Salivary antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in a phase I AIDS vaccine trial

Article Abstract:

Antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have been found in various body fluids such as saliva, breast milk, cervical secretions, and semen. Most cases of HIV infection are transmitted when body fluids cross mucosal membranes during sexual contact. Secretory IgA (immunoglobulin A) is the major type of antibody which is present in mucosal secretions and is known to protect against certain viral infections. A study was conducted to see if saliva from five individuals contained antibodies to HIV-1; the subjects had received a vaccine against a biotechnologically-derived protein of HIV-1, the envelope or outer coat of the virus (rgp160). Two individuals received a high dose of rgp160, three received a low dose, and five additional subjects received various types of control vaccines. Using the ELISA test, a routine screening test, none of the individuals immunized with rgp160 were found to have antibodies to HIV in their blood serum. However, when testing by Western blot analysis, a more sensitive test, one out of the three individuals who received the low dose and both of those who received the high dose were found to have antibodies in their serum. One of these individuals contained antibodies in the saliva as well, as detected by Western blot analysis. The presence of antibodies in saliva indicates that it is possible to stimulate production of secretory antibodies using vaccines against rgp160. The development of secretory antibodies may be necessary for protection against HIV infection. The presence of antibodies in saliva may inhibit the transmission of the virus across mucosal membranes. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Testing, Saliva, AIDS vaccines, Mucous membrane, Immunoglobulin A, HIV antibodies

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Peripheral blood of AIDS patients contains cells capable of providing accessory function for the natural killer cell-mediated, lysis of herpes simplex virus-infected targets despite low interferon-alpha production

Article Abstract:

Interferon (IFN)-alpha production and accessory cell (AC) activity may be independent of each other. Previous studies have shown significant drops in IFN-alpha precede the onset of opportunistic infections in HIV patients and have also suggested that ACs may produce IFN-alpha which then activates natural killer (NK) cells to destroy virally-infected cells. Because NK activity remains normal until the late stages of AIDS however, the role of ACs in IFN-alpha production has been questioned. ACs were removed from the NK cells of healthy donors, and the depleted NK cells were mixed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from either HIV patients or healthy donors. PBMCs from most HIV-infected donors were producing low levels of IFN-alpha. Despite this deficiency, the ACs from HIV patients were still able to function. This separation of IFN-alpha production and AC function suggests that these processes are either controlled by different cell populations or that they are independently controlled by the same cells.

Antigen presenting cells, Interferon alpha

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The potential for transmission of human immunodeficiency virus through human bites

Article Abstract:

HIV transmission through human bites is biologically possible, but the risk appears to be low. Human bites are known to have transmitted bacterial and viral infections, including herpes simplex and hepatitis B. HIV has been detected only rarely in the saliva of HIV-positive persons, and it is estimated that 1 milliliter of saliva contains less than one HIV virus particle. In three studies of 13 people who were bit by HIV-infected persons, none had become HIV-positive. Even in a study of eight people that were bit by an HIV-positive person with blood and saliva in his mouth, none became infected. However, two other reports of patients with no other apparent risk factors who developed HIV infection after being bit by an HIV-positive individual suggest HIV transmission through bites is possible. The risk of infection increases with the number of infected cells transmitted. The number of cells transmitted in bites is less than that of needlesticks, and the risk of HIV transmission with needlesticks is only 0.42%.

Health aspects, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Disease transmission, Bites and stings, Bites (Injuries), Stings (Injuries)

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