Mucosal Vaccine Approaches for Prevention of HIV and SIV Transmission
Optimal protective immunity to HIV will likely require that plasma cells, memory B cells and memory T cells be stationed in mucosal tissues at portals of viral entry. Mucosal vaccine administration is more effective than parenteral vaccine delivery for this purpose. The challenge has been to achieve efficient vaccine uptake at mucosal surfaces, and to identify safe and effective adjuvants, especially for mucosally administered HIV envelope protein immunogens. Here, we discuss strategies used to deliver potential HIV vaccine candidates in the intestine, respiratory tract, and male and female genital tract of humans and nonh...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Role of Sex Hormones in Regulating Innate Immune Protection against HIV in the Human Female Reproductive Tract
Immune protection in the female reproductive tract (FRT) has evolved to meet the challenges of sexually transmitted bacterial and viral pathogens, allogeneic spermatozoa, and an immunologically distinct semi-allogeneic fetus. Throughout the FRT, the innate immune system is essential for the recognition and initial response to incoming pathogens. Key mediators of innate immune protection examined in this review include epithelial cells, stromal fibroblasts, macrophages, DC, and neutrophils from the Fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix and vagina. These innate immune cells respond to pathogens resulting in the secretion of cytoki...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Intestinal CD4 Depletion in HIV / SIV Infection
Among the most significant findings in the pathogenesis of HIV infection was the discovery that almost total depletion of intestinal CD4+ T cells occurs rapidly after SIV or HIV infection, regardless of the route of exposure, and long before CD4+ T cell losses occur in blood or lymph nodes. Since these seminal discoveries, we have learned much about mucosal and systemic CD4+ T cells, and found several key differences between the circulating and intestinal CD4+ T cell subsets, both in phenotype, relative proportions, and functional capabilities. Further, specific subsets of CD4+ T cells are selectively targeted and eliminat...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Mucosal Immunity in HIV/SIV Infection: T Cells, B Cells and Beyond
As our understanding of mucosal immunity increases, it is becoming clear that the host response to HIV-1 is more complex and nuanced than originally believed. The mucosal landscape is populated with a variety of specialized cell types whose functions include combating infectious agents while preserving commensal microbiota, maintaining barrier integrity, and ensuring immune homeostasis. Advances in multiparameter flow cytometry, gene expression analysis and bioinformatics have allowed more detailed characterization of these cell types and their roles in host defense than was previously possible. This review provides an ove...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
HIV-1/SIV Humoral Responses in External Secretions
The protective function of mucosal HIV-1- or SIV-specific antibodies against viral infection has stimulated extensive studies of their Ig isotype association with differences in specificity and in effector functions. In contrast to many mucosally acquired microbial infections in which the humoral responses are dominated by induction of secretory IgA (S-IgA), HIV-1/SIV infections stimulate vigorous IgG responses in sera as well as in external secretions but low IgA virus-specific antibodies although the total levels of IgA in these fluids remain unaltered. The diminished or even absent IgA responses to HIV-1/SIV and to othe...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Evaluation of Mucosal Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to HIV in External Secretions and Mucosal Tissues
The mucosal immune systems of the genital and intestinal tracts are considered as the most frequent sites of HIV-1 entry, displaying remarkable immunological differences in the systemic immune compartment which must be considered in the evaluation of humoral and cellular immune responses to HIV- 1. Marked differences in the fluids from the genital and intestinal tracts and in plasma with respect to the Ig isotypes, their levels, molecular forms and distinct effector functions must be taken into consideration in the evaluation and interpretation of humoral immune responses. Because of the low levels and highly pronounced va...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
T Cells in the Female Reproductive Tract Can Both Block and Facilitate HIV Transmission
Because HIV is sexually transmitted, there is considerable interest in defining the nature of anti-HIV immunity in the female reproductive tract (FRT) and in developing ways to elicit antiviral immunity in the FRT through vaccination. Although it is assumed that the mucosal immune system of the FRT is of central importance for protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, this arm of the immune system has only recently been studied. Here, we provide a brief review of the role of T cells in the FRT in blocking and facilitating HIV transmission. (Source: Current Immunology Reviews)
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Target Cells for HIV-1/SIV Infection in Mucosal Tissue
The mucosal surfaces of the genital and gastrointestinal tracts are the routes by which HIV-1 is acquired, excluding persons infected parenterally. Identification of the mucosal target cells and the receptors by which HIV-1 enters these cells is fundamental to elucidating the biology of HIV-1 transmission. The mucosal target cells include epithelial cells, dendritic cells, Langerhans cells, CD4+ T-cells, macrophages and even mast cells, but the contribution of each cell type is highly dependent on the mucosal surface - genital versus gastrointestinal. Importantly, mucosal target cells may also play key roles in the immunob...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Virologic Aspects of Mucosal Transmission
The transmission of HIV is generally inefficient. Despite the development of a diverse viral quasispecies in a chronically infected individual, a severe genetic bottleneck is observed during transmission, leading to only one or a few genetic variants establishing infection. This genetic bottleneck is the result of both stochastic events and selection pressures, such that viruses with specific traits are favored during transmission. This chapter discusses current models of HIV mucosal transmission, evidence for selection of specific viral traits during this process, and the biological characterization of transmitted founder...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Barriers of Mucosal Entry of HIV/SIV
Most new HIV infections, over 80%, occur through sexual transmission. During sexual transmission, the virus must bypass specific female and male reproductive tract anatomical barriers to encounter viable target cells. Understanding the generally efficient ability of these barriers to exclude HIV and the precise mechanisms of HIV translocation beyond these genital barriers is essential for vaccine and novel therapeutic development. In this review, we explore the mucosal, barriers of cervico-vaginal and penile tissues that comprise the female and male reproductive tracts. The unique cellular assemblies of the squamous and co...
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Mucosal Immune System and HIV/SIV
(Source: Current Immunology Reviews)
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Meet Our Editorial Board Member
(Source: Current Immunology Reviews)
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - April 12, 2019 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Acknowledgements to Reviewers
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Source: Current Immunology Reviews - November 15, 2018 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Diet Matters, But Heterogeneity Looms: Altered Fatty Acid Profiles and Mental Status in Health and Disease
(Source: Current Immunology Reviews)
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - November 15, 2018 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
Computational Analysis of Specific IgE Epitopes Responsible for Allergy to Fish
Conclusion: Surely, any progresses in biochemical, immunological, and molecular mechanism of allergic reactions to fish allergens can improve accurate diagnosis of fish allergy and its' prevention and treatment in the future. (Source: Current Immunology Reviews)
Source: Current Immunology Reviews - November 15, 2018 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research
