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Goodwin J, Kajubi R, Wang K, Li F, Wade M, Orukan F, Huang L, Whalen M, Aweeka FT, Mwebaza N, Parikh S. Persistent and multiclonal malaria parasite dynamics despite extended artemether-lumefantrine treatment in children. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3817. [PMID: 38714692 PMCID: PMC11076639 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48210-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Standard diagnostics used in longitudinal antimalarial studies are unable to characterize the complexity of submicroscopic parasite dynamics, particularly in high transmission settings. We use molecular markers and amplicon sequencing to characterize post-treatment stage-specific malaria parasite dynamics during a 42 day randomized trial of 3- versus 5 day artemether-lumefantrine in 303 children with and without HIV (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT03453840). The prevalence of parasite-derived 18S rRNA is >70% in children throughout follow-up, and the ring-stage marker SBP1 is detectable in over 15% of children on day 14 despite effective treatment. We find that the extended regimen significantly lowers the risk of recurrent ring-stage parasitemia compared to the standard 3 day regimen, and that higher day 7 lumefantrine concentrations decrease the probability of ring-stage parasites in the early post-treatment period. Longitudinal amplicon sequencing reveals remarkably dynamic patterns of multiclonal infections that include new and persistent clones in both the early post-treatment and later time periods. Our data indicate that post-treatment parasite dynamics are highly complex despite efficacious therapy, findings that will inform strategies to optimize regimens in the face of emerging partial artemisinin resistance in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Goodwin
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Richard Kajubi
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Kaicheng Wang
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Fangyong Li
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Martina Wade
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Francis Orukan
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Liusheng Huang
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Meghan Whalen
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Norah Mwebaza
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sunil Parikh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Laufer MK, Mungwira RG, Divala TH. Malaria prevention: advancing clinical trials to policy. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2024; 24:439-440. [PMID: 38224707 PMCID: PMC11058061 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(23)00808-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam K Laufer
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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Kay K, Goodwin J, Ehrlich H, Ou J, Freeman T, Wang K, Li F, Wade M, French J, Huang L, Aweeka F, Mwebaza N, Kajubi R, Riggs M, Ruiz-Garcia A, Parikh S. Impact of Drug Exposure on Resistance Selection Following Artemether-Lumefantrine Treatment for Malaria in Children With and Without HIV in Uganda. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2023; 113:660-669. [PMID: 36260349 PMCID: PMC9981240 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the primary treatment for malaria. It is essential to characterize the pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of ACTs in vulnerable populations at risk of suboptimal dosing. We developed a population PK/PD model using data from our previous study of artemether-lumefantrine in HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected children living in a high-transmission region of Uganda. HIV-infected children were on efavirenz-, nevirapine-, or lopinavir-ritonavir-based antiretroviral regimens, with daily trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis. We assessed selection for resistance in two key parasite transporters, pfcrt and pfmdr1, over 42-day follow-up and incorporated genotyping into a time-to-event model to ascertain how resistance genotype in relation to drug exposure impacts recurrence risk. Two hundred seventy-seven children contributed 364 episodes to the model (186 HIV-uninfected and 178 HIV-infected), with recurrent microscopy-detectable parasitemia detected in 176 episodes by day 42. The final model was a two-compartment model with first-order absorption and an estimated age effect on bioavailability. Systemic lumefantrine exposure was highest with lopinavir-ritonavir, lowest with efavirenz, and equivalent with nevirapine and HIV-uninfected children. HIV status and lumefantrine concentration were significant factors associated with recurrence risk. Significant selection was demonstrated for pfmdr1 N86 and pfcrt K76 in recurrent infections, with no evidence of selection for pfmdr1 Y184F. Less sensitive parasites were able to tolerate lumefantrine concentrations ~ 3.5-fold higher than more sensitive parasites. This is the first population PK model of lumefantrine in HIV-infected children and demonstrates selection for reduced lumefantrine susceptibility, a concern as we confront the threat to ACTs posed by emerging artemisinin resistance in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Kay
- Metrum Research Group, Tariffville, Connecticut, USA
| | - Justin Goodwin
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hanna Ehrlich
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Joyce Ou
- Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Kaicheng Wang
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Fangyong Li
- Yale Center for Analytical Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Martina Wade
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Liusheng Huang
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Francesca Aweeka
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Norah Mwebaza
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Richard Kajubi
- Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Matthew Riggs
- Metrum Research Group, Tariffville, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Sunil Parikh
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Nyangulu W, Mungwira RG, Divala TH, Nampota-Nkomba N, Nyirenda OM, Buchwald AG, Miller J, Earland DE, Adams M, Plowe CV, Taylor TE, Mallewa JE, van Oosterhout JJ, Parikh S, Laurens MB, Laufer MK. Artemether-lumefantrine efficacy among adults on antiretroviral therapy in Malawi. Malar J 2023; 22:32. [PMID: 36707795 PMCID: PMC9881508 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04466-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (PWH) develop malaria, they are at risk of poor anti-malarial treatment efficacy resulting from impairment in the immune response and/or drug-drug interactions that alter anti-malarial metabolism. The therapeutic efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine was evaluated in a cohort of PWH on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and included measurement of day 7 lumefantrine levels in a subset to evaluate for associations between lumefantrine exposure and treatment response. METHODS Adults living with HIV (≥ 18 years), on ART for ≥ 6 months with undetectable HIV RNA viral load and CD4 count ≥ 250/mm3 were randomized to daily trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TS), weekly chloroquine (CQ) or no prophylaxis. After diagnosis of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, a therapeutic efficacy monitoring was conducted with PCR-correction according to WHO guidelines. The plasma lumefantrine levels on day 7 in 100 episodes of uncomplicated malaria was measured. A frailty proportional hazards model with random effects models to account for clustering examined the relationship between participant characteristics and malaria treatment failure within 28 days. Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to compare lumefantrine concentrations among patients with treatment failure and adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR). RESULTS 411 malaria episodes were observed among 186 participants over 5 years. The unadjusted ACPR rate was 81% (95% CI 77-86). However, after PCR correction to exclude new infections, ACPR rate was 94% (95% CI 92-97). Increasing age and living in Ndirande were associated with decreased hazard of treatment failure. In this population of adults with HIV on ART, 54% (51/94) had levels below a previously defined optimal day 7 lumefantrine level of 200 ng/ml. This occurred more commonly among participants who were receiving an efavirenz-based ART compared to other ART regimens (OR 5.09 [95% CI 1.52-7.9]). Participants who experienced treatment failure had lower day 7 median lumefantrine levels (91 ng/ml [95% CI 48-231]) than participants who experienced ACPR (190 ng/ml [95% CI 101-378], p-value < 0.008). CONCLUSION Recurrent malaria infections are frequent in this population of PWH on ART. The PCR-adjusted efficacy of AL meets the WHO criteria for acceptable treatment efficacy. Nevertheless, lumefantrine levels tend to be low in this population, particularly in those on efavirenz-based regimens, with lower concentrations associated with more frequent malaria infections following treatment. These results highlight the importance of understanding drug-drug interactions when diseases commonly co-occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wongani Nyangulu
- Dignitas International, Zomba, Malawi
- Public Health and Nutrition Research Group, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Mangochi, Malawi
| | - Randy G Mungwira
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | | | - Osward M Nyirenda
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Andrea G Buchwald
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jernelle Miller
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Dominique E Earland
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Matthew Adams
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Christopher V Plowe
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Terrie E Taylor
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA
| | - Jane E Mallewa
- Department of Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Joep J van Oosterhout
- Dignitas International, Zomba, Malawi
- Partners in Hope, Lilongwe Malawi and David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | | | - Matthew B Laurens
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Miriam K Laufer
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 685 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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Mungwira RG, Laurens MB, Nyangulu W, Divala TH, Nampota-Nkomba N, Buchwald AG, Nyirenda OM, Mwinjiwa E, Kanjala M, Galileya LT, Earland DE, Adams M, Plowe CV, Taylor TE, Mallewa J, van Oosterhout JJ, Laufer MK. High burden of malaria among Malawian adults on antiretroviral therapy after discontinuing prophylaxis. AIDS 2022; 36:1675-1682. [PMID: 35848575 PMCID: PMC9444947 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Many individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) reside in areas at high risk for malaria but how malaria affects clinical outcomes is not well described in this population. We evaluated the burden of malaria infection and clinical malaria, and impact on HIV viral load and CD4 + cell count among adults on ART. DESIGN We recruited Malawian adults on ART who had an undetectable viral load and ≥250 CD4 + cells/μl to participate in this randomized trial to continue daily trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TS), discontinue daily co-trimoxazole, or switch to weekly chloroquine (CQ). METHODS We defined clinical malaria as symptoms consistent with malaria and positive blood smear, and malaria infection as Plasmodium falciparum DNA detected from dried blood spots (collected every 4-12 weeks). CD4 + cell count and viral load were measured every 24 weeks. We used Poisson regression and survival analysis to compare the incidence of malaria infection and clinical malaria. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01650558. RESULTS Among 1499 participants enrolled, clinical malaria incidence was 21.4/100 person-years of observation (PYO), 2.4/100 PYO and 1.9/100 PYO in the no prophylaxis, TS, and CQ arms, respectively. We identified twelve cases of malaria that led to hospitalization and all individuals recovered. The preventive effect of staying on prophylaxis was approximately 90% compared to no prophylaxis (TS: incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08, 0.15 and CQ: IRR 0.09, 95% CI 0.06, 0.13). P. falciparum infection prevalence among all visits was 187/1475 (12.7%), 48/1563 (3.1%), and 29/1561 (1.9%) in the no prophylaxis, TS, and CQ arms, respectively. Malaria infection and clinical malaria were not associated with changes in CD4 + cell count or viral load. CONCLUSION In clinically stable adults living with HIV on ART, clinical malaria was common after chemoprophylaxis stopped. However, neither malaria infection nor clinical illness appeared to affect HIV disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randy G Mungwira
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Matthew B Laurens
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Mrayland, USA
| | | | - Titus H Divala
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Andrea G Buchwald
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Mrayland, USA
| | - Osward M Nyirenda
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Maxwell Kanjala
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Dominique E Earland
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Mrayland, USA
| | - Matthew Adams
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Mrayland, USA
| | - Christopher V Plowe
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Mrayland, USA
| | | | - Jane Mallewa
- Department of Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Miriam K Laufer
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Mrayland, USA
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Tsirizani-Galileya L, Milanzi E, Mungwira R, Divala T, Mallewa J, Mategula D, Nampota N, Mwapasa V, Buchwald A, Laurens MB, Laufer MK, Van Oosterhout JJ. Isoniazid preventive therapy-related adverse events among Malawian adults on antiretroviral therapy: A cohort study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e30591. [PMID: 36181120 PMCID: PMC9524894 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000030591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Adverse events may be a cause of observed poor completion of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) among people living with HIV in high tuberculosis burden areas. Data on IPT-related adverse events (AE) from sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. We report IPT-related AEs, associated clinical characteristics, and IPT discontinuations in adults who were stable on antiretroviral therapy (ART) when they initiated IPT. Cohort study nested within a randomized, controlled, clinical trial of cotrimoxazole and chloroquine prophylaxis in Malawians aged ≥ 18 years and virologically suppressed on ART. Eight hundred sixty-nine patients were followed for a median of 6 months after IPT initiation. IPT relatedness of AEs was determined retrospectively with the World Health Organization case-causality tool. Frailty survival regression modeling identified factors associated with time to first probably IPT-related AE. The overall IPT-related AE incidence rate was 1.1/person year of observation. IPT relatedness was mostly uncertain and few AEs were severe. Most common were liver and hematological toxicities. Higher age increased risk of a probably IPT-related AE (aHR = 1.02; 95% CI 1.00-1.06; P = .06) and higher weight reduced this risk (aHR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.96-1.00; P = .03). Of 869 patients, 114 (13%) discontinued IPT and 94/114 (82%) discontinuations occurred at the time of a possibly or probably IPT-related AE. We observed a high incidence of mostly mild IPT-related AEs among individuals who were stable on ART. More than 1 in 8 persons discontinued IPT. These findings inform strategies to improve implementation of IPT in adults on ART, including close monitoring of groups at higher risk of IPT-related AEs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elasma Milanzi
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Randy Mungwira
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Titus Divala
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Jane Mallewa
- Department of Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Donnie Mategula
- Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Programme, Blantyre, Malawi
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Nginache Nampota
- Blantyre Malaria Project, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Victor Mwapasa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Andrea Buchwald
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Matthew B. Laurens
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Miriam K. Laufer
- Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joep J. Van Oosterhout
- Dignitas International, Zomba, Malawi
- Partners in Hope, Lilongwe, Malawi & Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- *Correspondence: Joep J van Oosterhout, Partners in Hope, PO Box 302, Lilongwe, Malawi (e-mail: )
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Analysis of the Influencing Factors of Immunological Nonresponders in Wuhan, China. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2022; 2022:5638396. [PMID: 35979516 PMCID: PMC9377976 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5638396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective CD4+ cell recovery is hampered in some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, despite a successful highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with suppressed viral replication. We investigated the factors that might have hindered the CD4+ cell recovery in these patients. Methods In this retrospective study, we collected the data of all immune nonresponders (INRs) in Wuhan, China, until the end of 2020. A linear model was constructed based on the data from 220 patients with baseline and follow-up records. The response variables in this study were the CD4+ cell count increase. The predictor variables considered in this study were those factors likely to affect the CD4+ cell recovery. Results Our findings revealed that the plasma HIV-1 viral load of all patients was suppressed and 87.3% patients' CD4+ cells was increased after more than one year of the HAART treatment. In addition, their last follow-up showed a significant reduction in complications. In our results, the body mass index (BMI), number of months since HIV diagnosis to HAART start, and nonuse of co-trimoxazole were negatively correlated with the increase in CD4+ cells (P < 0.05). However, there were positive associations between serum creatinine levels and CD4+ cell recovery (P < 0.05). Further stratified analyses indicated that the associations between HAART replacement or creatinine usage and CD4+ cell growth were only observed in those participants with a BMI <18.5 (P < 0.05). Conclusions An early initiation of HAART and co-trimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) can promote immune reconstitution. BMI and serum creatinine can serve as monitoring indicators of immune reconstitution prognosis after the HAART.
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Eberhardt KA, Sarfo FS, Klupp EM, Dompreh A, Di Cristanziano V, Osei Kuffour E, Boateng R, Norman B, Phillips RO, Aepfelbacher M, Feldt T. Intestinal Colonization with Tropheryma whipplei-Clinical and Immunological Implications for HIV Positive Adults in Ghana. Microorganisms 2021; 9:1781. [PMID: 34442860 PMCID: PMC8400997 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9081781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies demonstrated higher prevalence rates of Tropheryma whipplei (T. whipplei) in HIV positive than in HIV negative subjects. However, associations with the immune status in HIV positive participants were conflicting. METHODS For this cross-sectional study, stool samples of 906 HIV positive and 98 HIV negative individuals in Ghana were tested for T. whipplei. Additionally, sociodemographic parameters, clinical symptoms, medical drug intake, and laboratory parameters were assessed. RESULTS The prevalence of T. whipplei was 5.85% in HIV positive and 2.04% in HIV negative participants. Within the group of HIV positive participants, the prevalence reached 7.18% in patients without co-trimoxazole prophylaxis, 10.26% in subjects with ART intake, and 12.31% in obese participants. Frequencies of clinical symptoms were not found to be higher in HIV positive T. whipplei carriers compared to T. whipplei negative participants. Markers of immune activation were lower in patients colonized with T. whipplei. Multivariate regression models demonstrated an independent relationship of a high CD4+ T cell count, a low HIV-1 viral load, and an obese body weight with the presence of T. whipplei. CONCLUSIONS Among HIV positive individuals, T. whipplei colonization was associated with a better immune status but not with clinical consequences. Our data suggest that the withdrawal of co-trimoxazole chemoprophylaxis among people living with HIV on stable cART regimen may inadvertently increase the propensity towards colonization with T. whipplei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Alexandra Eberhardt
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine & I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fred Stephen Sarfo
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana; (F.S.S.); (B.N.); (R.O.P.)
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Eva-Maria Klupp
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (E.-M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Albert Dompreh
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana; (A.D.); (R.B.)
| | - Veronica Di Cristanziano
- Institute of Virology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, 50935 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Edmund Osei Kuffour
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Richard Boateng
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana; (A.D.); (R.B.)
| | - Betty Norman
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana; (F.S.S.); (B.N.); (R.O.P.)
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Richard Odame Phillips
- Department of Medicine, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana; (F.S.S.); (B.N.); (R.O.P.)
- Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
- Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, 00233 Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Martin Aepfelbacher
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany; (E.-M.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Torsten Feldt
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany;
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