An Approach to Quantifying the Interaction between Behavioral and Transmission Clusters.

We hypothesize that patterns of sexual behavior play a role in the conformation of transmission networks, i.e., the way you behave might influence whom you have sex with. If that was the case, behavioral grouping might in turn correlate with, and potentially predict transmission networking, e.g., proximity in a viral phylogeny. We rigorously present an intuitive approach to address this hypothesis by quantifying mapped interactions between groups defined by similarities in sexual behavior along a virus phylogeny while discussing power and sample size considerations. Data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study on condom use and hepatitis C virus (HCV) sequences served as proof-of-concept. In this case, a strict inclusion criteria contrasting with low HCV prevalence hindered our possibilities to identify significant relationships. This manuscript serves as guide for studies aimed at characterizing interactions between behavioral patterns and transmission networks. Large transmission networks such as those of HIV or COVID-19 are prime candidates for applying this methodological approach

The nucleophilic amino group of lysine is central for histone lysine methyltransferase catalysis

Contains fulltext : 208586.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Photosensitizer-based multimodal PSMA-targeting ligands for intraoperative detection of prostate cancer

Contains fulltext : 228671.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Cationic Geminoid Peptide Amphiphiles Inhibit DENV2 Protease, Furin, and Viral Replication

Dengue is an important arboviral infectious disease for which there is currently no specific cure. We report gemini-like (geminoid) alkylated amphiphilic peptides containing lysines in combination with glycines or alanines (C(15)H(31)C(O)-Lys-(Gly or Ala)(n)Lys-NHC(16)H(33), shorthand notation C(16)-KX(n)K-C(16) with X = A or G, and n = 0–2). The representatives with 1 or 2 Ala inhibit dengue protease and human furin, two serine proteases involved in dengue virus infection that have peptides with cationic amino acids as their preferred substrates, with IC(50) values in the lower µM range. The geminoid C(16)-KAK-C(16) combined inhibition of DENV2 protease (IC(50) 2.3 µM) with efficacy against replication of wildtype DENV2 in LLC-MK2 cells (EC(50) 4.1 µM) and an absence of toxicity. We conclude that the lysine-based geminoids have activity against dengue virus infection, which is based on their inhibition of the proteases involved in viral replication and are therefore promising leads to further developing antiviral therapeutics, not limited to dengue

Unlinked anonymous HIV study of hospital patients and general practice attenders in Glasgow, 1991–1997

Aim—To determine whether HIV is spreading from injecting drug users and homosexual/bisexual males into lower risk heterosexual populations in Glasgow, Scotland, and to pilot a method of monitoring HIV prevalence which involves testing routine biochemistry specimens. Methods—An unlinked anonymous HIV testing study of hospital patients and general practice attenders was conducted during January 1992 to December 1997. Testing was performed on routine biochemistry specimens from patients aged 16–49 years attending two hospitals with catchment areas covering the north and the east of the city. Results—78 260 specimens were tested in the study period and no patient objected to their samples being tested anonymously. HIV prevalence rates among male and female subjects were 0.63% and 0.01%, respectively; the large difference in prevalence resulted, in part, from the inclusion of HIV infected haemophiliac patients who attended one of the hospitals. Prevalence among male general practice patients ranged between 0.1% and 0.2%, while that for male patients attending surgical or surgically related specialties was 0.1%. Conclusions—The prevalence data indicate that HIV has not seeded from the high risk groups into the wider heterosexual population, and that the risk of a surgeon acquiring HIV occupationally is extremely low in a city which has an HIV prevalence similar to or greater than that seen in most other parts of the United Kingdom. Large numbers of residual specimens from busy biochemistry laboratories can be processed for unlinked anonymous testing without interfering with the laboratories' routine functions. This survey approach might be best suited to monitoring HIV trends in developing countries with relatively high prevalence rates and where transmission is principally heterosexual. Key Words: HIV prevalence • routine biochemistry • anonymous testin