Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Antibodies Research Articles

Elevated stress-responsive biomarkers are associated with HIV acquisition in young women in rural South Africa: A HPTN 068 case cohort study.

Biological markers of stress have been associated with HIV progression and pathogenesis but not with HIV incidence. We sought to determine if elevated stress-responsive biomarkers would be associated with incident HIV among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). We conducted a case-cohort study within the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 068 study among 949 AGYW in South Africa. Cases were AGYW who tested HIV-positive during the eight-year follow-up. Unmatched controls were randomly selected from the HIV-negative population at enrollment. Dried blood spots from cases and controls were tested from enrollment (2011-2012) for C-reactive protein (CRP), herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) antibody titers, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibody titers. Cox proportional hazards models estimated the association between each biomarker and time to incident HIV. Compared to AGYW with the lowest CRP levels, those with medium and high CRP levels had a higher hazard ratio (HR) of incident HIV (HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 0.95, 2.21; HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 0.98,2.30, respectively), although not statistically significant. The relative hazard of incident HIV was also higher among AGYW who were CMV seropositive vs. seronegative (low antibodies HR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.2,3.87; medium HR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.28,3.95; high HR: 1.78, 95% CI: 0.99,3.21). Those with the highest HSV-1 antibody levels experienced an increased hazard of HIV compared to those who were HSV-1 seronegative (HR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.03,2.44). Biological stress may increase AGYW's susceptibility to HIV acquisition through changes in immune function, viral infection, and increased biological vulnerability to disease.

Seroprevalence of VZV and HSV-2 Antibodies among Women of Childbearing Age Referring to Health Centres of Mashhad, Iran: The Need for Consideration of VZV Vaccination Program.

Infections with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are associated with serious maternal and neonatal health consequences. The literature review reveals a research gap regarding the seroprevalence of HSV-2 and VZV among women of reproductive age in Mashhad, Northeast of Iran. The present study aims to evaluate the seroprevalence of these viruses among a group of women in Mashhad, Iran. Sera were collected by health center personnel using a cluster sampling method from healthy women with specific age characteristics residing in three distinct socioeconomic regions of the city. The participants, aged 20-35, were divided into three groups (20-25, 26-30, and 31-35 years). The levels of VZV and HSV-2 IgG antibodies were evaluated using commercial ELISA kits. Subsequently, the results were analyzed using SPSS software. A total of 93 women were included in the study. Anti-HSV-2 IgG antibody was detected in 3 out of 93 participants (7.5%), while anti-VZV IgG antibody was found positive in 80 out of 93 individuals (83.3%). The HSV-2 positive cases were concurrently positive for the VZV antibody. There was no significant difference in the positivity of anti-HSV-2 and anti-VZV antibody positivity within age groups or socioeconomic status (P > 0.05). The high seroprevalence of VZV among nonvaccinated participants indicates a widespread presence of the virus and underscores its potentially serious impact on community health. Therefore, it is recommended that a VZV vaccination program be considered by the health system. Furthermore, the reactivation of latent HSV-2, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, during pregnancy should not be disregarded as a life-threatening threat.

Incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 positivity among women living with human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa.

For women living with HIV (WLHIV), co-infection with herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) causes severe genital ulcers and presents additional challenges for their HIV care. To inform preventive strategies, we aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of HSV-2 positivity in a prospective cohort of South African women. The CAPRISA 002 study enrolled women at acute HIV infection between 2004 and 2020. HSV-2 testing was conducted by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay on collected vaginal swabs up to twice annually during follow-up. We calculated incidence as the number of new cases per 100 person-years (PYs) and used Cox-proportional-hazard regression to identify factors associated with time-to-HSV-2 PCR positivity. At enrolment, the median age of 171 women was 24years, interquartile range (IQR 21-28), and the estimated median days since HIV infection was 42 (IQR 22-65). Of participants tested at enrolment, HSV-2 antibody prevalence was 81.4% (105/129), and 10.6% (12/113) were positive by PCR. Among 147 women with a prior negative HSV-2 PCR diagnosis, we observed 47 new HSV-2 PCR positive cases over 424.4 PYs of follow-up, yielding an incidence rate of 11.1 cases per-100-PYs. HSV-2 PCR positivity incidence was higher among younger women (<25years: adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] = 5.91, 95%CI 3.02-11.6), those with bacterial vaginosis (BV) (Nugent score 7-10: aHR = 2.17, 95%CI 1.15-4.10) and lower CD4 counts (<500cells/μl: aHR = 2.04, 95%CI 1.08-3.87). After acute HIV infection in women, the incidence of HSV-2 PCR positivity was associated with younger age, BV diagnosis and lower CD4 count.

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 among the migrant workers in Qatar

BackgroundLimited data exists on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) infections in migrant populations. This study investigated HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalences and associations among craft and manual workers (CMWs) in Qatar who constitute 60% of Qatar’s population.MethodsA national population-based cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted on the CMW population, all men, between July 26 and September 9, 2020. 2,612 sera were tested for anti-HSV-1 IgG antibodies using HerpeSelect 1 ELISA IgG kits and for anti-HSV-2 IgG antibodies using HerpeSelect 2 ELISA IgG kits (Focus Diagnostics, USA). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify associations with HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections.ResultsSerological testing identified 2,171 sera as positive, 403 as negative, and 38 as equivocal for HSV-1 antibodies, and 300 sera as positive, 2,250 as negative, and 62 as equivocal for HSV-2 antibodies. HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalences among CMWs were estimated at 84.2% (95% CI 82.8–85.6%) and 11.4% (95% CI 10.1–12.6%), respectively. HSV-1 infection was associated with nationality, educational attainment, and occupation. HSV-2 infection was associated with age, nationality, and educational attainment.ConclusionsOver 80% of CMWs are infected with HSV-1 and over 10% are infected with HSV-2. The findings highlight the need for sexual health programs to tackle sexually transmitted infections among the CMW population.

Estimation of Seroprevalence of Anti-Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 IgG Among Healthy Blood Donors in Sakaka City, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia

Background: Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is a highly infectious neurotropic virus. The data on HSV-1 infection in Saudi Arabia, including the seroprevalence of HSV-1 antibodies, are scarce. Objectives: This is the first study to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HSV-1 immunoglobulin G (IgG) in donated blood in Sakaka, Aljouf, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total of 300 donated blood samples were collected from the Blood Bank of Prince Mutaib Bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Sakaka. Sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect anti-HSV-1 IgG. A comparison of the age, gender, education, occupation, income, hand hygiene, travel history, and cupping practice of blood donors stratified for the extent of anti-HSV-1 IgG was made. Results: There was a low prevalence of anti-HSV-1 IgG (20%; n = 60/300). Moreover, 50.0% of IgG-positive participants were in the age group of 41 - 45 years, and 81.7% of the participants had a household income of &lt; 10000 SAR (statistically highly significant; P &lt; 0.001*). All the participants performed hand washing with soap before handling food and after using the toilet. Furthermore, IgG-positive participants had a bachelor’s degree (50.0%), were governmental employees (60.0%), were international travelers (50.0%), and practiced cupping (50.0%) with statistically significant associations (P &lt; 0.05*). Conclusions: The current study’s findings support previous reports about the key importance of improving socioeconomic conditions and hygiene measures in reducing the spread of HSV-1. The present study provides an alarm regarding reaching the age of sexual debut without acquiring protective anti-HSV-1 immunoglobulins, consequently becoming more susceptible to acquiring HSV-1 infection through the genital route. These data support the urgent need to develop an effective anti-HSV-1 vaccine.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Prevalence and Association with Inflammatory Cytokines Among Sexual and Gender Minorities Living With and Without HIV-1 from Lagos, Nigeria.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is common globally and contributes significantly to the risk of acquiring HIV-1, yet these two sexually transmitted infections have not been sufficiently characterized for sexual and gender minorities (SGM) across Sub-Saharan Africa. To help fill this gap, we performed a retrospective study using plasma and serum samples from 183 SGM enrolled at the Lagos site of the TRUST/RV368 cohort in Nigeria, assayed them for HSV-2 antibodies with the Kalon ELISA and plasma cytokines and chemokines with Luminex, and correlated the findings with HIV-1 viral loads (VLs) and CD4 counts. We found an overall HSV-2 prevalence of 36.6% (49.5% and 23.9% among SGM with and without HIV-1, respectively, p < .001). Moreover, HSV-2-positive status was associated with high circulating concentrations of CCL11 among antiretroviral therapy-treated (p = .031) and untreated (p = .015) participants, and with high concentrations of CCL2 in the untreated group (p = .004), independent of VL. Principal component analysis revealed a strong association of cytokines with HIV-1 VL independent of HSV-2 status. In conclusion, our study finds that HSV-2 prevalence among SGM with HIV-1 is twice as high than HSV-2 prevalence among SGM without HIV-1 in Lagos and suggests that this is associated with higher levels of certain systemic cytokines. Additional work is needed to further characterize the relationship between HSV-2 and HIV-1 in SGM and help develop targeted therapies for coinfected individuals.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and its association with HIV, HCV, HBV, HTLV-1&2 and syphilis among men who have sex with men in Burkina Faso.

This study aimed to estimate herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence and its association with HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV-1&2 and syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa. We screened MSM sera for HSV-2 antibodies. A total of 329 sera were collected from an HIV and syphilis behavioral and biological cross-sectional survey conducted among MSM in Ouagadougou from January to April 2013. Serum samples were tested using Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) for the detection of IgG antibodies to HSV-2. Also, antibodies to HTLV-1&2, HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies were screened by ELISA. Laboratory assays were performed according to manufacturers' instructions at the Biomedical Research Laboratory at the "Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante" (IRSS) in Burkina Faso. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection among MSM was 14.3%(95% CI: 10.6-18.1), with disparities according to age and occupation. HSV-2 seroprevalence was high among MSM who were seropositive for HIV (40% versus 13.9%), for syphilis (42.9% versus 13.3%), for HCV (32.5% versus 11.7%) and for HTLV-1&2 (38.5% versus 12.9%) compared to people seronegative for these pathogens. Multivariate analysis showed that HIV-positive (ORa​=​5.34, p​=​0.027), anti-HCV-positive (ORa​=​4.44, p​=​0.001), and HTLV-1&2 positive (aOR​=​4.11, p​=​0.046) were associated with HSV-2 infection among MSM. However, no significant statistical association between HSV-2 and syphilis was found. HSV-2 seroprevalence among MSM in Burkina Faso is relatively high. Positive associations between sexual transmitted infections including HIV with HSV-2 suggest that HSV-2 infection's prevention should be strengthened through HIV transmission control programs.

Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus type-1antibodies (IgM,IgG) in smokers in Kirkuk city-Iraq

Herpes Simplex Virus type-1 (HSV-1) is classified in the α-herpes virus group of the Herpesviridae and HSV-1 infections are very common in the human population. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of anti-herpes simplex virus type-1 IgM and anti-herpes simplex virus type-1 IgG among smokers and nonsmokers. In the current study, A total of one hundred two serum samples from males were collected (70 smokers and 32 nonsmokers), there ages were ranged between 20- 50 year; this study which was done during the period between September 2014 to the January 2015. All obtained sera samples from all persons were tested using ELISA method for determine of Herpes simplex virus type-1 antibodies. Results in this study showed that the herpes simplex virus type-1 IgM seropositivity among smoker persons was 24 (34.3%). In addition, the result revealed that the percentage rate of the herpes simplex virus type-1 IgG among smokers was 61(87.1%). There was a significant effect of smoking on the seroprevalence of Herpes simplex virus type-1 antibodies (IgM , IgG).

Herpes simplex virus and rates of cognitive decline or whole brain atrophy in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network.

To investigate whether herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection was associated with rates of cognitive decline or whole brain atrophy among individuals from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN). Among two subsets of the DIAN cohort (age range 19.6-66.6 years; median follow-up 3.0 years) we examined (i) rate of cognitive decline (N = 164) using change in mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, (ii) rate of whole brain atrophy (N = 149), derived from serial MR imaging, calculated using the boundary shift integral (BSI) method. HSV-1 antibodies were assayed in baseline sera collected from 2009-2015. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare outcomes by HSV-1 seropositivity and high HSV-1 IgG titres/IgM status. There was no association between baseline HSV-1 seropositivity and rates of cognitive decline or whole brain atrophy. Having high HSV-1 IgG titres/IgM was associated with a slightly greater decline in MMSE points per year (difference in slope - 0.365, 95% CI: -0.958 to -0.072), but not with rate of whole brain atrophy. Symptomatic mutation carriers declined fastest on both MMSE and BSI measures, however, this was not influenced by HSV-1. Among asymptomatic mutation carriers, rates of decline on MMSE and BSI were slightly greater among those who were HSV-1 seronegative. Among mutation-negative individuals, no differences were seen by HSV-1. Stratifying by APOE4 status yielded inconsistent results. We found no evidence for a major role of HSV-1, measured by serum antibodies, in cognitive decline or whole brain atrophy among individuals at high risk of early-onset AD.

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type-2 among pregnant women in Wad Madani-Sudan: a cross sectional study

Background: Sexually transmitted diseases are known to pose a significant public health threat. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a viral infection with high prevalence in Sudan, particularly among pregnant women. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HSV-2 among pregnant women as well as their associated potential risk factors in Wad Madani-Sudan. Methods: In total, 92 pregnant women who attended the Maternity Hospital and Dr. Altigani Sedeeg Fertility Center at Wad Madani, AL-Gezira State, between April and August 2018 were included in this study. HSV-2 Immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) were assayed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Results: The seroprevalence of HSV-2 IgM and IgG were 35(38%) and 90(97.8%), respectively. A Higher prevalence of HSV-2 IgG 45(48.9%) and 13(14.1%) for IgM was detected in pregnant women aged 15-24 years old with a significant association between HSV-2 IgM and age distribution group (p-value=0.001). HSV-2 IgM and IgG seropositivity were highest in the first trimester; 26(34.2%), and 75(81.5%), respectively. The highest rate of HSV-2 IgM was detected in 19 (20.7%) women with a history of abortion, while the highest rate of HSV-2 IgG was seen in 50 (54.3%) women without a history of abortion. The statistical analysis results did not reveal significant differences between gestational stages and history of abortion with the presence of HSV-2 antibodies. Conclusion: The prevalence of HSV-2 was significant among pregnant women in Wad Madani- Sudan. There was a strong association between HSV-2 IgM seropositivity and the age of pregnant women.

In vivo topical gene therapy for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa: a phase 1 and 2 trial

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a lifelong genodermatosis associated with blistering, wounding, and scarring caused by mutations in COL7A1, the gene encoding the anchoring fibril component, collagen VII (C7). Here, we evaluated beremagene geperpavec (B-VEC), an engineered, non-replicating COL7A1 containing herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) vector, to treat RDEB skin. B-VEC restored C7 expression in RDEB keratinocytes, fibroblasts, RDEB mice and human RDEB xenografts. Subsequently, a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 1 and 2 clinical trial (NCT03536143) evaluated matched wounds from nine RDEB patients receiving topical B-VEC or placebo repeatedly over 12 weeks. No grade 2 or above B-VEC-related adverse events or vector shedding or tissue-bound skin immunoreactants were noted. HSV-1 and C7 antibodies sometimes presented at baseline or increased after B-VEC treatment without an apparent impact on safety or efficacy. Primary and secondary objectives of C7 expression, anchoring fibril assembly, wound surface area reduction, duration of wound closure, and time to wound closure following B-VEC treatment were met. A patient-reported pain–severity secondary outcome was not assessed given the small proportion of wounds treated. A global assessment secondary endpoint was not pursued due to redundancy with regard to other endpoints. These studies show that B-VEC is an easily administered, safely tolerated, topical molecular corrective therapy promoting wound healing in patients with RDEB.

Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and correlates of infection in Jordan.

Herpes infections are common infections among populations. Herein, a cross-sectional study was used to determine the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) IgG antibodies and their association with potential infection risk factors among Jordanians. A total of 759 serum samples were collected (January to February 2020) and analyzed for HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Estimates for population seropositivity were determined by weighting the age-specific seroprevalence by the size of the population in each age stratum. The population estimate for HSV-1 seroprevalence was 75.3%. After adjustment for possible confounders, regression analysis revealed higher seroprevalence with increase in age (p < 0.005) and low household income (p = 0.002). The population estimate for HSV-2 seroprevalence was 2.9%. No significant differences in HSV-2 seroprevalence were observed in association with age, gender, family size, educational level, and socioeconomic status, likely due to low seropositivity. Jordanians have high HSV-1 and low HSV-2 seroprevalence. Periodical studies might be needed to evaluate changes in HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence over time. This study provides essential epidemiological data for Jordan and the Middle East and North Africa region.

Peptide Inhibitor of Complement C1, RLS-0071, Reduces Zosteriform Spread of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Skin Infection and Promotes Survival in Infected Mice.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a prevalent human pathogen primarily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, especially on and around mucosal surfaces where there is contact with contaminated saliva during periods of viral shedding. It is estimated that 90% of adults worldwide have HSV-1 antibodies. Cutaneous HSV-1 infections are characterized by a sensation of tingling or numbness at the initial infection site followed by an eruption of vesicles and then painful ulcers with crusting. These symptoms can take ten days to several weeks to heal, leading to significant morbidity. Histologically, infections cause ballooning degeneration of keratinocytes and formation of multinucleated giant cells, ultimately resulting in a localized immune response. Commonly prescribed treatments against HSV-1 infections are nucleoside analogs, such as acyclovir (ACV). However, the emergence of ACV-resistant HSV (ACVR-HSV) clinical isolates has created an urgent need for the development of compounds to control symptoms of cutaneous infections. RLS-0071, also known as peptide inhibitor of complement C1 (PIC1), is a 15-amino-acid anti-inflammatory peptide that inhibits classical complement pathway activation and modulates neutrophil activation. It has been previously shown to aid in the healing of chronic diabetic wounds by inhibiting the excessive activation of complement component C1 and infiltration of leukocytes. Here, we report that treatment of cutaneous infections of HSV-1 and ACVR-HSV-1 in BALB/cJ mice with RLS-0071 significantly reduced the rate of mortality, decreased zosteriform spread, and enhanced the healing of the infection-associated lesions compared to control-treated animals. Therefore, RLS-0071 may work synergistically with other antiviral drugs to aid in wound healing of HSV-1 cutaneous infection and may potentially aid in rapid wound healing of other pathology not limited to HSV-1.

Abstract 1913: Pre-existing HSV-1 Immunity enhances anti-cancer efficacy of a novel immune stimulating oncolytic virus - VG161

Abstract It is not clear if pre-existing anti-virus immunity or multicycle treatment of oncolytic virus (OV) can affect the treatment outcome. This study is to investigate the impact of pre-existing anti Herpes Simplex Virus type-1 (HSV-1) immunity or multicycle OV treatment on the efficacy of VG161, a novel HSV-1 OV armed with IL12, IL15 with its receptor α unit (IL15RA), and a PD-L1 peptide blocker (PDL1B). VG161 has entered phase I trial in Australia and China. Seventy Balb/c mice were divided into 2 groups. One group (35 mice) was subcutaneously immunized by mVG161 (a version of VG161 expresses mouse IL12, human IL15 and PDL1B) on day 1 (5x105 PFU/mouse) followed by a boost on day 7. The other group (35 mice) was non-immunized. On day 7 post-boost, the blood was collected from tail to determine anti-HSV antibody. At the same time, all 70 mice were subcutaneously implanted with CT26 mouse colon cancer cells. Once the tumors reached 100 mm3, 20 mice (10 from each group) were treated with intra-tumoral (IT) injection of either mVG161 at a dose of 5×106 PFU/mouse or Vehicle, once a day for 5 days. Hepatic cancer (HC) PDX tissues were dissected into pieces of 27 mm3 and subcutaneously implanted into humanized mice established by transplantation of 1×104 human CD34 stem cells (HLA matched with PDX). When the tumor reached 100-150 mm3, animals were divided into 4 groups (10 mice/group): vehicle control, positive control (oxaliplatin 5 mg/kg and gemcitabine 100 mg/kg), and 2 groups treated with VG161 at high dose (7.75×106 PFU) or low dose (3.10×105 PFU). The OV treatments were given for 3 cycles with IT injection of VG161 once a day for day 1-5 of each cycle. Tumor, spleen, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected for further analysis. All HSV pre-immunized mice but not naïve mice were HSV-1 antibody positive. By day 19 post-treatment, mVG161 significantly inhibited CT26 tumor growth in both HSV-1 pre-immunized and non-immunized groups, while all control mice were euthanized due to tumor size reached 2000 mm3. Starting from day 27, tumors grew back in non-immunized group but not in pre-immunized group, resulting in a significant difference of tumor size between the 2 groups on day 31 to 39 (p&amp;lt;0.01). As compared to the negative controls, HC PDX tumors in both treatment groups were significantly smaller with percentage of T/C less than 40% on day 72. The median time for 3-fold increase of tumor size is 41.5 days (95%CI: 32-58) in the vehicle control, 74 days (95%CI: 51-undefined) in high dose group, and not reached in low dose group (p&amp;lt;0.01). Repeated treatment (2-3 cycles) increased the anti-cancer efficacy of VG161. The anti-cancer efficacy of VG161 can be enhanced by pre-immunization of HSV-1 or multicycle administration when the virus is given by IT, suggesting potential clinical benefits of HSV-1 based OV therapy in HSV sero-positive patients and multicycle administration of VG161 for long term maintenance treatment. Citation Format: Jun Ding, Jason Sun, Yana Murad, Erica Lee, Ismael Samudio, William Jia, Ronghua Zhao. Pre-existing HSV-1 Immunity enhances anti-cancer efficacy of a novel immune stimulating oncolytic virus - VG161 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1913.

A Possible Role for HSV-1-Specific Humoral Response and PILRA rs1859788 Polymorphism in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson's Disease.

The etiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement, is still unknown; both genetic and environmental factor are believed to be involved in onset of the disease and its development. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), in particular, is suspected to have a role in PD. Paired Immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor alpha (PILRA) is an inhibitory receptor that down-regulates inflammation and is expressed on innate immune cells. The PILRA rs1859788 polymorphism is protective against Alzheimer’s disease, even in relation with HSV-1 antibody titers, but no data are available in PD. We analyzed HSV-1 antibody titers and PILRA rs1859788 in PD (n = 51) and age-and sex-matched healthy controls (HC; n = 73). Results showed that HSV-1, but not cytomegalovirus (CMV) or human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6) antibody titers were significantly higher in PD compared to HC (p = 0.045). The rs1859788 polymorphism was not differentially distributed between PD and HC, but the minor allele A was more frequently carried by PD (68%) compared to HC (50%) (p = 0.06). Notably, the rs1859788 minor allele A was statically more frequent in male PD (65%) compared to male HC (37%) (p = 0.036). Finally, no relation was found between HSV-1 antibody titers and PILRA genotype. Results herein suggest an involvement of HSV-1 in PD and indicate a possible interaction between PILRA gene polymorphisms and this neuropathology.

Cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex type 1 infections and immunological profile of community-dwelling older adults.

Chronic infections, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), contribute to the inflammation process among older adults and are associated with the immunosenescence process. The aim was to identify the immunological profile associated with CMV and HSV-1 infections among older adults. This is a cross-sectional study, carried out with 1492 participants from the Bambuí Cohort Study of Aging - Minas Gerais, Brazil. For analysis purposes, we considered the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) for CMV and HSV-1 in the participants' serum, assessed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); outcomes were defined by titration above the median (>160 UR/mL for HSV-1 and >399.5U/mL for CMV). In order to assess the immunological profile, the following biomarkers were considered: IL-1beta, IL-10, IL-12, TNF, CXCL8, CXCL9, CXCL10, CCL2, CCL5, IL-6 and CRP; the first four being categorized as detectable levels or not, and the others using the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) method. The analysis was adjusted for sociodemographic variables, health behaviors and health conditions. The seroprevalence of anti CMV and anti HSV-1 antibodies was 99.4% and 97.0%, respectively. Higher concentrations of CXCL8 and CCL5 chemokines were associated with lower antibody titers for CMV, and higher concentrations of CXCL9, IL-6 and CRP were associated with higher levels of antibodies to CMV. Moreover, intermediate levels of CXCL10 were also associated with higher levels of antibodies to CMV. In HSV-1 infection, intermediate levels of CXCL9, CCL5 and IL-6 were less likely to have higher antibody titers for this infection. On the other hand, higher levels of CXCL10 and CRP were positively associated with higher antibody titers for HSV-1. The results describe important immunological changes and reinforce the potential effect of CMV and HSV-1 on the immunosenescence process.

Vaginal and Penile Microbiome Associations With Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in Women and Their Male Sex Partners

BackgroundWe determined how the vaginal and penile microbiomes contribute to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) serostatus within sexual partnerships.MethodsMicrobiomes were characterized in cervicovaginal lavage and penile meatal swab specimens through high-throughput 16s ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing. HSV-2 antibody was detected in serum specimens. We modeled vaginal and penile taxa and covariates contributing to HSV-2 status in women and men using bivariate probit analysis.ResultsAmong 231 couples, HSV-2 was detected in both partners in 78 couples (33.8%), in the woman only in 52 (22.5%),in the man only in 27 (11.7%), and in neither in 74 (32.0%). Among the women (median age, 22 years) 10.9% had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 21.4% had Bacterial vaginosis. Among men (median age, 26 years), 11.8% had HIV, and 55.0% circumcised. In an analysis with adjustment for sociodemographics and Bacterial vaginosis, enrichment of vaginal Gardnerella vaginalis and Lactobacillus iners was associated with increased likelihood of HSV-2 in both partners. Penile taxa (including Ureaplasma and Aerococcus) were associated with HSV-2 in women.ConclusionsWe demonstrate that penile taxa are associated with HSV-2 in female partners, and vaginal taxa are associated with HSV-2 in male partners. Our findings suggest that couples-level joint consideration of genital microbiome and sexually transmitted infection or related outcomes could lead to new avenues for prevention.

A study of seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus infection in STI clinic attendees

Background: Herpes simplex virus infections are prevalent worldwide. They are caused by Herpes simplex virus Type-1 (HSV-1) and type-2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 causes orolabial disease. Genital herpes may be caused by either HSV-2 or HSV-1, large majority of cases being caused by HSV-2. HSV-1 is acquired during early childhood by most of the individuals. The acquisition of HSV-2 starts around puberty or thereafter. The ability of the virus to successfully avoid clearance by the immune system by entering a non-replicating state known as latency leads to life long persistence of infection with unpredictable reactivation and transmission. Detecting antibodies plays an important role in identifying those infected. Type specific tests have been developed that are based on the protein Glycoprotein G from HSV-2 (gG2) or Glycoprotein G from HSV-1 (gG1). As very limited sequence homology exists between gG1 and gG2, assays based on detecting these type specific epitopes using ELISA can reliably differentiate between antibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2. Objectives 1. To study the Seroprevalence of Herpes simplex virus infection in patients attending the STI clinic.2. To study the risk factors and other socioepidemiological factors associated with HSV-2 seropositivity.3. To study the seroprevalence of HSV infection in HIV positive individuals.4. To study the proportion of subclinical seropositives for HSV infection. Material and methods: The study was carried out from July 2017 to June 2019. All patients reporting to DVL OPD at GITAM institute of Medical sciences & Research, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh were examined and evaluated. 82 consecutive patients of both sexes with STI complaints, in the age group of 15-70 years were studied. Patients with genital herpes as well as patients with other STI complaints including both HIV positive and HIV negative patients were included in the study.With prior permission from ethical committee and consent from patients, blood samples were collected and tested for HSV-1 IgG and IgM antibodies and HSV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies.Results: Out of 82 patients 42 (51%) were females and 40 (49%) were males; 41 (50%) were HIV positive and the other 41(50%) were HIV negative.Out of 82 patients, 39(47.6%) had genital herpes and 43 (52.5%) had other STDs which include genital candidiasis (18.3%), non specific urethritis (13.4%), Condyloma acuminate (14.6%) and genital molluscum contagiosum (6.1%).Out of 82 patients, 2(2.4%) were seropositive for HSV-1 IgM and 68 (82.9%) were seropositive for HSV-1 IgG.Out of 82 patients, 4(5%) were seropositive for HSV-2 IgM and 40(48.8%) are seropositive for HSV-2 IgG.Out of 39 patients with genital herpes 21(53.8%) were seropositive for HSV-2 and out of 43 patients with other STDs without genital herpes 19 (44.2%) were seropositive for HSV-2, indicating that the proportion of subclinical seropositivity was 44.2% in our studyConclusion: From our study we conclude that Herpes simplex virus infection is common in STI clinic attendees in our hospital. Prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 serum antibodies provide an epidemiological measure of population burden of these infections. The high seroprevalence of HSV-2 in HIV patients potentiates the need for regular HSV-2 screening in HIV positive individuals and proper counselling and treatment of HSV-2 seropositives during outbreaks will efficiently lower the frequency of recurrences and decrease the transmission of both HSV and HIV infections.

Herpes Simplex virus type 2 seroprevalence and risk factors among adolescents and youth with HIV-1 in Northern, Tanzania.

Herpes Simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is associated with an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) acquisition and transmission. Individuals co-infected with HIV-1 and HSV-2 may have longer lasting, more frequent and severe outbreaks of herpes symptoms. Previous studies have assessed HSV-2 seroprevalence and associated risk factors in adult populations. However, there is limited data on the HSV-2 seroprevalence among adolescents and youth living with HIV-1. The study aimed to determine the HSV-2 seroprevalence and associated risk factors among adolescents and youth living with HIV-1 at referral hospital setting in Northern Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between February and July 2017 among HIV-1-infected individuals aged 10-24 years attending the Child -Centred Family Care Clinic at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre. Blood specimens from 180 individuals were collected for ELISA-based detection of HSV-2 antibodies. Associations between risk factors and HSV-2 seroprevalence were analysed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. The overall HSV-2 seroprevalence was 18% (32/180). A significant HSV-2 seroprevalence was noted among adolescents and youth, who reported having had sexual intercourse than those who never had sexual intercourse (28.9% vs 13.3%, p = 0.02). Youths aged 20-24 had six folds higher risk of HSV-2 seroprevalence compared to those aged 10-14 years (AOR = 5.97 95% CI 1.31 - 27.19, p = 0.02). Our study found that HSV-2 seroprevalence increased by age among adolescents and youth living with HIV-1. Age-specific approaches might play an important role in interventions targeting HSV-2 infection.

Prevalence of active infection by herpes simplex virus type 2 in patients with high-risk human papillomavirus infection: A cross-sectional study.

The aim is to determine the prevalence of active infection by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) among Mexican women with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) cervical infection, recruited from public gynecology and colposcopy services. In a cross-sectional study, HSV-2 antibodies, HSV-2 DNA, and HR-HPV DNA were quantified. Significant differences in HSV-2 seroprevalence and HSV-2 active infection rates were found between negative and positive HR-HPV cases. HSV-2 seroprevalence was 28.15% and 16.1% (P = .0001), while HSV-2 active infection rates were 6.83% and 0.62% (P = .001) for positive and negative HR-HPV groups, respectively. The risk of HSV-2 seropositivity was 1.7 times greater for HR-HPV-positive cases (P = .02). Similarly, HR-HPV-positive cases were nine times more likely to have an HSV-2 active infection than HR-HPV-negative cases (P = .03). High HSV-2/h-HPV coinfection rates were observed among women recruited from public gynecology and colposcopy services. The main factors related to an HSV-2 active infection are a history of risky sexual behavior and HR-HPV infection. The prevalence of HSV-2 active infection among positive HR-HPV subjects indicate that these infections constitute an important group of STIs in Mexico.