Test accuracy of human papillomavirus in urine for detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

The objective was to assess the diagnostic test accuracy of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing of self-collected urine and cervicovaginal samples for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or higher (CIN2+). We recruited a convenience sample of women 25 to 65 years of age who were undergoing clinically indicated colposcopy at two medical centers in North Carolina between November 2016 and January 2019. Women with normal cytology results and positive hrHPV results were also recruited. Urine samples, self-collected cervicovaginal samples, provider-collected cervical samples, and cervical biopsy samples were obtained from all enrolled women. Samples were tested for hrHPV DNA using the Onclarity assay (Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD). Biopsy samples were histologically graded as CIN2+ or <CIN2. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity for detection of CIN2+ and assessed agreement between sample collection methods. We included 307 women (median age, 36 years) with valid histology results and triplematched urine, self-collected cervicovaginal, and provider-collected cervical hrHPV results; 83 women (27%) had CIN2+. Urine-based hrHPV testing correctly identified 80% of CIN2+ cases (95% confidence interval [CI], 71 to 88%) using the PCR cycle threshold (CT) established for provider-collected cervical samples, but sensitivity remained below the estimates for self-collected cervicovaginal and provider-collected cervical samples (both 94% [95% CI, 89 to 99%]). Using a higher CT cutoff value of ≤40, 90% sensitivity was achieved for urine-based hrHPV testing. Agreement between results for urine samples and self-collected cervicovaginal samples (kappa = 0.58) or provider-collected cervical samples (kappa = 0.54) was moderate. Urinebased hrHPV testing may be a promising approach to improve cervical cancer screening coverage, especially among women with limited access to health care

Extended HPV genotyping to compare hpv type distribution in self- And provider-collected samples for cervical cancer screening

Background: Primary high-risk human papillomavirus (hr- HPV) testing of self-collected cervico-vaginal swabs could increase cervical cancer screening coverage, although triage strategies are needed to reduce unnecessary colposcopies. We evaluated the use of extended hr-HPV genotyping of self-collected samples for cervical cancer screening. Methods: We recruited women ages 25-65 years at two colposcopy clinics in North Carolina between November 2016 and January 2019, and obtained self-collected cervico-vaginal samples, providercollected cervical samples, and cervical biopsies from all enrolled women. Self- and provider-collected samples were tested for 14 hr- HPV genotypes using the Onclarity Assay (Becton Dickinson). We calculated hr-HPV genotype-specific prevalence and assessed agreement between results in self- and provider-collected samples. We ranked the hr-HPV genotypes according to their positive predictive value (PPV) for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or higher (CIN2+). Results: A total of 314 women participated (median age, 36 years); 85 women (27%) had CIN2+. More women tested positive for any hr-HPV on self-collected (76%) than on provider- collected samples (70%; P = 0.009) with type-specific agreement ranging from substantial to almost perfect. HPV-16 was the most common genotype in self-collected (27%) and provider-collected samples (20%), and HPV-16 prevalence was higher in self- than provider-collected samples (P < 0.001). In self- and provider-collected samples, HPV-16 had the highest PPV for CIN2+ detection. Conclusions: Overall sensitivity for CIN2+ detection was similar for both sample types, but the higher HPV-16 prevalence in self-collected samples could result in increased colposcopy referral rates. Impact: Additional molecular markers might be helpful to improve the triage of women who are hr-HPV positive on selfcollected samples

Biocompatible Anionic Polymeric Microspheres as Priming Delivery System for Effetive HIV/AIDS Tat-Based Vaccines

Here we describe a prime-boost regimen of vaccination in Macaca fascicularis that combines priming with novel anionic microspheres designed to deliver the biologically active HIV-1 Tat protein and boosting with Tat in Alum. This regimen of immunization modulated the IgG subclass profile and elicited a balanced Th1-Th2 type of humoral and cellular responses. Remarkably, following intravenous challenge with SHIV89.6Pcy243, vaccinees significantly blunted acute viremia, as compared to control monkeys, and this control was associated with significantly lower CD4+ T cell depletion rate during the acute phase of infection and higher ability to resume the CD4+ T cell counts in the post-acute and chronic phases of infection. The long lasting control of viremia was associated with the persistence of high titers anti-Tat antibodies whose profile clearly distinguished vaccinees in controllers and viremics. Controllers, as opposed to vaccinated and viremic cynos, exhibited significantly higher pre-challenge antibody responses to peptides spanning the glutamine-rich and the RGD-integrin-binding regions of Tat. Finally, among vaccinees, titers of anti-Tat IgG1, IgG3 and IgG4 subclasses had a significant association with control of viremia in the acute and post-acute phases of infection. Altogether these findings indicate that the Tat/H1D/Alum regimen of immunization holds promise for next generation vaccines with Tat protein or other proteins for which maintenance of the native conformation and activity are critical for optimal immunogenicity. Our results also provide novel information on the role of anti-Tat responses in the prevention of HIV pathogenesis and for the design of new vaccine candidates