Structural Differences in KIR3DL1 and LILRB1 Interaction with HLA-B and the Loading Peptide Polymorphisms: In Silico

KIR3DL1 and LILRB1 interact with HLA class I. Using KIR3DL1/HLA-B interaction to set up the procedure, structural immune-informatics approaches have been performed in LILRB1/HLA-B alleles’ combination also considering the contribution of the HLA bound peptide. All KIR3DL1 alleles interact strongly with HLA-B alleles carrying Bw4 epitope and negative charged amino acid residues in peptide position P8 disrupt KIR3DL1 binding. HLA-B alleles carrying Ile 194 show a higher strength of interaction with LILRB1 in all the analyzed haplotypes. Finally, we hypothesize a contribution of the amino acid at position 1 of the HLA bound peptide in the modulation of HLA-B/LILRB1 interaction

structural differences in kir3dl1 and lilrb1 interaction with hla b and the loading peptide polymorphisms in silico evidences

KIR3DL1 and LILRB1 interact with HLA class I. Using KIR3DL1/HLA-B interaction to set up the procedure, structural immune-informatics approaches have been performed in LILRB1/HLA-B alleles' combination also considering the contribution of the HLA bound peptide. All KIR3DL1 alleles interact strongly with HLA-B alleles carrying Bw4 epitope and negative charged amino acid residues in peptide position P8 disrupt KIR3DL1 binding. HLA-B alleles carrying Ile 194 show a higher strength of interaction with LILRB1 in all the analyzed haplotypes. Finally, we hypothesize a contribution of the amino acid at position 1 of the HLA bound peptide in the modulation of HLA-B/LILRB1 interaction

The Ebola virus disease outbreak in Tonkolili district, Sierra Leone: a retrospective analysis of the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever surveillance system, July 2014–June 2015

In Sierra Leone, the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak occurred with substantial differences between districts with someone even not affected. To monitor the epidemic, a community event-based surveillance system was set up, collecting data into the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) database. We analysed the VHF database of Tonkolili district to describe the epi- demiology of the EVD outbreak during July 2014–June 2015 (data availability). Multivariable analysis was used to identify risk factors for EVD, fatal EVD and barriers to healthcare access, by comparing EVD-positive vs. EVD-negative cases. Key-performance indicators for EVD response were also measured. Overall, 454 EVD-positive cases were reported. At multivariable analysis, the odds of EVD was higher among those reporting contacts with an EVD-positive/ suspected case (odds ratio (OR) 2.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.44–2.50; P < 0.01) and those attending funeral (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01–1.04; P < 0.01). EVD cases from Kunike chief- dom had a lower odds of death (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.08–0.44; P < 0.01) and were also more likely to be hospitalised (OR 2.34; 95% CI 1.23–4.57; P < 0.05). Only 25.1% of alerts were gen- erated within 1 day from symptom onset. EVD preparedness and response plans for Tonkolili should include social-mobilisation activities targeting Ebola/knowledge-attitudes-practice dur- ing funeral attendance, to avoid contact with suspected cases and to increase awareness on EVD symptoms, in order to reduce delays between symptom onset to alert generation and consequently improve the outbreak-response promptness

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Extracts from Cassia alata, Eleusine indica, Eremomastax speciosa, Carica papaya and Polyscias fulva Medicinal Plants Collected in Cameroon

Abstract Background: The vast majority of the population around the world has always used medicinal plants as first source of health care to fight infectious and non infectious diseases. Most of these medicinal plants may have scientific evidence to be considered in general practice. Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant capacities and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts of leaves of Cassia alata, Eleusine indica, Carica papaya, Eremomastax speciosa and the stem bark of Polyscias fulva, collected in Cameroon. Methods: Chemiluminescence was used to analyze the antioxidant activities of plant extracts against hydrogen peroxide or superoxide anion. Comet assays were used to analyze the protection against antioxidant-induced DNA damage induced in white blood cells after treating with hydrogen peroxide. Flow cytometry was used to measure cd T cells proliferation and anti-inflammatory activity of cd T cells and of immature dendritic cells (imDC) in the presence of different concentrations of plant extracts. Results: Ethanol extracts showed strong antioxidant properties against both hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. Cassia alata showed the highest antioxidant activity. The effect of plant extracts on cd T cells and imDC was evidenced by the dose dependent reduction in TNF-a production in the presence of Cassia alata, Carica papaya, Eremomastax speciosa Eleusine indica, and Polyscias fulva. cd T cells proliferation was affected to the greatest extent by Polyscias fulva. Conclusion: These results clearly show the antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory activities of plant extracts collected in Cameroon. These properties of leaves and stem bark extracts may contribute to the value for these plants in traditional medicine and in general medical practice

Clonal Selection and Population Dynamics of Vγ2/Vδ2 T Cells in Macaca Fascicularis

HIV infection increases the susceptibility to new M. tuberculosis (Mtb) infections, the risk of reactivating latent infections and the risk of rapid TB progression. γδ T cells, in particular the Vγ2Jγ1.2 subset, are thought to be part of the innate immune response to both HIV and Mtb. Importantly, both HIV and Mtb perturb gd T cells homeostasis, causing a profound and highly specific depletion of the Vγ2Jγ1.2 subset

Antibacterial activity of alkaloids from Sida acuta

Sida acuta is a shrub indigenous to pantropical regions. The plant is widely used for its various pharmacological properties. Among compounds of pharmacological interest occurring in the plant, are indoloquinoline alkaloids. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of alkaloids of S. acuta from Burkina Faso. The alkaloids had a good antimicrobial activity against the test microorganisms. In the agar-well diffusion assay, highest inhibition zone diameters were recorded with Gram-positive bacteria. The broth microdilution assay gave minimal inhibitory concentration values ranging from 16 to 400 μg/ml and minimal bactericidal concentration values ranging from 80 to up to 400 μg/ml. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the same alkaloids led to the identification of cryptolepine and quindoline as the major components.Keywords: Cryptolepine, quindoline, indoloquinolines, antibacterial, Sida acut

Europe and Africa: One continent in the university education

The Erasmus Programme is the EU programme that allows students to travel to countries in the European Union. Erasmus+ is the new programme combining all the EU’s current schemes for education, training, youth and sport, which was started in January 2014 and will be held for the period 2021-2027. It stands for European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students+ [...]

Nutritional outcomes in HIV Exposed Infants in the Mingha Program, Dschang-Cameroon (2003-2011)

Background: Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) is a set of interventions that contribute in reducing the risk of HIV transmission from mother (parents) to the child. The infant feeding choice in the HIV context remains a key item of PMTCT. This study aimed at evaluating the nutritional status of children followed by the Mingha / PMTCT program in the Dschang Health District (DHD) during 09 years of activities. We used a descriptive study based on retrospective data from an intervention conducted at the DHD between 2003 and 2011 on a group of mother-child pairs in the PMTCT (Mingha/PMTCT) facilitation program. The intervention was the formula feeding given to the children from birth till 18 months. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS Version 18 software. Results: Among 328 children accessed, we had a sex ratio of 0.83 with more boys than girls. Severe wasting was found only within 11 boys (3.26%) and only <6 months old children were concerned. Moderate wasting was found among 6 girls (1.74%) and 5 boys (1.52%) and <6 months old children were highly concerned 10 (3.17%). Overweight (3.26%) was highly predominant among 8 boys (2.24%) and except those of <6 months, all the other age groups were concerned. There were no cases of obesity or stunting. Conclusions: The nutritional status of the Mingha/PMTCT program children was quite satisfactory. It characterizes the hope for a suitable nutritional follow up of children in HIV context. Therefore programs like Mingha/PMTCT should be promoted and transferred to other Health Districts and even resource-limited countries

po 8580 treatment response among cameroonian adolescents receiving antiretroviral therapy in urban and rural settings preliminary findings from the ready study

BackgroundTransitioning from paediatric to adult healthcare requires successful antiretroviral treatment (ART) for adolescents living with HIV (ADLHIV). Implementing such a policy implies monitoring ART response and selecting for therapeutic options for ADLHIV in resource-limited settings (RLS) like Cameroon.MethodsThe Ready study (EDCTP-CDF-1027) is conducted amongst ART-experienced ADLHIV (10–19 years old) in the Centre region, Cameroon. WHO-clinical staging, CD4-counts and viraemia were determined; in case of virological failure [VF] (viraemia ≥1000 copies/ml), HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) and subtyping were performed, and p<0.05 considered significant.ResultsOut of 279 ADLHIV (212 urban vs 67 rural), the gender distribution was similar (54.5% female); median age was higher in urban (15 [IQR: 13–17] years) compared to rural (13 [IQR: 11–17] years), as well as the median duration on ART (7 [IQR: 3–10] years compared to 4 [IQR: 2–7] years, respectively); and the majority was on first-line ART (79.4% [162/204] urban vs 98.5% [66/67] rural, p<0.0004). Following treatment response, clinical failure (WHO-stage 3/4) was similarly low in both urban (5.7% [12/210]) and rural (4.5% [3/67]), p=0.938; CD4 increased similarly (p=0.298) from ART-initiation (370 cells/mm3[urban] vs 332 cells/mm3[rural]) to 6 years after initiation (938 cells/mm3[urban] vs 548 cells/mm3[rural]) and rate of immunodeficiency (<500 CD4 cells/mm3) was 41.0% (87/208) in urban vs 47.5% (29/61) in rural, p=0.428. VF was 43.2% (41/95) in urban vs 60.9% (14/23) in rural, p=0.126. Among nine (9) sequences available from those experiencing VF, overall HIVDR was found in 88.8%, with 77.7% NNRTI, 55.6% NRTI and 22.2% PI/r. All were HIV-1 group M, with 55.6% CRF02_AG, 22.0% F1 and 22.4% others.ConclusionADLHIV appear clinically asymptomatic, with considerable immune recovery overtime. Despite differences in ART duration between urban and rural settings, VF was similarly high, associated with HIVDR mainly to NNRTI-based regimens. Thus, NNRTI-sparing regimens might be highly convenient when transitioning ADLHIV to adult ART-regimens in RLS like Cameroon