Browsing by Author "Jaspan, Heather B."

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Afri-Can Forum 2
    (Biomed Central, 2016-07-12) Mukudu, Hillary; Martinson, Neil; Sartorius, Benn; Coetzee, Jenny; Dietrich, Janan; Mokgatswana, Kgaugelo; Jewkes, Rachel; Gray, Glenda E.; Dugas, Marylene; Behanzin, Luc; Guedou, Fernand A.; Gagnon, Marie-Pierre; Alary, Michel; Rutakumwa, Rwamahe; Mbonye, Martin; Kiwanuka, Thadeus; Nakamanya, Sarah; Muhumuza, Richard; Nalukenge, Winfred; Seeley, Janet; Atujuna, Millicent; Wallace, Melissa; Brown, Ben; Bekker, Linda G.; Newman, Peter A.; Harryparsad, Rushil; Olivier, Abraham J.; Jaspan, Heather B.; Wilson, Douglas; Dietrich, Janan; Martinson, Neil; Mukudu, Hillary; Mkhize, Nonhlanhla; Morris, Lynn; Cianci, Gianguido; Dinh, Minh; Hope, Thomas; Passmore, Jo-Ann S.; Gray, Clive M.; Henrick, Bethany M.; Yao, Xiao-Dan; Rosenthal, Kenneth L.; Henrick, Bethany M.; Yao, Xiao-Dan; Drannik, Anna G.; Rosenthal, Kenneth L.; Chanzu, Nadia; Mwanda, Walter; Oyugi, Julius; Anzala, Omu; Mbow, Moustapha; Jallow, Sabelle; Thiam, Moussa; Davis, Alberta; Diouf, Assane; Ndour, Cheikh T.; Seydi, Moussa; Dieye, Tandakha N.; Mboup, Souleymane; Goodier, Martin; Rilley, Eleanor; Jaye, Assan; Yao, Xiao-Dan; Omange, R. W.; Henrick, Bethany M.; Lester, Richard T.; Kimani, Joshua; Ball, T. B.; Plummer, Francis A.; Rosenthal, Kenneth L.; Behanzin, Luc; Guedou, Fernand A.; Geraldo, Nassirou; Mastetse, Ella G.; Sossa, Jerome C.; Zannou, Marcel D.; Alary, Michel; Osawe, Sophia; Okpokoro, Evaezi; Okolo, Felicia; Umaru, Stephen; Abimiku, Rebecca; Audu, Sam; Datong, Pam; Abimiku, Alashle; Nyange, Jacquelyn; Olenja, Joyce; Mutua, Gaudensia; Jaoko, Walter; Omosa-Manyonyi, Gloria; Farah, Bashir; Khaniri, Maureen; Anzala, Omu; Cockcroft, Anne; Tonkin, Kendra; Girish, Indu; Mhati, Puna; Cunningham, Ashley; Andersson, Neil; Farah, Bashir; Indangasi, Jackton; Jaoko, Walter; Mutua, Gaudensia; Khaniri, Maureen; Nyange, Jacquelyn; Anzala, Omu; Diphoko, Thabo; Gaseitsiwe, Simani; Maiswe, Victoria; Iketleng, Thato; Maruapula, Dorcas; Bedi, Keabetswe; Moyo, Sikhulile; Musonda, Rosemary; Wainberg, Mark; Makhema, Joseph; Novitsky, Vladimir; Marlink, Richard; Essex, Max; Okoboi, Stephen; Ssali, Livingstone; Kalibala, Sam; Birungi, Josephine; Egessa, Aggrey; Wangisi, Jonathan; Okullu, Lyavala J.; Bakanda, Celestin; Obare, Francis; Boer, I. M. S.; Semvua, Hadija H.; Van den Boogaard, Jossy; Kiwango, Krisanta W.; Ngowi, Kennedy M.; Nieuwkerk, Pythia T.; Aarnoutse, Rob E.; Kiwelu, Ireen; Muro, Eva; Kibiki, Gibson S.; Datiri, Ruth; Choji, Grace; Osawe, Sophia; Okpokoro, Evaezi; Okolo, Felicia; Umaru, Stephen; Abimiku, Rebecca; Datong, Pam; Abimiku, Alashle; Fomsgaard, A.; Karlsson, I.; Jensen, K. J; Jensen, S. S.; Leo-Hansen, C.; Jespersen, S.; Da Silva Te, D.; Rodrigues, C. M.; Da Silva, Z. J.; Janitzek, C. M.; Gerstoft, J.; Kronborg, G.; Okpokoro, Evaezi; Osawe, Sophia; Daitiri, Ruth; Choji, Grace; Umaru, Stephen; Okolo, Felicia; Datong, Pam; Emily, Nyariki; Joyce, Olenja; Robert, Lorway R.; Anzala, Anzala; Viljoen, Katie; Wendoh, Jerome; Kidzeru, Elvis; Karaoz, Ulas; Brodie, Eoin; Botha, Gerrit; Mulder, Nicola; Gray, Clive; Cameron, William; Stintzi, Alain; Jaspan, Heather; Levett, Paul N.; Alexander, David; Gulzar, Naveed; Grewal, Prabvir S.; Poon, Art F Y.; Brumme, Zabrina; Harrigan, P. R.; Brooks, James I.; Sandstrom, Paul A.; Calvez, Stryker; Sanche, Stephen E.; Scott, Jamie K.; Swartz, Leslie; Kagee, Ashraf; Lesch, Anthea; Kafaar, Zuhayr; De Wet, Anneliese; Okpokoro, Evaezi; Osawe, Sophia; Daitiri, Ruth; Choji, Grace; Umaru, Stephen; Okolo, Felicia; Datong, Pam; Abimiku, Alashle; Dietrich, Janan; Smith, Tricia; Cotton, Laura; Hornschuh, Stefanie; Van der Watt, Martin; Miller, Cari L.; Gray, Glenda; Smit, Jenni; Jaggernath, Manjeetha; Ndungu, Thumbi; Brockman, Mark; Kaida, Angela; Akolo, Maureen; Kimani, Joshua; Gelmon, Larry; Chitwa, Michael; Osero, Justus; Cockcroft, Anne; Marokoane, Nobantu; Kgakole, Leagajang; Maswabi, Boikhutso; Mpofu, Neo; Ansari, Umaira; Andersson, Neil; Nakinobe, Elizabeth; Miiro, George M.; Zalwango, Flavia; Nakiyingi-Miiro, Jessica; Kaleebu, Potiano; Semwanga, John R.; Nyanzi, Emily; Musoke, Saidat N.; Nakinobe, Elizabeth; Miiro, George; Mbidde, Edward K.; Lutalo, Tom; Kaleebu, Pontiano; Handema, Ray; Chianzu, Graham P.; Thiam, Moussa; Diagne-Gueye, Diabou; Ndiaye, Mame K.; Mbow, Moustapha; Ndiaye, Birahim P.; Traore, Ibrahima; Dia, Mamadou C.; Thomas, Gilleh; Tour-Kane, Coumba; Mboup, Souleymane; Jaye, Assan; Nyanzi, Emily; Mbidde, Edward K.; Kaleebu, Pontiano; Mpendo, Juliet; Kimani, Joshua; Birungi, Josephine; Muyindike, Winnie; Kambugu, Andrew; Sebastian, Hachizovu; Ray, Handema; Mike, Chaponda; Bertin, Kabuya J.; Modest, Mulenga; Thiam, Moussa; Janha, Omar; Davis, Alberta; Amambua-Ngwa, Alfred; Nwakanma, Davis C.; Mboup, Souleymane; Jaye, Assan; Jespersen, Sanne; Hønge, Bo L.; Esbjornsson, Joakim; Medina, Candida; Te, David Da Silva; Correira, Faustino G.; Laursen, Alex L.; Ostergaard, Lars; Andersen, Andreas; Aaby, Peter; Erikstrup, Christian; Wejse, Christian; Dieye, Siry; Sarr, Moussa; Sy, Haby; Mbodj, Helene D.; Ndiaye, Marianne; Ndiaye, Amy; Moussa, Seydi; Jaye, Assan; Mboup, Souleymane; Nyombi, Balthazar M.; Shao, Elichilia R.; Chilumba, Innocent B.; Moyo, Sikhulile; Gaseitsiwe, Simani; Musonda, Rosemary; Datong, Pam; Inyang, Bucky; Osawe, Sophia; Izang, Abel; Cole, Chundung; Okolo, Felicia; Cameron, Bill; Rosenthal, Kenneth; Gray, Clive; Jaspan, Heather; Seraise, Boitumelo; Andrea-Marobela, Kerstin; Moyo, Sikhulile; Musonda, Rosemary; Makhema, Joseph; Essex, Max; Gaseitsiwe, Simani
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We are pleased to present peer reviewed forum proceedings of the 2nd synchronicity forum of GHRI/CHVIfunded Canadian and African HIV prevention and vaccine teams Forum objectives ∙GHRI-funded capacity building and HIV prevention research teams presented highlights of achievements ∙Teams discussed how to jointly build on achievements for sustainability ∙Provided an opportunity for inter-team collaboration, synchronize best approach to capacity building, mentoring of new researchers and building leadership ∙Provided opportunities for informal discussions and networking among the teams. ∙Teams learnt about recent advances in the area of African regulatory and ethics review process ∙The forum proceedings was a special supplement in an openaccess journal was produced
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Bacterial disease and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in HIV-Infected, hospitalized children: A retrospective cohort study
    (PLOS, 2008-09-24) Jaspan, Heather B.; Huang, Lyen C.; Cotton, Mark F.; Whitelaw, Andrew; Myer, Landon
    Background: Serious bacterial infections are a major source of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected children. The spectrum of disease is wide, and responsible organisms vary according to setting. The use of antibiotic prophylaxis and the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria necessitate examination of responsible organisms and their antibiotic susceptibility. Methodology/Principal Findings: A retrospective cohort study of all HIV-positive pediatric admissions at an urban public sector hospital in Cape Town between January 2002 and June 2006 was conducted. Children between the ages of one month and nine years with laboratory confirmed HIV status, serious bacterial infection, and a hospital length of stay of 5 days or more, were eligible for inclusion. Organisms isolated from blood, urine, and cerebral spinal fluid cultures and their antimicrobial susceptibility were examined, and compared according to timing of isolation to distinguish nosocomial versus community-acquired. One hundred and forty-one children were identified (median age 1.2 years), 39% of whom were on antiretrovirals started before or during this hospitalization. Bacterial infections involved all organ systems, however pneumonia was most common (67%). S. pneumoniae and S. aureus were the most common gram positive and K. pneumoniae was the most common gram negative organism. K pneumoniae isolates were resistant to many first and second line antibiotics, and were all considered nosocomial. All S. aureus isolates were methicillin resistant, some of which were community-acquired. Conclusions/Significance: Bacterial infections are an important source of co-morbidity in HIV-infected children in resourcelimited settings. Clinicians should have a low threshold to initiate antibiotics in children requiring hospitalization. Broadspectrum antibiotics should be used judiciously. Clinicians caring for HIV-infected children should be cognizant of the most common organisms affecting such children, and of their local antimicrobial susceptibilities, when treating empirically for serious bacterial infections.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Intra- and inter-clade cross-reactivity by HIV-1 gag specific T-cells reveals exclusive and commonly targeted regions : implications for current vaccine trials
    (Public Library of Science, 2011-10-12) Zembe, Lycias; Burgers, Wendy A.; Jaspan, Heather B.; Bekker, Linda-Gail; Bredell, Helba; Stevens, Gwynneth; Gilmour, Jill; Cox, Josephine H.; Fast, Patricia; Hayes, Peter; Vardas, Eftyhia; Williamson, Carolyn; Gray, Clive M.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The genetic diversity of HIV-1 across the globe is a major challenge for developing an HIV vaccine. To facilitate immunogen design, it is important to characterize clusters of commonly targeted T-cell epitopes across different HIV clades. To address this, we examined 39 HIV-1 clade C infected individuals for IFN-c Gag-specific T-cell responses using five sets of overlapping peptides, two sets matching clade C vaccine candidates derived from strains from South Africa and China, and three peptide sets corresponding to consensus clades A, B, and D sequences. The magnitude and breadth of T-cell responses against the two clade C peptide sets did not differ, however clade C peptides were preferentially recognized compared to the other peptide sets. A total of 84 peptides were recognized, of which 19 were exclusively from clade C, 8 exclusively from clade B, one peptide each from A and D and 17 were commonly recognized by clade A, B, C and D. The entropy of the exclusively recognized peptides was significantly higher than that of commonly recognized peptides (p = 0.0128) and the median peptide processing scores were significantly higher for the peptide variants recognized versus those not recognized (p = 0.0001). Consistent with these results, the predicted Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I IC50 values were significantly lower for the recognized peptide variants compared to those not recognized in the ELISPOT assay (p,0.0001), suggesting that peptide variation between clades, resulting in lack of cross-clade recognition, has been shaped by host immune selection pressure. Overall, our study shows that clade C infected individuals recognize clade C peptides with greater frequency and higher magnitude than other clades, and that a selection of highly conserved epitope regions within Gag are commonly recognized and give rise to cross-clade reactivities.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Microbial function and genital inflammation in young South African women at high risk of HIV infection
    (BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2020-11-21) Alisoltani, Arghavan; Manhanzva, Monalisa T.; Potgieter, Matthys; Balle, Christina; Bell, Liam; Ross, Elizabeth; Iranzadeh, Arash; du Plessis, Michelle; Radzey, Nina; McDonald, Zac; Calder, Bridget; Allali, Imane; Mulder, Nicola; Dabee, Smritee; Barnabas, Shaun; Gamieldien, Hoyam; Godzik, Adam; Blackburn, Jonathan M.; Tabb, David L.; Bekker, Linda-Gail; Jaspan, Heather B.; Passmore, Jo-Ann S.; Masson, Lindi
    Background: Female genital tract (FGT) inflammation is an important risk factor for HIV acquisition. The FGT microbiome is closely associated with inflammatory profile; however, the relative importance of microbial activities has not been established. Since proteins are key elements representing actual microbial functions, this study utilized metaproteomics to evaluate the relationship between FGT microbial function and inflammation in 113 young and adolescent South African women at high risk of HIV infection. Women were grouped as having low, medium, or high FGT inflammation by K-means clustering according to pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations. Results: A total of 3186 microbial and human proteins were identified in lateral vaginal wall swabs using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, while 94 microbial taxa were included in the taxonomic analysis. Both metaproteomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses showed increased non-optimal bacteria and decreased lactobacilli in women with FGT inflammatory profiles. However, differences in the predicted relative abundance of most bacteria were observed between 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metaproteomics analyses. Bacterial protein functional annotations (gene ontology) predicted inflammatory cytokine profiles more accurately than bacterial relative abundance determined by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, as well as functional predictions based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data (p < 0.0001). The majority of microbial biological processes were underrepresented in women with high inflammation compared to those with low inflammation, including a Lactobacillus-associated signature of reduced cell wall organization and peptidoglycan biosynthesis. This signature remained associated with high FGT inflammation in a subset of 74 women 9 weeks later, was upheld after adjusting for Lactobacillus relative abundance, and was associated with in vitro inflammatory cytokine responses to Lactobacillus isolates from the same women. Reduced cell wall organization and peptidoglycan biosynthesis were also associated with high FGT inflammation in an independent sample of ten women. Conclusions: Both the presence of specific microbial taxa in the FGT and their properties and activities are critical determinants of FGT inflammation. Our findings support those of previous studies suggesting that peptidoglycan is directly immunosuppressive, and identify a possible avenue for biotherapeutic development to reduce inflammation in the FGT.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Testing the regulatory framework in South Africa – a single-blind randomized pilot trial of commercial probiotic supplementation to standard therapy in women with bacterial vaginosis
    (BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2020-07-10) Happel, Anna-Ursula; Singh, Ravesh; Mitchev, Nireshni; Mlisana, Koleka; Jaspan, Heather B.; Barnabas, Shaun L.; Passmore, Jo-Ann S.
    Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) increases HIV risk and adverse reproductive outcomes. Standard-of-care (SOC) for BV are antibiotics; however, cure rates are low. Probiotics for vaginal health may be useful in improving cure and recurrence although the regulatory framework governing probiotics and the conduct of randomized clinical trials to evaluate these has not been established in South Africa. We performed an exploratory single-blind trial evaluating a commercial oral-vaginal-combination probiotic as adjunct to SOC for BV treatment. Methods: Women with symptomatic vaginal discharge were screened for BV and common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). BV+ (Nugent 7–10) but STI- women were randomized to vaginal metronidazole alone (n = 12) or to metronidazole followed by a commercial oral/vaginal probiotic (n = 18). The primary qualitative outcome was to test the regulatory landscape for conducting randomized probiotic trials in South Africa; and acceptability of vaginal application by women. BV cure at 1 month (Nugent≤3) was the primary quantitative endpoint. Secondary quantitative endpoints were BV recurrence, symptoms, vaginal microbiota and genital cytokine changes over 5 months post-treatment. Results: The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) reviewed and approved this trial. As probiotics continue to be regulated as health supplements in South Africa, SAHPRA required a notification application for this trial. Acceptability and adherence to the oral and vaginal application of the probiotic were high, although women reported a preference for oral capsules. 44.8% of women cleared BV one-month post-treatment, and no significant differences in BV cure (RR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.24–1.16), recurrence, vaginal pH, symptoms, microbiota or vaginal IL-1α concentrations were found between SOC and intervention groups in this pilot study with an over-the-counter product. Conclusion: Navigation of the SAHPRA registration process for evaluating a commercial probiotic in a randomised trial laid the foundation for planned larger trials of improved probiotic products for vaginal health in South Africa. Although adherence to the vaginally delivered probiotic was high, women preferred oral application and we recommend that improvements in the content and method of application for future probiotics for vaginal health should be considered.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Utility of clinical parameters to identify HIV infection in infants below ten weeks of age in South Africa : a prospective cohort study
    (BioMed Central, 2011-11) Jaspan, Heather B.; Myer, Landon; Madhi, Shabir A.; Violari, Avy; Gibb, Diana M.; Stevens, Wendy S.; Dobbels, Els; Cotton, Mark F.
    ABSTRACT: Background: As HIV-infected infants have high mortality, the World Health Organization now recommends initiating antiretroviral therapy as early as possible in the first year of life. However, in many settings, laboratory diagnosis of HIV in infants is not readily available. We aimed to develop a clinical algorithm for HIV presumptive diagnosis in infants < 10 weeks old using screening data from the Children with HIV Early Antiretroviral therapy (CHER) study in South Africa. HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected exposed infants < 10 weeks of age were identified through Vertical Transmission Prevention programs. Clinical and laboratory data were systematically recorded, groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Fisher's exact tests. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were compiled using combinations of clinical findings. Results 417 HIV-infected and 125 HIV-exposed, uninfected infants, median age 46 days (IQR 38-55), were included. The median CD4 percentage in HIV-infected infants was 34 (IQR 28-41)%. HIV-infected infants had lower weight-for-age, more lymphadenopathy, oral thrush, and hepatomegaly than exposed uninfected infants (Adjusted Odds Ratio 0.51, 8.8, 5.6 and 23.5 respectively; p < 0.001 for all). Sensitivity of individual signs was low (< 20%) but specificity high (98-100%). If any one of oral thrush, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, diaper dermatitis, weight < 50th centile are present, sensitivity for HIV infection amongst HIV-exposed infants was 86%. These algorithms performed similarly when used to predict severe immune suppression. Conclusions A combination of physical findings is helpful in identifying infants most likely to be HIV-infected. This may inform management algorithms and provide guidance for focused laboratory testing in some settings, and should be further validated in these settings and elsewhere.