Deciphering the Role of Mucosal Immune Responses and the Cervicovaginal Microbiome in Resistance to HIV Infection in HIV-Exposed Seronegative (HESN) Women
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: The female genital tract (FGT) is an essential site of HIV infection. Discerning the nature of HIV-specific local immune responses is crucial for identifying correlates of protection in HIV-exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals. The present study involved a comprehensive analysis of soluble immune mediators, secretory immunoglobulins (sIg) and levels of natural killer (NK) cells, CXCR5 + CD8 + T cells, T follicular helper cells (Tfh) and T regulatory cells (T regs) in the vaginal mucosa, as well as the nature and composition of the cervicovaginal microbiome in HESN women. We found significantly elevated antiviral cytokines, soluble immunoglobulins, and increased frequencies of activated NK cells, CXCR5 + CD8 + T cells and Tfh cells in HESN females as compared to HIV unexposed healthy (UH) women. Analysis of the genital microbiome of HESN women revealed a greater bacterial diversity and increased abundance of Gardnerella spp in the mucosa of HESN women. The findings suggest the female genital tract of HESN females represents a microenvironment equipped with innate immune factors, antiviral mediators and critical T cells subsets that protect against HIV infection.
Source: Microbiology Spectrum
Authors: Sivasankaran Munusamy Ponnan, Kannan Thiruvengadam, Chaitanya Tellapragada, Anoop T. Ambikan, Aswathy Narayanan, Sujitha Kathirvel, Manikannan Mathayan, Janani Shankar, Akshaya Rajaraman, Mehar Afshan Amanulla, Thongadi Ramesh Dinesha, Selvamuthu Poongulali, Shanmugam Saravanan, Kailapuri Gangatharan Murugavel, Soumya Swaminathan, Vijayakumar Velu, Barbara Shacklett, Ujjwal Neogi, Luke Elizabeth Hanna
Institutions: Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, Karolinska Institutet, YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Voluntary Health Services Hospital, Emory University, Emory National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Language: English
Topic: HIV Research and Treatment
Subfield: Virology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,500
Funders: Emory University, University of Madras, Indian Council of Medical Research, Karolinska Institutet, Vetenskapsrådet, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health Research, India, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Human Resource Development
Awards: G1359046398, G2849476534, Combined cytokine therapy for sustained HIV remission, CORRELATES OF MUCOSAL HIV-1 TRANSMISSION IN INDIAN WOMEN, G5275129375, G5445910880, A multi-omics system biology approach to identify disease control mechanisms in HIV-1 positive Elite Controllers and the importance for HIV-cure, Maintenance of the SPF Breeding Colonies at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Center for AIDS Research at Emory University, Emory National Primate Research Center
OpenAlex ID: W3162065709