Genotypic HIV-1 tropism determination might help to identify people with exhausted treatment options and advanced disease

Objectives: To evaluate HIV-1 tropism in 1382 combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)-experienced patients failing therapy to characterize those with exhausted therapeutic options. Methods: HIV-1 genotypic tropism was inferred through Geno2Pheno by estimating the false-positive-rate (FPR) values. Cumulative resistance and drug activity were evaluated by Stanford algorithm. Results: Overall, median (IQR) CD4 count (cells/mm3) nadir and at last genotypic resistance test (GRT) available were 98 (33-211) and 312 (155-517), respectively. Considering HIV-1 tropism, 30.5% had X4/dual-mixed strains (FPR ≤5%: 22.2%; FPR 5%-10%: 8.3%). By stratifying according to tropism, by decreasing FPR, a significant decrease of CD4 nadir and at last GRT was observed. The proportion of individuals with CD4 count <200 cells/mm3, who were perinatally infected and with a long treatment history significantly increased as FPR levels decreased. Regarding resistance, 933 (67.5%) individuals accumulated at least one class resistance, with 52.7%, 48.2%, 23.5% and 13.2% of individuals showing resistance to NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs and INIs; while 23.2%, 27.2%, 14.3% and 2.8% harboured resistance to 1, 2, 3 and 4 classes, respectively. Individuals with FPR ≤5% showed a significantly higher level of resistance to PIs, NRTIs and INIs compared with others. The proportion of individuals harbouring strains susceptible to ≤2 active drugs was only about 2%; nonetheless, this proportion doubled (4.6%) in patients infected with FPR ≤5%. Conclusions: Our findings showed that a small proportion of cART failing individuals have limited therapeutic options. However, tropism determination might help to identify people who have accumulated a high level of resistance and have a greater risk of advanced disease

Characterizing the interface between wild ducks and poultry to evaluate the potential of transmission of avian pathogens

Background: Characterizing the interface between wild and domestic animal populations is increasingly recognized as essential in the context of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) that are transmitted by wildlife. More specifically, the spatial and temporal distribution of contact rates between wild and domestic hosts is a key parameter for modeling EIDs transmission dynamics. We integrated satellite telemetry, remote sensing and ground-based surveys to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of indirect contacts between wild and domestic birds to estimate the risk that avian pathogens such as avian influenza and Newcastle viruses will be transmitted between wildlife to poultry. We monitored comb ducks (Sarkidiornis melanotos melanotos) with satellite transmitters for seven months in an extensive Afro-tropical wetland (the Inner Niger Delta) in Mali and characterise the spatial distribution of backyard poultry in villages. We modelled the spatial distribution of wild ducks using 250-meter spatial resolution and 8-days temporal resolution remotely-sensed environmental indicators based on a Maxent niche modelling method.Results: Our results show a strong seasonal variation in potential contact rate between wild ducks and poultry. We found that the exposure of poultry to wild birds was greatest at the end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season, when comb ducks disperse from natural water bodies to irrigated areas near villages.Conclusions: Our study provides at a local scale a quantitative evidence of the seasonal variability of contact rate between wild and domestic bird populations. It illustrates a GIS-based methodology for estimating epidemiological contact rates at the wildlife and livestock interface integrating high-resolution satellite telemetry and remote sensing data. © 2011 Cappelle et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.SCOPUS: ar.jSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Identification of gp120 polymorphisms in HIV-1 B subtype potentially associated with resistance to fostemsavir

We evaluated natural resistance to the new antiretroviral fostemsavir and its potential association with other HIV-1 gp120 polymorphisms

The French Version of the CAGE Mythology (Competitiveness—Attractiveness—Globalization—Excellence) and Some Ideas on How to Escape from It

International audienceThe recent period is characterized by the emergence of an attractive mythology in the field of economic development: the deepening of globalization would plunge all territories into an imperative of competitiveness, with only a few very big cities able to compete to attract the talents and leaders of tomorrow, which should therefore be supported by concentrating efforts on excellence. We summarize it by the acronym CAGE for Competitiveness, Attractiveness, Globalization and Excellence. A careful analysis of the different components of the CAGE shows that as reassuring as it can be, it tends to lock thought into conceptions that do not stand the test of facts. Despite this, and to a greater or lesser extent influenced by certain researchers and private or public analysis and advisory bodies, it underlies a whole range of public policies; it has even structured part of the debates around the results of elections in different countries. Enclosure in the CAGE causes adverse effects. As public resources are limited, dedicating them strongly to a few actors (start-ups, researchers deemed “excellent” …) or to a few places (“global” cities) leads to reinforcing socio-spatial inequalities. Some elements for reflection on possible alternatives, which seem healthier to us, will be presented in order to help escaping from it