Browsing by Author "Dompreh, Albert"

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    Effect of HIV-2 Co-Infection on HIV 1& 2 dually infected patients’ response Haart
    (2008-08-09) Dompreh, Albert
    This study was carried out to determine the effect of HIV-2 on HIV-1 & 2 dually infected patients’ response to antiretroviral therapy supposedly designed for HIV-1. HIV-1 and HIV-2 are distinct strains of viruses that cause AIDS. HIV-2 is known to be less pathogenic with a slower rate of CD4 depletion and a longer time of disease progression to AIDS. In contrast, HIV-1 is more pathogenic, depletes CD4 faster with a comparatively shorter time disease progression to AIDS. HIV-1 and HIV-2 differ in their nucleotide sequence and their genetic organization with just about 30% homology between them. Therefore, one would expect that their replicative steps in an infected individual could possibly involve different enzymes and cellular factors. Available antiretroviral drugs target only HIV-1 and act by interfering with the replicative steps of the HIV virus. In line with this, a drug supposedly designed for HIV-1 might not provide enough inhibition for HIV-2. We specifically monitored the response of patients undergoing ART with HIV-2 alone infection and HIV -1 & 2 dual infections and compared their response to patients with HIV-1. In all, 108 patients were enrolled into the study. Out of this, 87% had HIV-1, 7% had HIV-2 while 6% had HIV-1 & 2. The patients were monitored using their CD4 kinetics over a period of two years with a baseline CD4 and four consecutive counts performed at 6 months intervals. The results indicated that patients with HIV-2 infection responded favorably to the therapy just like HIV-1 infected patients. However, it appears that the synergistic effect of HIV-1 & HIV- 2 in HIV-1 & 2 dual infections contributed to a comparatively lower response to therapy. It was also found that, most probably, the modes of action of the drugs are on host factors but not virus specific factors. Not withstanding the difference in viral genome, HIV-2 patients responded well to the supposed HIV-1 specifically designed drugs.
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    Helicobacter pylori Coinfection Is Associated With Decreased Markers of Immune Activation in ART-Naive HIV-Positive and in HIV-Negative Individuals in Ghana
    (Oxford University Press, 2015-11-15) Phillips, Richard Odame; Eberhardt, Kirsten Alexandra; Sarfo, Fred Stephen; Dompreh, Albert; Kuffour, Edmund Osei; et. al
    Background. Helicobacter pylori coinfection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients has been associated with higher CD4+ cell counts and lower HIV-1 viral loads, with the underlying mechanisms being unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of H. pylori infection on markers of T-cell activation in HIVpositive and HIV-negative individuals. Methods. In a cross-sectional, observational study, HIV patients (n = 457) and HIV-negative blood donors (n = 79) presenting to an HIV clinic in Ghana were enrolled. Data on clinical and sociodemographic parameters, CD4+/CD8+ T-cell counts, and HIV-1 viral load were recorded. Helicobacter pylori status was tested using a stool antigen test. Cell surface and intracellular markers related to T-cell immune activation and turnover were quantified by flow cytometry and compared according to HIV and H. pylori status. Results. Helicobacter pylori infection was associated with decreased markers of CD4+ T-cell activation (HLADR+ CD38+CD4+; 22.55% vs 32.70%; P = .002), cell proliferation (Ki67; 15.10% vs 26.80%; P = .016), and immune exhaustion (PD-1; 32.45% vs 40.00%; P = .005) in 243 antiretroviral therapy (ART)–naive patients, but not in 214 patients on ART. In HIV-negative individuals, H. pylori infection was associated with decreased frequencies of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (6.31% vs 10.40%; P = .014 and 18.70% vs 34.85%, P = .006, respectively). Conclusions. Our findings suggest that H. pylori coinfection effectuates a systemic immune modulatory effect with decreased T-cell activation in HIV-positive, ART-naive patients but also in HIV-negative individuals. This findingmight, in part, explain the observed association of H. pylori infection with favorable parameters of HIV disease progression. Clinical Trials Registration. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01897909.