Fas mediated(CD95L) periferal T-cell Apotosis marker in monitoring HIV-1 disease progression in adults in Yaoundé, Cameroon

CITATION: Ikomey, G. M. et al. 2016. Fas mediated(CD95L) periferal T-cell Apotosis marker in monitoring HIV-1 disease progression in adults in Yaoundé, Cameroon. International Journal of Immunology, 4(1): 1-5, doi:10.11648/j.iji.20160401.11.The original publication is available at http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ijisFas (CD95) / FasL are hallmarks of apoptosis involvement in pathogenesis of HIV. We assess changes in soluble Fas /FasL, CD4 % and HIV-1 viral load in patients prior to the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 6 months thereafter. A prospective longitudinal study on sixty consented HIV-1 positive adults. sFas and sFasL levels were measured by ELISA. CD4 cell counts and HIV-1 viralloads were measured using standard methods. Samples were analysed according to the manufacturers’ guidelines.There was a significant positive correlation between HIV-1 viral load and FasL at six months (M6) on treatment [r = +0.49, (0.03)]. There were no correlation between sFas/FasL and CD4 cell counts [ r = -33 (0.16), -31 (0.17) - 23 (0.03) respectively]. The significant correlation between sFasL and HIV-1 viral load at six months of ART suggests that sFasL could be a signal biomarker for HIV-1 disease progression. We have shown in this study that high levels of sFasL depict high HIV-1 viral loads and advance state of the HIV disease. These biomarker should be investigated further in other settings.http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/home/indexhttp://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/html/10.11648.j.iji.20160401.11.htmlPublisher's versio

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) : neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes in patients with anterior tuberculosis compared to tobacco related COPD

CITATION: Guiedem, E., et al. 2018. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes in patients with anterior tuberculosis compared to tobacco related COPD. BMC Research Notes, 11:192, doi:10.1186/s13104-018-3309-6.The original publication is available at https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.comObjective: The inflammatory profile of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) related to tobacco is known in certain studies while that of the post tuberculosis form is not yet known. This study aimed to evaluate the levels of neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes cells in sputum of COPD patients with history of smoking or anterior tuberculosis. Enumeration of cells in samples was analyzed using standard microscopy. Results: We enrolled 92 participants, 46 (50%) were COPD subjects comprising 22 (47.83%) smokers and 24 (52.17%) with anterior tuberculosis while 46 (50%) healthy persons constituted the control group. The levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes were statistically higher in COPD patients compared to the control group with p-values of 0.0001 respectively. Neutrophils levels were higher in COPD patients with history of tobacco than in COPD patients with anterior tuberculosis with a mean rate of 4.72 × 106/ml and 2.48 × 106/ml respectively (p = 0.04). The monocytes and lymphocytes levels were not statistically different between the two sub-groups of COPD patients with p-value of 0.052 and 0.91 respectively. Neutrophils are the only inflammatory cells that were significantly higher in COPD patients with history of smoking as compared to COPD patients with anterior tuberculosis.https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13104-018-3309-6Publisher's versio

Kinetics of CD4+ T-cell recovery amongst HIV load suppressed patients on first-line antiretroviral therapy in Yaoundé, Cameroon

HIV infected patients on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) are exposed to various immunological disorders. Immune reconstitution is one of the most challenging problem linked to morbidity and mortality in HIV patients. This study aimed at evaluating the kinetics of CD4+ T-cell recovery amongst HIV load suppressed patients on first-line ART in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This was a retrospective cohort study performed at the care and treatment units of the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital and Essos Hospital Center, with viral suppressed patients initiated on ART between March and July 2015. Data were collected using a standard form and analyzed using R.3.6.2 software. A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant for a 95%CI. Of the 499 viral suppressed participants, 32% (n=160) were male and 68% (n=339) female; 33% and 40% had severe and moderate immunodepression at baseline, respectively; 9% and 28% remain respectively on the same immunological state. CD4+ T-cell count increased by 73%, 49% and 29% for patients that started treatment, with CD4+ <150 cells/ml, 150<CD4+<350 cells/ml and 350<CD4+<500 cells/ml, respectively and 14%, 34% and 40% reached a target of 500 cells/ml or more after 4 years of treatment. Elder patients and males were likely to have CD4+ T-cells less than 350 Cells/ml. Approximately 35% of patient started treatment with CD4+ T-cells <350 Cells/ml. CD4+ T-cells increased significantly during 4 years of treatment but, just 29% in average achieved CD4+ ≥ 500 cells/ml. CD4 T-cells recovery represent and important challenge in the immunological monitoring of long-term HIV infected patients on ART

Evidence of exposure and human seroconversion during an outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) among poultry in Cameroon

From May 2016 to March 2017, 22 poultry outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1) were reported in Cameroon, mainly in poultry farms and live bird markets. No human cases were reported. In this study, we sought to describe the 2016 A(H5N1) outbreak strain and to investigate the risk of infection in exposed individuals. We find that highly pathogenic influenza subtype A(H5N1), clade 2.3.2.1c from Cameroon is closely related phylogenetically and antigenically to strains isolated in central and western Africa at the time. No molecular markers of increased human transmissibility were noted; however, seroconversion was detected in two poultry workers (1.5% of total screened). Therefore, the continued outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry and the risk of zoonotic human infection highlight the crucial need for continued and vigilant influenza surveillance and research in Africa, especially in areas of high poultry trade, such as Cameroon

Proportion of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in community setting in Ngaoundere, Cameroon

BACKGROUND: There is no information regarding the resistance mechanisms of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in community setting in Cameroon. The current study aimed to determine the proportion of ESBLs in Enterobacteriaceae isolated in the community and to analyse some risk factors associated with ESBL carriage. METHODS: Faecal samples were collected from 208 different outpatients and 150 healthy student volunteers between 3 January and 3 April 2009. Enterobacterial isolates resistant to third-generation cephalosporins were screened for ESBL production by the double-disk synergy test. Presumptive ESBL-producing isolates with positive synergy test were identified by Mass Spectrometry using the BioTyper MALDI-TOF. For such ESBL positive isolates, antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the Vitek 2 system. PCR and sequencing were performed for the detection of different types of ESBL genes in presumptive ESBL-producing isolates. Statistical methods were used for the univariate calculation of risk factors. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 358 faecal samples were analysed; 58 of such samples (16%) showed an ESBL phenotype and were confirmed by PCR. The proportion of ESBL producers in faecal carriage was statistically different between outpatients and student volunteers (23.1% vs. 6.7%: p < 0.000). According to a univariate analysis, previous use of antibiotics (ciprofloxacin) appeared to be a risk factor for ESBL carriage (p < 0.05).Escherichia coli was the species most frequently isolated among the ESBL producers in outpatients (66.7%) and student volunteers (90%). Isolates showed additional resistance to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole but none of them was resistant to temocillin, amikacin or meropenem. Most of the strains (97%) produced a CTX-M group 1 enzymes [CTX-M-15 (98%) or CTX-M-1 (2%)] and the remaining strains produced SHV-12 enzyme (3%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of drugs such as amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole does not seem appropriate for empirical treatment because of emerging resistance. The implementation in Cameroon or in other African countries of methods of screening ESBL-producing organisms in routine laboratories is of great importance in order for us to offer patients appropriate treatment and for infection control efforts to succeed

Emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.620 with variant of concern-like mutations and deletions.

Distinct SARS-CoV-2 lineages, discovered through various genomic surveillance initiatives, have emerged during the pandemic following unprecedented reductions in worldwide human mobility. We here describe a SARS-CoV-2 lineage - designated B.1.620 - discovered in Lithuania and carrying many mutations and deletions in the spike protein shared with widespread variants of concern (VOCs), including E484K, S477N and deletions HV69Δ, Y144Δ, and LLA241/243Δ. As well as documenting the suite of mutations this lineage carries, we also describe its potential to be resistant to neutralising antibodies, accompanying travel histories for a subset of European cases, evidence of local B.1.620 transmission in Europe with a focus on Lithuania, and significance of its prevalence in Central Africa owing to recent genome sequencing efforts there. We make a case for its likely Central African origin using advanced phylogeographic inference methodologies incorporating recorded travel histories of infected travellers

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Some cellular inflammatory characteristics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with anterior tuberculosis compared to tobacco related COPD

Background Although smoking is the main cause of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), previous tuberculosis (TB) infection can also induce the disease. While the management of COPD is mainly performed with anti-inflammatory molecules, inflammatory profile of post tuberculosis obstructive disease is not yet known. The purpose of this study was to compare certain inflammatory cells of post tuberculosis COPD to that of post tobacco COPD. Methods This cross-sectional study conducted at the Yaound&#233; Jamot hospital consisted of 92 participants comprising 22 post tobacco COPD patients (COPD/tobacco), 24 post tuberculosis COPD (COPD/TB) and 46 healthy individuals constituting the control group. Sputum and blood were collected for cells counts. Results In sputum, the mean count of neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes was statistically higher in COPD patients compared to the control group with p-values respectively of 0.0001, 0.0001 and 0.0001. Comparison of the two COPD groups showed that, neutrophils cells count is higher in COPD/tobacco than in COPD/TB patients (p = 0.04). Monocytes and lymphocytes counts were similar between the two groups of patients with COPD with p-value of 0.052 and 0.91respectivelly. In blood, the rate of CD4 cells was higher in COPD patients compared to controls with a significant p-value of 0.0006. The blood CD8 cell count was not statistically different between COPD patients and the controls group (p = 0.6). Comparing the two COPD groups together, we had a blood CD8 rate higher in COPD/tobacco than COPD/TB (p = 0.0043), and blood CD4 rate were not statistically different between the two COPD groups. Conclusions Neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes are involved both in the COPD/tobacco and COPD/TB, with high levels of sputum neutrophiles and blood CD8 cells in COPD/tobacco patients. In blood TCD8 and CD4 lymphocytes may be involved in the pathogenesis of COPD