Role In Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Research Articles

Isolation of Lautropia mirabilis from oral cavities of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children.

Lautropia mirabilis, a pleomorphic, motile, gram-negative coccus, has been isolated from the oral cavities of 32 of 60 (53.3%) children infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 3 of 25 (12.0%) HIV-uninfected controls; the association of L. mirabilis isolation with HIV infection is significant (P < 0.001). All children in the study, both HIV-infected children and controls, were born to HIV-infected mothers. The presence of this bacterium was not associated with clinical disease in these children. The HIV-infected children with L. mirabilis did not differ from the HIV-infected children without L. mirabilis in immunological status, clinical status, or systemic medications. The role of HIV infection itself or concomitant factors in the establishment of L. mirabilis in the oral cavity remains to be elucidated.

Circulating levels of mannose binding protein in human immunodeficiency virus infection

Mannose binding protein (MBP) is a serum lectin which, upon binding to a carbohydrate extremity, acquires the ability to activate the classical complement pathway. MBP binds human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro via glycans on gp120 and thus, it may play a defensive role in HIV infection and contribute to virus clearance through the activation of complement associated with this condition. We measured serum MBP and activation indices of the classical complement pathway (plasma C4d and C3d) in HIV-seropositive patients at different stages of disease severity, and in normal subjects. MBP was higher in HIV patients as a whole and in each Centers for Disease Control (CDC) group than controls (P<0.01). MBP was not significantly different between CDC groups and and did not significantly correlate either with CD4-positive lymphocytes, neopterin or beta2-microglobulin or with C4d and C3d. The possibility that MBP plays a defensive role in HIV infection cannot be excluded, but, it it is, it does not appear to act by recruiting complement for vital elimination.

Streptococcus bovis Bacteremia and Meningitis Associated with Strongyloides stercoralis Colitis in a Patient Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

We present a case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection complicated by Streptococcus bovis meningitis and bacteremia and severe Strongyloides stercoralis colitis. The association between S. bovis infection and strongyloidiasis has not been described previously. This case highlights the importance of searching for larvae of S. stercoralis as part of the evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract of patients with bacteremia or meningitis due to certain enteric organisms. The role of HIV infection in the development of severe S. stercoralis colitis in association with S. bovis bacteremia and meningitis is unclear.

Vitiligo and Chronic Photosensitivity in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

A 56-year-old man was admitted with hemiparesis and shortness of breath. He was positive to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody and was diagnosed as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with Kaposi's sarcoma and pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. He developed chronic photosensitivity and vitiligo preceding the onset of the AIDS-related complex (ARC). Association of the two skin lesions with HIV infection is very rare. Although the role of HIV infection in these skin lesions is not significant, the immunological responses in the early course of HIV infection may have contributed to the development of both of these skin lesions.