Feasibility of early infant diagnosis of HIV in resource-limited settings: the ANRS 12140-PEDIACAM study in Cameroon

Background

Early infant diagnosis (EID) of HIV is a key-point for the implementation of early HAART, associated with lower mortality in HIV-infected infants. We evaluated the EID process of HIV according to national recommendations, in urban areas of Cameroon.

Methods/Findings

The ANRS12140-Pediacam study is a multisite cohort in which infants born to HIV-infected mothers were included before the 8^th day of life and followed. Collection of samples for HIV DNA/RNA-PCR was planned at 6 weeks together with routine vaccination. The HIV test result was expected to be available at 10 weeks. A positive or indeterminate test result was confirmed by a second test on a different sample. Systematic HAART was offered to HIV-infected infants identified. The EID process was considered complete if infants were tested and HIV results provided to mothers/family before 7 months of age. During 2007–2009, 1587 mother-infant pairs were included in three referral hospitals; most infants (n = 1423, 89.7%) were tested for HIV, at a median age of 1.5 months (IQR, 1.4–1.6). Among them, 51 (3.6%) were HIV-infected. Overall, 1331 (83.9%) completed the process by returning for the result before 7 months (median age: 2.5 months (IQR, 2.4–3.0)). Incomplete process, that is test not performed, or result of test not provided or provided late to the family, was independently associated with late HIV diagnosis during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.8, 95%CI: 1.1 to 2.9, p = 0.01), absence of PMTCT prophylaxis (aOR = 2.4, 95%CI: 1.4 to 4.3, p = 0.002), and emergency caesarean section (aOR = 2.5, 95%CI: 1.5 to 4.3, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

In urban areas of Cameroon, HIV-infected women diagnosed sufficiently early during pregnancy opt to benefit from EID whatever their socio-economic, marital or disclosure status. Reduction of non optimal diagnosis process should focus on women with late HIV diagnosis during pregnancy especially if they did not receive any PMTCT, or if complications occurred at delivery.     

Cloning and expression of a gene from Isochrysis galbana modifying fatty acid profiles in Escherichia coli

An ester hydrolase gene from the microalga Isochrysis galbana was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 Rosetta 2?. The full-length putative gene has 1,146 base pairs and codes for a 381-amino acid polypeptide. The predicted molecular mass of the deduced protein is approximately 42.31 kDa, with a theoretical pI of 9.37. Slight similarity and identity were observed between the microalga sequence and various α/β-fold hydrolases found in diverse phyla. The catalytic triad corresponds to residues Ser²⁵⁴, Asp³⁰⁹, and His³⁴¹, with the nucleophilic catalytic residue Ser²⁵⁴ located in the pentapeptide consensus motif G-X-S²⁵⁴-X-G. The activity of the enzyme was established by fatty acid profile analysis of the membrane lipids. The expression of the protein in E. coli shifted the fatty acid composition predominantly towards C16:1 and C18:1 fatty acids. This enzyme is called I. galbana thioesterase/carboxylesterase (or IgTeCe). This novel gene is shown to have a potential for use in metabolic engineering to enhance the lipid yields of microalgae.     

Chromosome assignments of the genes for glucocorticoid receptor,myelin basic protein,leukocyte common antigen,and TRPM2 in the rat

We have utilized rat-mouse somatic cell hybrids to make chromosomal assignments for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), myelin basic protein (MBP), leukocyte common antigen (LCA), and testosterone-repressed prostate message-2 (TRPM2) genes in the rat. The genes for GR and MBP both map on chromosome 18 of the rat, which corresponds to the mapping of both genes on chromosome 18 of the mouse. The gene for LCA maps on chromosome 13, which is where C4b-binding protein -chain (C4BPB), coagulation factor V (F5), and renin have previously been assigned. This linkage group appears to be homologous to a substantial portion of mouse chromosome 1 and human chromosome 1q. Finally, the TRPM2 gene has been assigned to rat chromosome 15.This project was supported by Grants RG 1877-A-1 from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and P50 DE09164 from the NIH, by grants from the Swedish Cancer Society, the Erik Philip-Sörensen Foundation, the Trygger Foundation, the IngaBritt and Arne Lundberg Research Foundation, CANCIRCO, and BioVast (Gothenbrug), by the Belgian program on Interuniversity Attraction Poles initiated by the Belgian State-Prime Minister's Office-Science Policy Programming, and by a grant from the CGER-ASLK (Brussels). C.S. is a Senior Research Associate of the National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS, Belgium).     

Evaluation of Probiotic Potential of Bacteriocinogenic Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Isolated from Meat Products

In this study, the probiotic potential of five bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, isolated from meat products, was investigated. They were presumptively identified as Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris CTC 204 and CTC 483, L. lactis subsp. hordinae CTC 484, and Lactobacillus plantarum CTC 368 and CTC 469 according to morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics. Analysis of genetic variability (random amplified polymorphic (RAPD)-PCR) and whole-cell proteins (SDS-PAGE) revealed similarity between Lactobacillus strains and variability among Lactococcus strains. The evaluation of the probiotic potential showed that the five LAB strains were tolerant to pH 2.0, and only strain CTC 469 was tolerant to the lowest concentration of the bile salts evaluated (0.1%). All strains showed survival or growth ability at 4, 25, and 37 °C, and tolerance at ??20 °C. Although strain CTC 204 in TSB Broth supplemented with MgSO₄ showed the highest intensity of biofilm production, this compound was produced by all of them. The safety assessment showed that no thermonuclease, hemolytic, or gelatinase activities were detected. All strains were resistant to erythromycin and sensitive to amoxicillin and phenoxymethylpenicillin; furthermore, CTC 204 was resistant to chloramphenicol, CTC 368 and CTC 469 to chloramphenicol and vancomycin, CTC 483 to tetracycline and vancomycin, and CTC 484 to clindamycin and chloramphenicol. The evaluated strains showed biogenic amine production; the lowest levels were produced by CTC 204 and CTC 368 strains. It was concluded that CTC 204 and CTC 368 strains have the greatest potential for becoming probiotics.     

Study of the chorion of seasonal and non-seasonal Africa and Neotropical oviparous Cyprinodontiforme fishes

The structure of the chorion from the fertilized eggs of eight species of killifish, four Nothobranchiidae from tropical Africa and four Rivulidae species from South America and an Asian Cyprinidae (zebrafish), were investigated for possible structural similarities by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The study of the possible chorion variations between seasonal fishes inhabiting temporary pools of tropical regions and other, non-seasonal species revealed variations in the several types of complex adornments found on the external chorion surface when compared with the less complex chorion of the zebrafish. The inner structure of the chorion of these killifish species comprises alternating electron dense and clear strata, with the number of strata varying by species as well as the thickness of the chorion. No obvious phylogenetic or ecological relationships were observed either between the chorion adornments and the inner organization of the chorion or between the seasonal and non-seasonal species. It is advised to perform studies with a larger sample of species that could show a relation either from ecological or phylogenetic parameters.     

Long-term somatic embryogenesis and maturation of somatic embryos in Hevea brasiliensis

A high frequency of secondary embryogenesis was induced from isolated early cotyledonary-stage somatic embryos of Hevea brasiliensis. A long-term embryogenic line was established by the use of recurrent embryogenesis and maintained for 3 years on hormone-free medium by the transfer of selected proembryogenic masses every 10 days.

The addition of 234 mM sucrose as stress with sucrose and 10⁻⁵ M abscisic acid (ABA) to the culture medium enhanced the maturation of somatic embryos. Under these culture conditions, the embryo population was composed of 45% globular, 18% oblong and 37% torpedo-stage embryos. These somatic embryos had well-formed tissue structure, a well-defined epidermis, protein storage bodies, and a high accumulation of starch. The triglyceride content was five times as high in the torpedo-stage embryos that developed on medium supplemented with 234 mM sucrose and 10⁻⁵ M ABA as in embryos obtained on basal medium with 58 mM sucrose.     

Selenium and antioxidant vitamin and lipidoperoxidation levels in preaging French population

Selenium (Se) and antioxidant vitamins might play an important role in the etiology of free radical-related diseases and aging. In the édude de vieillissement artériel (EVA) study, we have determined the plasma thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) as an indicator of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation, plasma selenium and carotenoids, and erythrocyte vitamin E levels in 1389 subjects aged 59–71 years. We also looked for an association between these parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in early elderly. The results show that plasma TBARS were significantly increased in elderly in comparison with values reported in younger adults. However, plasma Se and carotenoids as well as erythrocyte vitamin E in elderly people are close to those reported in adult people. If plasma Se showed no difference between men and women, the three other parameters were significantly higher in women than in men. With regard with cardiovascular risk factors, plasma TBARS were highly positively correlated with total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in men and women. Plasma carotenoids were also positively correlated with plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in both sexes. Finally, plasma TBARS were highly correlated with smoking and alcohol consumption. In conclusion, this part of the EVA study shows that some cardiovascular risk factors, like smoking and cholesterol level, are associated with high free radical-induced TBARS levels in the preaging population, although plasma Se and carotenoids as well as erythrocyte vitamin E levels in elderly people were close to those reported in adult younger people.