.11 V.m −1 and 3.44 V.m −1 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High performance assays are essential for the serological diagnosis of recent and past Zika virus (ZIKV) infections but few are presently available. We used two commercially available NS1 antigen-based enzyme-linked immunoassays to study the kinetics of anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG in 15 ZIKV-infected patients for up to 180 days after clinical onset. The Diapro assay detected anti-ZIKV IgM reactivity more frequently (100%) and for longer (median 53 days) than did the Euroimmun assay (60%; 13 days, P < 0.005). Both assays detected anti-ZIKV IgG reactivity 11 days after clinical onset in all subjects. ZIKV IgG reactivity decreased in 3 subjects, suggesting long-term false-negative results with the Euroimmun assay. Existing anti-Dengue antibodies seem to modify the detection of ZIKV IgG but the specificity of the immunoassays was not assessed. These enzyme-linked immunoassays were user-friendly and provided results rapidly in our hands but they need further assessment before being widely used for diagnosis or public health surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV-HR) is a recognized cause of cervical cancer. The aimof this studywas to compare analytical and clinical performances of the Cobas®HPV and Anyplex™ II HPV28 assays for HPV detection and genotyping. A total of 94 cervical samples were tested. For HPV-HR, the results agreed very well (94.68%),with 100% agreement when detecting CIN2+. The Anyplex™ II HPV28 assay detected more genotypes than the Cobas® HPV Test, but their clinical performances were similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The ability to detect and quantify HIV and HCV genomes is important for checking spermatozoid preparation protocols also known as “sperm washing”. But no commercial assay is available. A method was developed for detecting HIV and HCV in semen fractions using the COBAS Ampliprep™ and COBAS Taqman™ instruments. It will detect fewer than 200 copies of HIV RNA per ml of semen plasma and fewer than 200 copies/3×106 semen cells. The sensitivity for HCV is similar at more than 200IU/ml and below 200IU/3×106 semen cells. No inhibitor of PCR amplification was detected. This automated protocol permits a convenient, standardized testing for HIV and HCV in semen. The performance is the same as that of the previous generation of automated assays but the cost and operating time are both reduced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To enable serodiscordant couples to reproduce while minimizing the risk of infecting the female partner and to demonstrate the feasibility of including these couples in an insemination program.Prospective follow-up study.Ambulatory IUIs.Fifty-six HIV-1–serodiscordant couples with a male infected partner.Sperm cell separation by the gradient density method followed by the swim-up method, virological detection, and IUI after ovarian stimulation.Pregnancy rate, HIV-1 test, and p24 antigenemia in women.Two hundred thirteen IUIs were performed, and 37 pregnancies occurred, resulting in 33 births and 2 ongoing pregnancies. Fifty percent of couples have a child. No women were infected.Our study demonstrates the efficiency of an IUI program with prepared and virologically tested spermatozoa in serodiscordant couples with an HIV-1–infected male partner, allowing the couples to have children without transmission of the virus to the female partner. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Phylogenetic analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) pol gene is a useful method for subtyping European strains of HIV-1. The suitability of this method for genetically diverse African strains was evaluated by comparing HIV-1 subtyping of Cameroon strains using a long fragment of the pol gene sequence to the findings obtained using env gene sequences. When the pol gene could not be amplified, the reverse transcriptase (RT) or the protease (PR) genes were used. Phylogenetic analysis of the env C2/V3 gene sequences of 60 HIV-1 isolates showed 52 to be subtype A, 2 subtype G, plus one each of subtypes C, F2 and H, with 3 subtypes not determined. A long fragment of the pol gene was amplified successfully and sequenced in 23% of cases. The RT region was amplified for 42% of the samples that could not be typed by analysing the long fragment, and the PR gene was amplified for 40% of them. Thus, 63% of samples were typable. Env and pol gene subtypings were in agreement in 86% of cases. It is concluded that the phylogenetic analysis of pol gene sequences is not a practical method for HIV-1 subtyping in areas of high subtype diversity, despite the good agreement between the env and pol gene subtypings. However, it can be a useful method for HIV-1 subtyping, provided that the gene is amplifiable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the molecular characteristics of HIV-1 subtypes in Tunisia. Implications of the genetic diversity of HIV-1; Information on the geographic distribution of various HIV-1 subtypes; Details on the predominance of subtype B HIV.

In this paper, the near-state pulse width modulation (NSPWM), adapted to be used in dual-voltage source inverter (VSI) fed open-end load, is introduced primarily aiming to appreciably minimize the voltage total harmonic distortion (THD). Within the framework of the proposed method, the active time of pulses at the second inverter is relatively adjusted within switching interval (compared to the first VSI). The phase voltage harmonics are formulated for dual-inverter modulated by NSPWM; then, optimal adjustment is identified via a three-dimensional curve of phase voltage THD versus modulation index (MI) and phase angle displacement (PAD). Due to the limitation of MI in NSPWM, the desired output voltage is synthesized with modifying not only MI but also PAD between references of two VSIs. Furthermore, NSPWM inherently takes advantage of better efficiency compared to conventional space vector modulation due to switching only two phases within an interval (by clamping one phase to positive/negative dc-rail). The dual-VSI supplied by two isolated dc sources is assembled in the laboratory to experimentally evaluate the THD reduction feature of the proposed method; also, the simulation results obtained by means of a MATLAB/Simulink environment show close agreement with experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, the near-state pulsewidth modulation (NSPWM), adapted to be implemented in dual-voltage-source inverter (VSI) fed open-end motor, is proposed with the aim of mitigating low-order harmonics (which lead to current total harmonic distortion (THD) minimization). The following two proposed methods are studied in detail: 1) fixing phase angle displacement (PAD) between two VSIs to 120° while adjusting the modulation index (MI); and 2) fixing MI to the predetermined value (wherein low-order harmonics are highly mitigated) while adjusting PAD. Furthermore, the proposed approaches enhance efficiency by limiting the number of commutations within the switching interval. The paper also presents the mathematical approaches to accurately determine low-order harmonic components and switching losses for dual-VSI structure. The experimental setup, including dual-VSI and open-end induction motor, is assembled in the laboratory to evaluate performance of the proposed method. Finally, the simulation results, carried out in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, are found to be in close agreement with experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, angular modulation index (AMI) implemented through a modified space vector modulation for the dual voltage source inverters (VSI) is proposed with the primarily aiming to reduce switching losses. The desired voltage across the load is synthesized by applying appropriate phase-angle displacement between space vector references. The proposed approach avoids the use of a dc/dc boost converter (which imposes loss and weight/price penalty to duplicate the dc-link voltage) and results to be particularly suitable for electrical/hybrid vehicle applications. Namely, the application of saving energy to keep driving has been identified as major concern. Hence, this work focuses on the strategy to enhance efficiency. The principles of the proposed controlling method and switching loss, which is reduced at least by 50%, are theoretically evaluated. This paper proposes a pioneering mathematical approach to correctly determine total harmonic distortion (THD) value of the voltage/current for the dual-VSI structure. Furthermore, simulation and experimental results prove that the proposed method insures benefits in terms of common-mode voltage, THD of the voltage, and switching loss reduction. The dual-VSI prototype supplying 1.5-kW induction motor is assembled in the laboratory to experimentally evaluate performance of the proposed method. Also, the simulation results carried out through MATLAB/Simulink environment are given to confirm performance of this easy-to-implement and high-efficient method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We investigated the effects of dengue virus (DENV) on semen using samples collected 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after symptom onset from 10 infected volunteers on Réunion Island. We assessed characteristics of semen and reproductive hormones and isolated motile spermatozoa from semen. We assayed semen for DENV using reverse transcription PCR and searched for DENV RNA by virus isolation in Vero E6 cell cultures. Four volunteers had >1 DENV RNA-positive semen samples; 2 volunteers had DENV RNA-positive semen at day 15 and 1 at day 30. No motile sperm were DENV positive. After exposure to positive semen, few Vero E6 cells stained positive for DENV antigens, indicating low levels of replicative virus. We found DENV had shorter duration in semen than in blood. These findings support the possibilities that DENV is sexually transmissible for a short period after acute dengue illness and that acute dengue induces reversible alterations in sperm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested whole-blood and plasma samples from immunocompetent patients who had had benign Zika virus infections and found that Zika virus RNA persisted in whole blood substantially longer than in plasma. This finding may have implications for diagnosis of acute symptomatic and asymptomatic infections and for testing of blood donations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Severe and protracted monkeypox virus infection can occur in a patient with AIDS. • In this setting, tecovirimat might improve symptoms and decrease viral replication. • Randomized controlled trials in humans are underway. • Patients who are diagnosed with monkeypox should be routinely tested for HIV. A patient aged 28 years who is immunocompromised and living with HIV/AIDS became infected with the monkeypox virus (MPXV). His clinical condition deteriorated for 37 days, with fever, skin lesions, and diarrhea before going to the infectious diseases department, where his severe, protracted infection was treated with tecovirimat for 14 days. His condition rapidly improved, and the skin lesions decreased, as did the MPXV loads, with no adverse events. This case indicates that tecovirimat might be effective for treating patients who are immunocompromised and are infected with MPXV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood samples from patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA <20 copies/ml for more than 2 years were studied. Significant decreases in total and integrated HIV-1 DNA were observed during the first 15 months of suppressive therapy before the concentrations became stable. Clonal analysis of HIV-1 pol demonstrated that the proportions of resistance mutations in DNA sequences after 2 years were lower than those in baseline DNA and RNA sequences. The changes in the clonal composition of HIV-1 env populations in three patients with evidence of changes in HIV-1 pol populations indicated a shift from predominantly R5-like viruses to predominantly X4-like viruses in two patients and the persistence of predominantly X4-like viruses in the third. Our analyses indicate the reemergence of ancestral sequences from long-lived cells or the residual production of wild-type virus from anatomic sites with limited access to antiretroviral drugs and the preferential infection of cells expressing CXCR4. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Zika (ZIKV), Dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya viruses (CHIKV) co-circulate in the same geographical areas during the same seasonal period through the same biting arthropods. Therefore a rapid sensitive and specific molecular assay for these viruses would be a considerable help in the disease management and the epidemiological survey. We developed a one-step multiplex real-time PCR for the simultaneous detection of these viruses. Intra and inter-reproducibilities varied from 0.41% to 3.29% and from 1.13% to 4.93% for each virus respectively. The specificity was 100%. Whole blood, plasma and urines were used for comparison with commercially available monoplex assays (RealStar® kits, Altona Diagnostics GmbH, Hamburg, Germany). The concordance was 96%, 92.9% and 95.7% for ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV respectively. No cross reaction and no PCR inhibition were observed for any of the clinical samples. This test can thus be used as a rapid molecular assay for ZIKV, DENV1–4 and CHIKV infections. Highlights • The multiplex assay detects three viral targets: ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV. • The multiplex assay includes an internal control (GAPDH). • The multiplex assay is suitable for use with whole blood specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence of human sexual transmission during Zika virus emergence is a matter of concern, particularly in procreation, but to date, kinetics of seminal shedding and the effects of infection on human reproductive function have not been described. To investigate the effects of Zika virus infection on semen and clearance of Zika virus from semen and body fluids, we aimed to study a cohort of Zika virus-infected men.Methods: This prospective observational study recruited men presenting with acute Zika virus infection at Pointe-à-Pitre University Hospital in Guadeloupe, French Caribbean, where a Zika virus outbreak occurred between April and November, 2016. Blood, urine, and semen were collected at days 7, 11, 20, 30, 60, 90, and 120 after symptom onset, and semen characteristics, such as total sperm count, sperm motility, vitality, and morphology, and reproductive hormone concentrations, such as testosterone, inhibin, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinising hormone, were assessed. At days 7, 11, and 20, semen was processed to isolate motile spermatozoa. Zika virus RNA was detected by RT-PCR using whole blood, serum, urine, seminal plasma, semen cells, and motile spermatozoa fractions. Zika virus was isolated from different sperm fractions on Vero E6 cultures.Findings: 15 male volunteers (mean age 35 years [SD 5; range 25-44) with acute Zika virus infection and positive Zika virus RNA detection in blood or urine were enrolled. Total sperm count was decreased from median 119 × 106 spermatozoa (IQR 22-234) at day 7 to 45·2 × 106 (16·5-89·6) at day 30 and 70 × 106 (28·5-81·4) at day 60, respectively, after Zika virus infection. Inhibin values increased from 93·5 pg/mL (IQR 55-162) at day 7 to 150 pg/mL (78-209) at day 120 when total sperm count recovered. In motile spermatozoa obtained after density gradient separation, Zika virus RNA was found in three of 14 patients at day 7, four of 15 at day 11, and four of 15 at day 20, and replication-competent virus was found in the tested patient. Seminal shedding kinetics seemed heterogeneous among patients. Whole blood was the fluid most frequently positive for Zika virus RNA (62 of 92 samples) and three patients remained positive at day 120.Interpretation: Semen alterations early after acute Zika virus infection might affect fertility and could be explained by virus effects on the testis and epididymis. Frequency of shedding and high viral load in semen, together with the presence of replicative virus in a motile spermatozoa fraction, can lead to Zika virus transmission during sexual contact and assisted reproduction procedures. Whole blood seems to be the best specimen for Zika virus RNA detection, diagnosis, and follow-up.Funding: Agence de la Biomédecine/Agence Régionale de Santé de la Guadeloupe/Inserm-REACTing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV-1 was mainly CCR5 tropic in recent seroconverters. We analyzed the coreceptor use in 239 primary HIV-1 infections (PHIs) between 1996 and 2014 using a validated recombinant virus phenotypic entry assay. CXCR4-using viruses were detected in 8.3%, 3.8%, and 6.1% of PHIs from 1996 to 2004, 2005 to 2009, and 2010 to 2014, respectively. The presence of CXCR4-using viruses was associated with the virological failure of antiretroviral treatment initiated during PHI (odds ratio, 7.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 56.5). The phenotypic tropism assay data show that the prevalence of X4 tropic transmitted viruses was stable in this French cohort of PHIs between 1996 and 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed Zika virus RNA and select cytokine levels in semen, blood, and plasma samples from an infected patient in South America. Viral RNA was detected in semen >2 months after viremia clearance; cytokine profiles differed in semen and plasma. After viremia, Zika virus appears to become compartmentalized in the male reproductive tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), a T-cell neoplasm caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), develops in the majority of cases in individuals who were infected with HTLV-1 as young children, by their mother during prolonged breastfeeding. We report the case of a Caucasian French man, whose parents were HTLV-1-seronegative and who developed ATLL after HTLV-1 sexual transmission by a Cameroonian woman. This hypothesis was corroborated by genotyping of the patient's virus, which revealed an HTLV-1B strain, found only in Central Africa, especially in Cameroon. Thus, ATLL may develop after HTLV-1 infection during adulthood, outside breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To track changes in the V3 env region of HIV-1 quasispecies and determine virus coreceptor use in cell reservoirs of patients on long-term suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). Patients and methods Ten patients whose plasma viraemia had been suppressed for a median of 5.5 years were followed for 5 years. The V3 env regions of viruses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analysed by ultra-deep sequencing (UDS). HIV-1 tropism was predicted using the geno2pheno 5.75 algorithm and a phenotypic assay. Results The UDS and phenotypic assay data were concordant for predicting HIV-1 tropism. CXCR4-using viruses detected by UDS accounted for 14.7%–76.5% of the virus populations in samples from five patients at enrolment. Five patients harboured pure R5 virus populations and no X4 viruses emerged during the 5 years. The selection pressures estimated by the dN/dS ratio were acting on the V3 region to produce diversification of the quasispecies in CXCR4-infected patients and purification of the quasispecies in R5-infected patients on effective ART. Conclusions UDS showed that the virus quasispecies in cell reservoirs of patients on long-term suppressive ART continued to evolve. CXCR4-using variants became more diversified. Analysis of the selection pressures on the virus quasispecies could provide a clearer picture of virus persistence in patients on effective ART. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Depletion of CD4+ T cells from the gut occurs rapidly during acute HIV-1 infection. This has been linked to systemic inflammation and disease progression as a result of translocation of microbial products from the gut lumen into the bloodstream. Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) substantially restores CD4+ T cell numbers in peripheral blood, but the gut compartment remains largely depleted of such cells for poorly understood reasons. Here, we show that a lack of recruitment of CD4+ T cells to the gut could be involved in the incomplete mucosal immune reconstitution of cART-treated HIV-infected individuals. We investigated the trafficking of CD4+ T cells expressing the gut-homing receptors CCR9 and integrin α4β7 and found that many of these T cells remained in the circulation rather than repopulating the mucosa of the small intestine. This is likely because expression of the CCR9 ligand CCL25 was lower in the small intestine of HIV-infected individuals. The defective gut homing of CCR9+β7+ CD4+ T cells -- a population that we found included most gut-homing Th17 cells, which have a critical role in mucosal immune defense -- correlated with high plasma concentrations of markers of mucosal damage, microbial translocation, and systemic T cell activation. Our results thus describe alterations in CD4+ T cell homing to the gut that could prevent efficient mucosal immune reconstitution in HIV-infected individuals despite effective cART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study sperm parameters in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 and to analyze mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in sperm according to the HIV treatment. Design: Observational study. Setting: University-affiliated teaching hospital. Patient(s): Thirty-two patients infected with HIV-1 and 31 noninfected healthy men provided semen samples. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): After DNA extraction, mtDNA level was assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (LightCycler) in whole semen and in selected spermatozoa from 90% density centrifugation gradients. For each sample, mtDNA and β-globin gene sequences were amplified and PCR products were quantified. The mtDNA-to-β-globin ratio expressed the number of mtDNA copies per cell. Result(s): Compared with the control group, several sperm parameters were altered in patients with HIV. The number of mtDNA copies per cell in whole semen was increased in HIV-infected patients (6.3 ± 6.3 vs. 3.5 ± 3.2). However, there was no statistically significant difference in mtDNA copy number in the spermatozoa obtained after density gradient centrifugation. The number of nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) taken by patients during treatment significantly influenced the mtDNA level in sperm (1 NRTI 7.6 ± 8.1, 2 NRTIs 7.0 ± 5.1, 3 NRTIs 3.2 ± 2.1). Conclusion(s): Using a specific method to measure sperm mtDNA, we demonstrated a decrease of mtDNA copies in spermatozoa after use of NRTIs with known mitochondrial toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients who cleared HCV is still debated. Occult HCV infection is described as the presence of detectable HCV RNA in liver or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with undetectable plasma HCV-RNA by conventional PCR assays. We have assessed the persistence of HCV in 26 kidney-transplant patients, followed up for 10.5 years (range 2–16), after HCV elimination while on hemodialysis. If HCV really did persist, arising out of the loss of immune control caused by institution of the regimen of immunosuppressive drugs after kidney transplantation, HCV reactivation would have taken place. Their immunosuppression relied on calcineurin inhibitors (100%), and/or steroids (62%), and/or antimetabolites (94%). An induction therapy, given to 22 patients, relied on rabbit antithymocyte globulin (59%) or anti-IL2-receptor blockers (32%). All patients had undetectable HCV RNA as ascertained by several conventional tests. At the last follow-up, no residual HCV RNA was detected in the five liver biopsies, the 26 plasma, and in the 37 nonstimulated and 24 stimulated PBMCs tested with an ultrasensitive RT-PCR assay (detection limit, 2 IU/ml). No biochemical or virologic relapse was seen during follow-up. The absence of HCV relapse in formerly HCV-infected immunocompromised patients suggests the complete eradication of HCV after its elimination while on dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the HIV type 1 coreceptor usage by genotypic algorithms that is built from the subtype B virus. The study performed a recombinant virus phenotypic entry assay to 52 patients infected with HIV-1 subtype C virus that were recruited in Malawi and another 21 patients recruited in France. It shows that the patient's virological and clinical characteristics were not significantly different according to CCR5 or CXCR4 virus coreceptor usage.

Background: The clinical significance and cellular sources of residual human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) production despite suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) remain unclear and the effect of low-level viremia on T-cell homeostasis is still debated. Methodology/Principal Findings: We characterized the recently produced residual viruses in the plasma and short-lived blood monocytes of 23 patients with various immunological responses to sustained suppressive cART. We quantified the residual HIV-1 in the plasma below 50 copies/ml, and in the CD14high CD16- and CD16+ monocyte subsets sorted by flow cytometry, and predicted coreceptor usage by genotyping V3 env sequences. We detected residual viremia in the plasma of 8 of 10 patients with poor CD4+ T-cell reconstitution in response to cART and in only 5 of 13 patients with good CD4+ Tcell reconstitution. CXCR4-using viruses were frequent among the recently produced viruses in the plasma and in the main CD14high CD162 monocyte subset. Finally, the residual viremia was correlated with persistent CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell activation in patients with poor immune reconstitution. Conclusions: Low-level viremia could result from the release of archived viruses from cellular reservoirs and/or from ongoing virus replication in some patients. The compartmentalization of the viruses between the plasma and the blood monocytes suggests at least two origins of residual virus production during effective cART. CXCR4-using viruses might be produced preferentially in patients on cART. Our results also suggest that low-level HIV-1 production in some patients may contribute to persistent immune dysfunction despite cART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: Assisted reproduction techniques can minimize the risk of HIV female contamination when the male partner is HIV-infected. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of sperm washing and intrauterine insemination (IUI) in these couples. Study design: Retrospective comparative study. Eighty-four HIV-1 serodicordant couples underwent 294 IUI. The control group was composed of 90 couples (320 IUI cycles) with donor sperm. Spermatozoa from HIV-1 infected male partner were prepared and tested for HIV-1 according to sperm washing method. Spermatozoa from HIV-1 and donor male were frozen before IUI. IUI were performed after ovarian stimulation. Main outcomes measures were pregnancy rate per cycle and baby take-home rate per couples. Results: Although the pregnancy rate and baby take-home rate were higher in IUI with sperm washing than in IUI using donor sperm (18.0 versus 14.7 and 52.4 versus 41.1, respectively), the differences were not statistically significant. In serodiscordant couples, blood estradiol levels under ovarian stimulation and total motile sperm inseminated were a determining factor in achieving pregnancy. No female HIV-1 contamination occurred. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that sperm washing and IUI are highly effective in enabling serodiscordant couples with an HIV-1 infected male partner to have a child. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BACKGROUND: To date, assisted reproductive technology (ART) with sperm washing is offered to serodiscordant couples with an human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected male partner in order to have a child while reducing the risk of transmission to the woman. However, ART programmes are not possible if the man is azoospermic. We report here the first birth following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using frozen epididymal spermatozoa obtained after surgical sperm retrieval in a HIV-1 infected man with obstructive azoospermia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Cameroon is characterized by widespread seropositivity and great virus genetic diversity (3 genotypes and over 10 subtypes). A total of 244 HCV NS5B sequences of 382–405bp long (95 type 1, 58 type 2, and 91 type 4) were phylogenetically analyzed to estimate the history of the HCV epidemic in Cameroon. The newly developed Bayesian coalescent approach was used to infer the history of each HCV type. The estimated dates of the most recent common ancestors (MRCA) for genotypes 1 (1500; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1300–1650) and 4 (1500; 95% CI: 1350–1700) were in the same range, while the date for genotype 2 MRCA (1600; 95% CI: 1400–1750) was slightly more recent. The mean genetic distance between HCV genotype 1 sequences was greater than that of HCV type 4 sequences, itself greater than that of HCV type 2 sequences. The initial infected populations of all three genotypes did not grow until recently, when they grew exponentially. The growth rate has now begun to slow, with a less steep exponential growth curve. The period of exponential growth of all the three genotypes was between 1920 and 1960. These results (i) confirm that HCV genotypes 1 and 4 have produced long-term endemics, (ii) suggest that genotype 2 was introduced into Cameroon more recently, and (iii) indicate that the exponential spread of the three genotypes between 1920 and 1960 coincided with the mass campaign against trypanosomiasis and mass vaccinations in Cameroon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Comments on a study concerning the desire of HIV-positive men and women to have children. Demographic characteristics of HIV-positive persons; Artificial insemination of HIV-infected person and an uninfected partner.

Abstract: Conventional tests for antibody to Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HCV RNA require considerable time before results are available, remain very expensive and are not adapted to many sub-Saharan African countries where HCV is endemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of an algorithm consisting of two HCV rapid tests to diagnose and predict HCV viremia in patients in Cameroon. Three hundred and twenty nine plasma samples were screened by two HCV rapid tests (ImmunoComb® II HCV, PBS Orgenics and Hexagon® HCV, Human). Previous evaluation of these samples for HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) by conventional third generation ELISA, considered as a reference test, indicated that 168 were anti-HCV negative and 161 positive. Among the 161 anti-HCV positive plasma, 114 (71%) were HCV RNA-positive by RT-PCR assay. The ImmunoComb® II HCV test provided the more sensitive detection of anti-HCV (sensitivity: 99.4% with a 95% CI=96–100%). Surprisingly, the second HCV rapid test, Hexagon® HCV, showed a high capacity to identify non-viremic subjects amongst anti-HCV positive cases (93.6% [95% CI: 82–99%]). These results suggest an algorithm using ImmunoComb® II HCV as a first test to screen anti-HCV positive subjects, and Hexagon® HCV as a second test to discriminate between viremic and non-viremic HCV seropositive subjects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigates the potential of HIV-1 genetic evolution to lead to changes in virus coreceptor usage during highly active antiretroviral therapy. Role of HIV-1 coreceptor usage in virus tropism and pathogenesis; Variations in the clinical course of HIV-1 infection among patients; Impetus to the gradual emergence of CXCR4 variants in cellular reservoirs.

The double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase-binding domain (PKRbd) of the NS5A gene of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was studied by the cloning and sequencing method, in HCV-infected patients who had a primary resistance to treatment with interferon (IFN)-α (early nonresponders). Patients whose virus load decreased by 0.5 log (early responders) were similarly analyzed. In the 2 groups, the PKRbd evolved similarly over the first 24 h. Selection of resistant HCV variants is unlikely to explain primary re- sistance to IFN-α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the conventional genotyping of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from a drug-resistant genotype. Use of an ultrasensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction; Detection of minority resistant populations in the plasma of patients; Combination of nucleoside and nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors.

Studies hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication and liver fibrosis progression in renal transplant recipients. Serum HCV RNA concentration; HCV genotype; Relationship between liver fibrosis progression and HCV quasi-species development.

: ObjectiveTo study seminal excretion of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) during 4 years of follow-up in an HIV-1–infected patient, the relationship between high viral excretion and inflammatory status of semen, and the efficiency of sperm processing methods in obtaining spermatozoa with undetectable RNA and proviral DNA levels.: DesignCase report.: SettingUniversity hospital and research group on human fertility.: Patient(s)One HIV-1–infected patient.: Intervention(s)Paired blood and semen samples were obtained during 4 years of follow-up.: Main outcome measure(s)CD4 cell count; blood and seminal plasma viral load; and HIV-1 RNA and proviral DNA in different cell fractions obtained during sperm processing, as measured by the density gradient method and the swim-up method; sperm parameters; and polymorphonuclear granulocyte count.: Result(s)Shedding of HIV-1 in semen was intermittent. The highest seminal viral loads were associated with a markedly increased polymorphonuclear granulocyte count, which reflects inflammation of the genital tract. Spermatozoa with undetectable levels of HIV-1 RNA or DNA were obtained regardless of the viral load in semen.: Conclusion(s)In an HIV-1–infected man with intermittent seminal viral excretion, sperm processing was effective in obtaining spermatozoa without detectable HIV-1 genomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To report the effects of ribavirin plus pegylated interferon on semen parameters and sperm DNA integrity in a man given treatment for hepatitis C.Design: Case report.Setting: University-affiliated teaching hospital.Intervention(s): None.Patient(s): A 37-year-old man given treatment with ribavirin and pegylated interferon for hepatitis C.Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen parameters (sperm count, motility, round cells), sperm protamination state measured by sperm chromatin structure assay, and sperm DNA fragmentation measured by terminal uridine nick-end labeling assay.Result(s): The percentage of progressive spermatozoa and the number of motile sperm per ejaculate decreased during treatment. The round cell/spermatozoa ratio, which reflects spermatogenic abnormality, increased from 2.6% +/- 1.4% to 23.6% +/- 13.0% during treatment and returned to baseline value 4 months later. Moreover, the sperm DNA fragmentation index (as measured by sperm chromatin structure assay) increased very markedly during treatment (from 14.5% before to 69.2% at 7 months of treatment) and remained elevated 8 months later.Conclusion(s): This study reports for the first time not only quantitative but also qualitative alterations of spermatogenesis with DNA packaging abnormalities and emphasizes the need for prospective clinical studies. While the results of other studies are awaited, the alterations that persisted 8 months after treatment argue for a longer contraception period after treatment discontinuation in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 9.2-kb sequence from a hepatitis C virus (HCV) strain found in southwest France was compared to sequences from reference strains in HCV sequence databases. We found a recombinant virus with genotype 2 at the 5′ end and genotype 5 at the 3′ end. The crossover point was located between genes NS2 and NS3. Recombination between HCV genotypes must now be considered in studies on HCV epidemiology and evolution and in predictions of the virus response to antiviral therapy. Knowing the location of the recombination point may also be useful for constructing infectious chimeric viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reasons for poor CD4+ T-cell recovery in some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected subjects despite effective highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) remain unclear. We recently reported that CXCR4-using (X4) HIV-1 could be gradually selected in cellular reservoirs during sustained HAART. Because of the differential expression of HIV-1 coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4 on distinct T-cell subsets, the residual replication of R5 and X4 viruses could have different impacts on T-cell homeostasis during immune reconstitution on HAART. We examined this hypothesis and the mechanisms of CD4+ T-cell restoration by comparing the virological and immunological features of 15 poor and 15 good immunological responders to HAART. We found a high frequency of X4 viruses in the poor immunological responders. But the levels of intrathymic proliferation of the two groups were similar regardless of whether they were infected by R5 or X4 virus. The frequency of recent thymic emigrants in the poor immunological responders was also similar to that found in the good immunological responders, despite their reduced numbers of naïve CD4+ T cells. Our data, rather, suggest that the naïve T-cell compartment is drained by a high rate of mature naïve cell loss in the periphery due to bystander apoptosis or activation-induced differentiation. X4 viruses could play a role in the depletion of naïve T cells in poor immunological responders to HAART by triggering persistent T-cell activation and bystander apoptosis via gp120-CXCR4 interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]