Project description:During sexual transmission of HIV-1 from male to female partners, the vagina is the initial site of contact with HIV infected semen. The mechanism of HIV traversing the CD4 negative multi-layered stratified squamous epithelial barrier of the vagina to infect sub-epithelial susceptible immune cells, is hitherto unknown. HIV gp120 binds to several host proteins on vaginal epithelial cells. To gain an insight into the physiologic changes that may occur in vaginal epithelial cells in response to interactions with HIV gp120, and obtain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which HIV breaches the vaginal epithelium, a global snap shot of gene expression profiles in the vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7, treated with HIV gp120 was determined. The vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7 was treated with HIV gp120 (83nM) for 24 hr, and Agilent one colour, microarrays were performed.
Project description:During sexual transmission of HIV-1 from male to female partners, the vagina is the initial site of contact with HIV infected semen. The mechanism of HIV traversing the CD4 negative multi-layered stratified squamous epithelial barrier of the vagina to infect sub-epithelial susceptible immune cells, is hitherto unknown. HIV gp120 binds to several host proteins on vaginal epithelial cells. To gain an insight into the physiologic changes that may occur in vaginal epithelial cells in response to interactions with HIV gp120, and obtain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which HIV breaches the vaginal epithelium, a global snap shot of gene expression profiles in the vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7, treated with HIV gp120 was determined. The vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7 was treated with HIV gp120 (83nM) for 24 hr, and Agilent one colour, microarrays were performed. Agilent one-color experiment,Organism: Human ,Agilent-Custom Whole Genome Human 8x60k designed by Genotypic Technology Pvt. Ltd. (AMADID: 027114), Labeling kit: Agilent Quick-Amp labeling Kit (p/n5190-0442)
Project description:Comparative analysis of vaginal microbiota sampling using menstrual cups and high vaginal swabs pregnant women living with HIV-1 infection
Project description:Clinical treatment protocols for infertility with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) provide a unique opportunity to assess the human vaginal microbiome in defined hormonal milieu. Herein, we have investigated the association of circulating ovarian-derived estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations to the vaginal microbiome. Thirty IVF-ET patients were enrolled in this study, after informed consent. Blood was drawn at four time points during the IVF-ET procedure. In addition, if a pregnancy resulted, blood was drawn at 4-to-6 weeks of gestation. The serum concentrations of E2 and P4 were measured. Vaginal swabs were obtained in different hormonal milieu. Two independent genome-based technologies (and the second assayed in two different ways) were employed to identify the vaginal microbes. The vaginal microbiome underwent a transition with a decrease in E2 (and/or a decrease in P4). Novel bacteria were found in the vagina of 33% of the women undergoing IVF-ET. Our approach has enabled the discovery of novel, previously unidentified bacterial species in the human vagina in different hormonal milieu. While the relationship of hormone concentration and vaginal microbes was found to be complex, the data support a shift in the microbiome of the human vagina during IVF-ET therapy using standard protocols. The data also set the foundation for further studies examining correlations between IVF-ET outcome and the vaginal microbiome within a larger study population.
Project description:The ability to predict the type of tissues or cells from molecular profiles of crime scene samples has practical implications in forensics. In order to identify body fluid-specific DNA methylation changes, genome-wide DNA methylation profiling was carried out for body fluids including menstrual blood and vaginal fluid obtained from 3 female donors aged 19, 27 and 38 years. The Illumina Infinium 450k Human DNA methylation Beadchip was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across approximately 450,000 CpGs in bisulfite converted DNA. Samples included 3 of each vaginal fluid and menstrual bloods collected on the first, second and third days of menstrual bleeding.
Project description:The ability to predict the type of tissues or cells from molecular profiles of crime scene samples has practical implications in forensics. In order to identify body fluid-specific DNA methylation changes, genome-wide DNA methylation profiling was carried out for body fluids including menstrual blood and vaginal fluid obtained from 3 female donors aged 19, 27 and 38 years. The Illumina Infinium 450k Human DNA methylation Beadchip was used to obtain DNA methylation profiles across approximately 450,000 CpGs in bisulfite converted DNA. Samples included 3 of each vaginal fluid and menstrual bloods collected on the first, second and third days of menstrual bleeding. Bisulfite converted DNA from the 12 samples were hybridised to the Illumina Infinium 450k Human Methylation Beadchip
Project description:Griffithsin (GRFT) is an anti-viral lectin with potent anti-HIV activity. GRFT’s preclinical safety, lack of systemic absorption after topical administration, and lack of cross-resistance with existing products prompted its development for topical HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. We evaluated safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of PC-6500 (0.1% GRFT in a carrageenan (CG) gel) in healthy, HIV-negative, non-pregnant women following once daily vaginal gel administration for 14 days. No significant adverse events, histopathological changes in cervico-vaginal mucosa, or anti-drug (GRFT) antibodies were detected. No cervicovaginal proinflammatory responses and no changes in the ectocervical transcriptome were evident. Vaginal microbiome remained largely unchanged. Reduced abundance of vaginosis-associated bacteria and decreased levels of proinflammatory chemokines (CXCL8 and CCL20) were observed. GRFT was not detected in plasma. GRFT and GRFT/CG in CVLs dose-dependently inhibited HIV and HPV, respectively, in vitro. The data suggest GRFT/CG is a promising on-demand multipurpose prevention product that warrants further investigation.
Project description:The hormonal contraceptive medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is associated with increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), via incompletely understood mechanisms. Increased diversity in the vaginal microbiota modulates genital inflammation and is associated with increased HIV-1 acquisition. However, the effect of MPA on diversity of the vaginal microbiota is relatively unknown. In a cohort of female Kenyan sex workers, negative for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with Nugent scores <7 (N=58 of 370 screened), MPA correlated with significantly increased diversity of the vaginal microbiota as assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. MPA was also significantly associated with decreased levels of estrogen in the plasma, and low vaginal glycogen and α-amylase, factors implicated in vaginal colonization by lactobacilli, bacteria that are believed to protect against STIs. In a humanized mouse model, MPA treatment was associated with low serum estrogen, low glycogen and enhanced HIV-1 susceptibility. The mechanism by which the MPA mediated changes in the vaginal microbiota may contribute to HIV-1 susceptibility in humans appears to be independent of inflammatory cytokines and/or activated T cells. Altogether, these results suggest MPA-induced hypo-estrogenism may alter key metabolic components that are necessary for vaginal colonization by certain bacterial species including lactobacilli, and allow for greater bacterial diversity in the vaginal microbiota.