Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis alters the antibody response to HIV-1.

Background: Co-infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) differentially modulates untreated HIV-1 infection, with asymptomatic MTB reducing HIV-1 viremia and opportunistic infections and active tuberculosis (TB) accelerating AIDS progression. Here, we investigate antibody (Ab) responses to HIV-1 in people with HIV (PWH) without MTB, with asymptomatic MTB, and with later progression to active TB to elucidate MTB-associated effects on HIV-1 immune control.

Methods: Using the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS), we conducted a retrospective study that included 2,840 PWH with data on MTB status and HIV-1-specific plasma binding-/neutralizing-responses.

Polygenic Risk Scores for Type 2 Diabetes in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is among the most frequent comorbidities in people with HIV (PWH) and occurs more often in PWH than in people without HIV. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) can be used to summarize the genetic risk for T2D, but it is unknown to what extent HIV-specific factors impact on or interact with genetic risk factors.

Methods: We performed a case control study using incidence density sampling to match participants with T2D to controls within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (mean age 51.

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Active Tuberculosis in People with HIV using Clinical Data.

Background: Coinfections of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impose a substantial global health burden. Patients with MTB infection face a heightened risk of progression to incident active TB, which preventive therapy can mitigate. Current testing methods often fail to identify individuals who subsequently develop incident active TB.

Tabes dorsalis: a rare presentation of neurosyphilis in Western Europe.

We present a case of tabes dorsalis with delayed diagnosis in a carpenter who presented with a VIth cranial nerve palsy, decreased deep tendon reflexes, reduced sense of vibration and an unsteady gait. After deterioration of symptoms with almost complete loss of vision due to bilateral optic atrophy, pronounced relative afferent pupillary defect and severe gait ataxia, and 4 years of extensive diagnostic testing and ineffective treatments, including several MRIs, genetic analysis and eye surgeries, serological testing was positive for syphilis. Elevated activity markers in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis.

Transcriptional profile of infection in people living with HIV.

In people with HIV-1 (PWH), (MTB) infection poses a significant threat. While active tuberculosis (TB) accelerates immunodeficiency, the interaction between MTB and HIV-1 during asymptomatic phases remains unclear. Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) transcriptomic profiles in PWH, with and without controlled viral loads, revealed distinct clustering in MTB-infected individuals.

Patient and public involvement in HIV research: a mapping review and development of an online evidence map.

Introduction: Increasing evidence indicates the benefits of patient and public involvement (PPI) in medical research, and PPI is increasingly expected by funders and publishers. We conducted a mapping review of studies reporting examples of PPI implementation in HIV research, and developed an online evidence map to guide HIV researchers.

Methods: We systematically searched Medline and Embase up until 18 August 2024, including search terms with variations for PPI and HIV.

Gender Disparities in Statin Prescriptions in People With HIV With Low/Moderate to High Cardiovascular Risk.

The REPRIEVE trial suggests that primary cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention could be considered among people with HIV at low CVD risk. We found cisgender women with low/moderate and high CVD risk are less likely to receive statins than cisgender men. Efforts are needed to guarantee equal access to statin-based CVD prevention.

Using viral diversity to identify HIV-1 variants under HLA-dependent selection in a systematic viral genome-wide screen.

The pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection is governed by a highly dynamic, time-dependent interaction between the host and the viral genome. In this study, we developed a novel systematic approach to assess the host-virus interaction, using average pairwise viral diversity as a proxy for time since infection, and applied this method to nearly whole viral genome sequences (n = 4,464), human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping data (n = 1,044), and viral RNA load (VL) measurements during the untreated chronic phase (n = 829) of Swiss HIV Cohort Study participants. Our systematic genome-wide screen revealed for 98 HLA/viral-variant pairs a signature of immune-driven selection in the form of an HLA-dependent effect of infection time on the presence of HIV amino acid variants.

Loss of tolerance precedes triggering and lifelong persistence of pathogenic type I interferon autoantibodies.

Autoantibodies neutralizing type I interferons (IFN-Is) can underlie infection severity. Here, we trace the development of these autoantibodies at high-resolution using longitudinal samples from 1,876 well-treated individuals living with HIV over a 35-year period. Similar to general populations, ∼1.

Self-reported neurocognitive complaints in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: a viral genome-wide association study.

People with HIV may report neurocognitive complaints, with or without associated neurocognitive impairment, varying between individuals and populations. While the HIV genome could play a major role, large systematic viral genome-wide screens to date are lacking. The Swiss HIV Cohort Study biannually enquires neurocognitive complaints.

Impact of hormonal therapy on HIV-1 immune markers in cis women and gender minorities.

Background: Although sex hormones are recognized to induce immune variations, the effect of hormonal therapy use on immunity is only poorly understood. Here, we quantified how hormonal therapy use affects HIV-1 immune markers in cis women (CW) and trans women and non-binary people (TNBP) with HIV.

Methods: We considered CD4, CD8 and lymphocyte measurements from cis men (CM), CW and TNBP in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Vertebral osteomyelitis with - a case report and review of the literature of a very rare disease.

Infections with species mainly cause gastrointestinal disease and are usually self-limiting. Systemic complications such as bacteremia and osteoarticular infections are rare. Here we report a very rare case of a vertebral osteomyelitis due to , and we reviewed the literature for similar cases, identifying six other cases.

Genetic Diversity From Proviral DNA as a Proxy for Time Since HIV-1 Infection.

HIV-1 RNA genetic diversity predicts time since infection, which is important for clinical care and research. It is unclear, however, whether proviral DNA genetic diversity sampled under suppressive antiretroviral therapy can be used for this purpose. We tested whether proviral genetic diversity from next-generation sequencing predicts time since infection and recency in 221 people with HIV-1 with known infection time.

Characterization and Determinants of Long-Term Immune Recovery Under Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy.

Objective: We developed a robust characterization of immune recovery trajectories in people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment (ART) and relate our findings to epidemiological risk factors and bacterial pneumonia.

Methods: Using data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and the Zurich Primary HIV Infection Cohort Study (n = 5907), we analyzed the long-term trajectories of CD4 cell and CD8 cell counts and their ratio in people living with HIV on ART for at least 8 years by fitting nonlinear mixed-effects models. The determinants of long-term immune recovery were investigated using generalized additive models.

Deciphering Factors Linked With Reduced Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Susceptibility in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background: Factors influencing susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain to be resolved. Using data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study on 6270 people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and serologic assessment for SARS-CoV-2 and circulating human coronavirus (HCoV) antibodies, we investigated the association of HIV-related and general parameters with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test results, COVID-19-related hospitalizations, and deaths reported to the Swiss HIV Cohort Study between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021.

Incidence of sexually transmitted infections and association with behavioural factors: Time-to-event analysis of a large pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cohort.

Objectives: Our objective was to obtain long-term data on the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and their association with behavioural factors after widespread pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation.

Methods: This was a time-to-event analysis of a national PrEP cohort in Switzerland (SwissPrEPared study). Participants were people without HIV interested in taking PrEP with at least two STI screening visits.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection associated immune perturbations correlate with antiretroviral immunity.

Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) remains one of the most important opportunistic infections in people with HIV-1 (PWH). While active Tuberculosis (TB) leads to rapid progression of immunodeficiency in PWH, the interaction between MTB and HIV-1 during the asymptomatic phase of both infections remains poorly understood. In a cohort of individuals with HIV (PWH) with and without suppressed HIV-1 viral load, the transcriptomic profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) clustered in individuals infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) compared to carefully matched controls.

Understanding the Decline of Incident, Active Tuberculosis in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Switzerland.

Background: People with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) (PWH) are frequently coinfected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and at risk for progressing from asymptomatic latent TB infection (LTBI) to active tuberculosis (TB). LTBI testing and preventive treatment (TB specific prevention) are recommended, but its efficacy in low transmission settings is unclear.

Methods: We included PWH enrolled from 1988 to 2022 in the Swiss HIV Cohort study (SHCS).

Novel Echinacea formulations for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infections in adults-A randomized blinded controlled trial.

Background: has clinical antiviral activity against respiratory viruses and modulates immune functions. In this study, we compared higher doses of new formulations with conventional formulations at lower, preventive doses for therapy of respiratory tract infections (RTIs).

Methods: In this randomized, blinded, controlled trial, healthy adults ( = 409) were randomized between November 2018 and January 2019 to one of four formulations, which were taken in case of an RTI for up to 10 days.

Frequency matters: comparison of drug resistance mutation detection by Sanger and next-generation sequencing in HIV-1.

Background: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is gradually replacing Sanger sequencing (SS) as the primary method for HIV genotypic resistance testing. However, there are limited systematic data on comparability of these methods in a clinical setting for the presence of low-abundance drug resistance mutations (DRMs) and their dependency on the variant-calling thresholds.

Methods: To compare the HIV-DRMs detected by SS and NGS, we included participants enrolled in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) with SS and NGS sequences available with sample collection dates ≤7 days apart.

Risk Factors and Incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH), but there are limited data about risk factors and incidence of STIs in large, representative cohort studies.

Methods: We assessed incidence and risk factors of STIs reported by treating physicians within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS). Sexually transmitted infections and demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics were prospectively collected at 6-month follow-up visits between October 2017 and November 2019.

Quantifying and Predicting Ongoing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmission Dynamics in Switzerland Using a Distance-Based Clustering Approach.

Background: Despite effective prevention approaches, ongoing human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) transmission remains a public health concern indicating a need for identifying its drivers.

Methods: We combined a network-based clustering method using evolutionary distances between viral sequences with statistical learning approaches to investigate the dynamics of HIV transmission in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and to predict the drivers of ongoing transmission.

Results: We found that only a minority of clusters and patients acquired links to new infections between 2007 and 2020.

Changes in mental and sexual health among MSM using HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: longitudinal analysis of the SwissPrEPared cohort study.

Background: Changes in mental and sexual health among men having sex with men (MSM) due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remain unclear.

Methods: Design: Longitudinal analysis of an ongoing, multicentre, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) cohort (NCT03893188) in Switzerland. Participants: HIV-negative MSM aged ≥18 who completed at least one questionnaire before and one after the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Impact of Latent Tuberculosis on Diabetes.

While an increased risk of active and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in people with type-2 diabetes (DM) has been demonstrated, it is less well characterized whether LTBI is associated with an increased risk of developing DM. We investigated the link between LTBI and DM in people living with HIV in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study via time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models. We found that LTBI significantly increased the risk of developing DM (HR = 1.

AmpC hyperproduction in a Cedecea davisae implant-associated bone infection during treatment: a case report and therapeutic implications.

Background: Data on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms are scanty for Cedecea spp., with very variable antibiotic resistance patterns documented. Here we report the first in vivo resistance evolution of a C.