Mucosal Secretor Status among the Study Participants (n = 280).

<p>Mucosal Secretor Status among the Study Participants (n = 280).</p

Socio-demographics characteristics of female sex workers recruited from the Pumwani Majengo Sex Worker cohort in Nairobi, Kenya (n = 280).

<p>Socio-demographics characteristics of female sex workers recruited from the Pumwani Majengo Sex Worker cohort in Nairobi, Kenya (n = 280).</p

Correlation between Secretor Status and Sexually Transmitted Infection Rates among the Study Participants (n = 280).

<p>Correlation between Secretor Status and Sexually Transmitted Infection Rates among the Study Participants (n = 280).</p

Correlations of integrin-expressing cells between tissues.

<p>Graphs display Spearman’s correlation (r_s), and both unadjusted and adjusted p values (n = 10). P values adjusted for multiple comparisons are marked with asterisks (p*).</p

Integrin-expressing CD4⁺ and CD4^negT cell densities in the blood, cervix and rectum.

<p>(A) CD4^neg:CD4⁺ ratio of all CD3⁺cells expressing α4^-β7^-, αE⁺β7^hi, α4⁺β7^hi, α4^intβ7^int or α4⁺β1⁺ in blood, cervix and rectum. (B) The densities of αE⁺β7^hi, α4⁺β7^hi and α4⁺β1⁺T cells in this pie charts were drawn based on integrin-expressing T cells in each tissue and does not account for the total density of T cells in each site. Data from 45 female subjects presented as median (IQR). *<i>P</i> < 0.05 **<i>P</i> < 0.01 ***<i>P</i> < 0.001 ****<i>P</i> < 0.0001, as calculated by Friedman Test, followed by Wilcoxon signed rank-test, and adjusted for multiple comparisons using step-down procedure.</p

Integrin-expressing CD4⁺T cells isolated from blood, cervix and rectum and their co-expression with CCR5 and CD69.

<p>(A) Representative flow cytometry plots for the identification of α4^-β7^-, αE⁺β7^hi, α4⁺β7^hi, α4^intβ7^int α4⁺β1⁺, CCR5⁺ and CD69⁺ on CD4⁺T cell populations in blood, cervix and rectum; (B) α4^-β7^-CD4⁺T cells (black), αE⁺β7^hi (blue), α4⁺β7^hi (red), α4^intβ7^int (green) and α4⁺β1⁺ (gray) expression on CD4⁺T cells isolated from blood, cervix and rectum. (C) Frequency of CCR5-expressing cells on α4^-β7^-CD4⁺T cells (black), αE⁺β7^hiCD4⁺T cells (blue), α4⁺β7^hiCD4⁺T cells (red), α4^intβ7^int CD4⁺T cells (green) and α4⁺β1^hiCD4⁺T cells (gray). (D) Frequency of CD69-expressing cells on α4^-β7^-CD4⁺T cells (black), αE⁺β7^hiCD4⁺T cells (blue), α4⁺β7^hiCD4⁺T cells (red), α4^intβ7^int CD4⁺T cells (green) and α4⁺β1⁺CD4⁺T cells (gray). Data from 45 female subjects presented as median (IQR). *<i>P</i> < 0.05 **<i>P</i> < 0.01 ***<i>P</i> < 0.001 ****<i>P</i> < 0.0001, as calculated by Friedman Test, followed by Wilcoxon signed rank-test, and adjusted for multiple comparisons using step-down procedure.</p

Integrin-expressing CD4^negT cells isolated from blood, cervix and rectum and their co-expression with CD69.

<p>(A) Representative flow cytometry plots for the identification of α4^-β7^-, αE⁺β7^hi, α4⁺β7^hi, α4^intβ7^int, α4⁺β1⁺, and CD69⁺ on CD4^negT cell populations in blood, cervix and rectum; (B) αE⁺β7^hi (blue), α4⁺β7^hi (red), α4^intβ7^int (green) and α4⁺β1⁺ (gray) expression on CD4^negT cells isolated from blood, cervix and rectum. (C) Frequency of CD69-expressing cells on α4^-β7^-CD4^negT cells (black), αE⁺β7^hiCD4^negT cells (blue), α4⁺β7^hiCD4^negT cells (red), α4^intβ7^intCD4^negT cells (green) and α4⁺β1⁺CD4^negT cells (gray). Data from 45 female subjects presented as median (IQR). *<i>P</i> < 0.05 **<i>P</i> < 0.01 ***<i>P</i> < 0.001 ****<i>P</i> < 0.0001, as calculated by Friedman Test, followed by Wilcoxon signed rank-test, and adjusted for multiple comparisons using step-down procedure.</p

Anti-α4 and anti- β7 co-staining as means to the identification of αE⁺β7^hi T cell population.

<p>(A) Representative flow cytometry plots for the identification of α4^-/negβ7^hi, α4⁺β7^hi, α4^intβ7^int and α4⁺β7^-T cell populations in blood, cervix and rectum; (B) Frequency of α4^-/lowβ7^hi, α4^intβ7^int and α4⁺β7^hi on CD4⁺ and CD4^negT cells expressing αE. Data from 10 female subjects presented as median and interquartile range (IQR).</p

S1 Dataset -

IntroductionHepatitis B (HBV) prevalence remains high in Sub Saharan Africa and among some key populations such as those with continued exposure through sexual contact. We assessed the HBV status among potential participants who were screened for simulated HIV vaccine efficacy trials in Kenya and Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a cross sectional analysis of data collected from individuals who were screened in Kenya (Nairobi) and Uganda (Entebbe and Kampala). The studies followed hypothetical procedures of an HIV vaccine efficacy trial and aimed to enroll HIV negative key and vulnerable populations at elevated risk of HIV acquisition. HBV status was the main outcome categorized using Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and total Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb). Baseline characteristics potentially associated with never being infected were analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsWe screened 1,366 participants with mean age (SD) 28.7 (7.3) years. Overall, 46.6% were from Entebbe, 50.7% had secondary or higher level of education, 76.4% had informal high-risk jobs and 56.3% were male. Kampala had only female participants contributing 60.6% of females screened. Of the screened participants, 94.7% and 3.4% were negative and positive for HBsAg respectively. The prevalence on HBV infection was 3.9% among males and 2.8% among females while prevalence by site was: Entebbe (4.9%); Kampala (4.1%) and Nairobi (0.3%). The highest HBV prevalence was found among participants aged 25-29-years (5.2%), those with primary level education (4.5%), and those in informal low risk jobs (6.5%). Considering 1265 participants with complete data on HBsAg and HBcAb-Total, HBV status was never infected (67.9%), past infection (28.5%), chronic infection (3.2%) and acute infection (0.5%). Of 859 who were never infected, 685 (79.7%) were tested for anti-HBs titers of whom 60 (8.8%) had titers >10IU/L (immune due to vaccination). The odds of never being HBV infected were lower among older individuals 25–29 years (AOR 0.51; 95%CI 0.36–0.71) and ≥30 years (AOR 0.35; 95% CI 0.25–0.49). The odds were higher among participants with informal high-risk jobs from Kampala (AOR 2.21; 95% CI 1.41–3.47) and Nairobi (AOR 2.61; 95% CI 1.72–4.00) compared to those from Entebbe.ConclusionHBV prevalence and immunity due to vaccination were low among HIV negative individuals who are eligible for HIV vaccine trials and prevalence varies by age, education level and main occupation. Younger individuals and those recruited from existing cohorts/ clinics have a higher likelihood of having no prior HBV infection. HIV prevention intervention trials are a platform to identify individuals that need HBV vaccination.</div

Hepatitis B status of participants screened for the SiVET studies in Kenya and Uganda by baseline characteristics.

Hepatitis B status of participants screened for the SiVET studies in Kenya and Uganda by baseline characteristics.</p