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Over the last 20 years, the incidence of vertical HIV transmission has decreased from 25%–42% to less than 1%. Although there are no signs of infection, the health of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants is notoriously affected during the first months of life, with opportunistic infections being the most common disease. Some studies have reported effects on the vertical transfer of antibodies, but little is known about the subclass distribution of these antibodies. We proposed to evaluate the total IgG concentration and its subclasses in HIV+ mothers and HEU pairs and to determine which maternal factors condition their levels. In this study, plasma from 69 HEU newborns, their mothers, and 71 control pairs was quantified via immunoassays for each IgG isotype. Furthermore, we followed the antibody profile of HEUs throughout the first year of life. We showed that mothers present an antibody profile characterized by high concentrations of IgG1 and IgG3 but reduced IgG2, and HEU infants are born with an IgG subclass profile similar to that of their maternal pair. Interestingly, this passively transferred profile could remain influenced even during their own antibody production in HEU infants, depending on maternal conditions such as CD4+ T-cell counts and maternal antiretroviral treatment. Our findings indicate that HEU infants exhibit an altered IgG subclass profile influenced by maternal factors, potentially contributing to their increased susceptibility to infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is essential during pregnancy to avoid vertical HIV transmission. However, pregnancy and postpartum could influence perceptions of quality of life among women living with HIV/AIDS, modifying their adherence to therapy. Here, we estimate the association of quality of life with sociodemographic, clinical and related sexuality variables of HIV-infected women on antiretroviral treatment during postpartum. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care institution in Mexico City from April 2020 to September 2022, to evaluate the quality of life of 75 HIV-infected women who received antiretroviral therapy during postpartum with the WHOQOL-VIH-BREF instrument. Sociodemographic, clinical, and sexual variables were obtained from their clinical records. The total quality of life score was intermediate (15). The physical health and independence domains received the highest scores (16). The domains of psychological health, environment and personal beliefs obtained the lowest scores (14). There was a significant correlation between four out of six domains with the CD4+ account. Other variables also obtained a significant correlation with at least one of the domain scores. Despite poverty, stigma, and discrimination, this group of HIV-infected women obtained an intermediate total quality of life. An acceptable CD4+ count is associated with a good quality of life and could be a relevant marker for antiretroviral adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Chorioamniotic membranes infection is a pathologic condition in which an abnormal secretion of proinflammatory cytokines halts fetal immune tolerance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the functional response of human chorioamniotic membranes, as well as the individual contribution of the amnion and choriodecidua after stimulation with Escherichia coli, a pathogen associated with preterm labor. Methods Explants of chorioamniotic membranes from 10 women (37–40 weeks of gestation) were mounted and cultured in a Transwell system, which allowed us to test the amnion and choriodecidua compartments independently. Escherichia coli (1 × 10 6 CFU/mL) was added to either the amniotic or the choriodecidual regions or both; after a 24-h incubation, the secretion of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha, IL-8, and IL-10 in both compartments was measured using a specific ELISA. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance. Results After stimulation with Escherichia coli, the choriodecidua compartment showed an increase in the secretion of IL-1beta (21-fold), IL-6 (2-fold), IL-8 (6-fold), and IL-10 (37-fold), regardless of which side of the membrane was stimulated; TNFalpha secretion augmented (22-fold) also but only when the stimulus was applied simultaneously to both sides. When the amnion was stimulated directly, the level of IL-1beta (13-fold) rose significantly; however, the increase in IL-8 secretion was larger (20-fold), regardless of the primary site of infection. TNFalpha secretion in the amnion compartment rose markedly only when Escherichia coli was simultaneously applied to both sides. Conclusion Selective stimulation of fetal membranes with Escherichia coli results in a differential production of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha, IL-8, and IL-10. These tissues were less responsive when the amnion side was stimulated. This is in agreement with the hypothesis that the choriodecidua may play a primary role during an ascending intrauterine infection, being the main barrier to progression of the infection into the amniotic cavity. Therefore, the tissue-specific capacities for the secretion of these immune modulators could be a determining factor for the degree of severity of the inflammation process in fetal membranes.

Problem: Breastfeeding's influence on the tolerance to environmental antigens is essential for short‐ and long‐term homeostasis for children. Colostrum is rich in leucocytes, but it is unknown whether regulatory T cells (Treg) account for part of this cell population. Method of study: Frequencies of CD127− CD25++ Treg and levels of immunoregulatory‐associated cell markers were determined in colostrum and were compared with autologous blood cells. In addition, we evaluated whether the birth conditions can affect these features. Results: Higher frequencies of CD127 −CD25++ Treg cells expressing Foxp3 and CD45RO were observed in the colostrum. The cells’ CD25, CD152, CD279, and TGF‐β expression levels were greater than those in autologous blood cells. In addition, the CD279 and TGF‐β expressions of colostrum CD127− CD25++ Treg cells were influenced by gestational age and delivery mode. Conclusion: The higher proportion of these cells with a function‐associated phenotype may reflect certain tolerogenic effects of breastmilk on newborns and infants, contributing to immune system homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that 15% of all newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for suspected sepsis receive multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics without pathogen identification. The gold standard for bacterial sepsis detection is blood culture, but the sensitivity of this method is very low. Recently, amplification and analysis of the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) bacterial gene in combination with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) has proven to be a useful approach for identifying bacteria that are difficult to isolate by standard culture methods. The main goal of this study was to compare two methods used to identify bacteria associated with neonatal sepsis: blood culture and broad range 16S rDNA-DGGE. Twenty-two blood samples were obtained from newborns with (n = 15) or without (n = 7) signs and symptoms of sepsis. Blood samples were screened to identify pathogenic bacteria with two different methods: (1) bacteriological culture and (2) amplification of the variable V3 region of 16S rDNA-DGGE. Blood culture analysis was positive in 40%, whereas 16S rDNA-DGGE was positive in 87% of neonatal sepsis cases. All 16S rDNA-DGGE positive samples were associated with some other signs of neonatal sepsis.Conclusion: Our study shows that the molecular approach with 16S rDNA-DGGE identifies twofold more pathogenic bacteria than bacteriological culture, including complex bacterial communities associated with the development of bacterial sepsis in neonates. What is Known: • Neonatal sepsis affects 2.3% of birth in the NICU with a high mortality risk. • Evidence supports the use of molecular methods as an alternative to blood culture for identification of bacterial associated neonatal sepsis. What is New: • The DGGE gel is a good methodological approach for the identification of bacterial in neonatal blood samples. • This study describes the pattern of electrophoretic mobility obtained by DGGE gels and allows to determine the type of bacteria associated in the development of neonatal sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: Breastfeeding's influence on the tolerance to environmental antigens is essential for short- and long-term homeostasis for children. Colostrum is rich in leucocytes, but it is unknown whether regulatory T cells (Treg) account for part of this cell population., Method of Study: Frequencies of CD127 -  CD25 ++ Treg and levels of immunoregulatory-associated cell markers were determined in colostrum and were compared with autologous blood cells. In addition, we evaluated whether the birth conditions can affect these features., Results: Higher frequencies of CD127  - CD25 ++ Treg cells expressing Foxp3 and CD45RO were observed in the colostrum. The cells' CD25, CD152, CD279, and TGF-β expression levels were greater than those in autologous blood cells. In addition, the CD279 and TGF-β expressions of colostrum CD127 -  CD25 ++ Treg cells were influenced by gestational age and delivery mode., Conclusion: The higher proportion of these cells with a function-associated phenotype may reflect certain tolerogenic effects of breastmilk on newborns and infants, contributing to immune system homeostasis., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To determine the prevalence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in two anatomical sites in Mexican women of childbearing age, as well as the associated risk factors., Patients and Method: A retrospective cohort analysis was made with two groups of women between 14 and 44 years old. We formed two groups of 72 women; one had a recent positive group B Streptococcus culture and the other, paired by age and culture date, had a negative culture of the same bacterium. All of them answered a validated questionnaire and two rectal swabs were obtained and cultured for isolation of group B Streptococcus., Results: Prevalence of GBS colonization was 18% for two anatomical sites (heavy colonization), and 37% for one anatomical site; the overall prevalence was 54.9%. Three or more sexual partners increased by 4-fold the risk of heavy GBS colonization (p < 0.01). In this study 49 (34%) women were pregnant, 26 (53%) of them were colonized by GBS and 7 (14.3%) were heavy colonized., Conclusions: Prevalence of GBS during pregnancy in Mexican women was higher than the reported previously, even in developed countries. Risk of colonization increased by 4-fold with a history of three or more sexual partners.