Immunology and Microbiology, Virology, Media Technology
90
Scopus Publications
Scopus Publications
Prevalence of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 associated inflammatory myopathies (HAIM) in Salvador, Brazil Adriele Ribeiro França Viriato, Marcela Câmara Machado Costa, Edmar Zanoteli, Luiz Antônio R. de Freitas, Thessika Hialla Almeida Araújo, et al. Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2025 Background Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes inflammatory diseases and is associated with various muscle abnormalities, including polymyositis. Elevated serum creatine kinase (CPK) levels are typically indicative of muscle damage. Aims This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HTLV-1 associated inflammatory myopathies (HAIM) in a large cohort of People living with HTLV-1 from Salvador, Brazil. Additionally, we sought to describe the clinical, laboratory, and histopathological findings of seven HTLV-1-infected patients with persistent hyperCKemia. Methods This study included 503 HTLV-1-infected patients from a cohort in Salvador, Brazil, who were analyzed for creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels. Clinical, laboratory, and pathologic examinations were performed in patients whose CPK levels were above the upper limit of the normal range in the two tests performed at different time points. Results Polymyositis was the main cause of HAIM in the study population, with a prevalence rate of 0.6%. Two cases were diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial disease, and in two other patients the cause of hyperCKemia could not be determined and is currently under investigation. Conclusion Polymyositis was the main cause of HAIM in this cfohort of People living with HTLV-1.
HTLV-1 and Pregnancy: A Retrospective Study of Maternal and Neonatal Health Outcomes in an Endemic Region of Brazil Jacielma de Oliveira Freire, Maria Aparecida Figueredo Rodrigues, Greice Carolina Santos da Silva, Hugo Saba Pereira Cardoso, Marcio Luis Valença Araújo, et al. Pathogens, 2025 Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection poses significant challenges to maternal and neonatal health, particularly in endemic regions. Vertical transmission, which occurs most commonly through prolonged breastfeeding and rarely during pregnancy, or childbirth, perpetuates the virus within families. This observational, retrospective study analyzed HTLV-1-infected and uninfected pregnant women admitted for delivery at a university maternity hospital in Salvador, Brazil (2020–2022). Medical records provided sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data. The HTLV-1 infection rate was 4.61 per 1000 deliveries. The sociodemographic characteristics were similar between infected (n = 17) and uninfected (n = 34) women. HTLV-1-positive women had higher rates of unplanned and undesired pregnancies. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were frequent in both groups (94.1% vs. 91.2%), but metabolic disorders and hypertension/eclampsia were more common among the infected women. Preterm birth and postpartum complications were also more frequent (17.6% vs. 5.9%, respectively), although the difference was not statistically significant. Breastfeeding initiation within the first hours of life was lower among exposed newborns (28.6% vs. 70%; p = 0.013). Neonatal characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups. These findings highlight critical gaps in reproductive health awareness and barriers to accessing preventive interventions. Further research on therapeutic strategies is urgently needed to support the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of eliminating HTLV-1 vertical transmission by 2030.
HTLV-1 Infection and Cervicovaginal Susceptibility to High-Risk HPV: Findings from Women Living with HTLV-1 in Salvador, Brazil Alisson de Aquino Firmino, Paulo Roberto Tavares Gomes Filho, Juliana Domett Siqueira, Luana Leandro Gois, Giselle Calasans de Souza Costa, et al. Viruses, 2025 Persistent oncogenic HPV infection is strongly associated with cervical cancer. Studies have suggested a higher prevalence of HPV in women living with HTLV-1. This study aimed to determine whether HTLV-1 infection is associated with cervicovaginal HPV infection and to characterize HPV types according to oncogenic risk. Vaginal fluid samples were subjected to HPV diagnosis via PCR, and positive samples were subjected to Sanger sequencing and massive sequencing. Papanicolaou smears were examined using light microscopy to identify cell abnormalities. Among the 155 women screened, 79 were HTLV-1-infected and 76 were uninfected. HPV PCR identified 23 positive samples (15/79 vs. 8/76; p = 0.13). Twenty-three HPV types were identified, of which only types 31, 54, and 58 were present in both groups. When the number of HPV58 infections in each group was compared, women with HTLV-1 had a higher prevalence (8/79 versus 1/76; p = 0.03). In total, 61.9% of HTLV-1-infected women had at least one high-risk or probable high-risk HPV type (p = 0.12). Cytopathological findings were not significantly different between the groups. Further research is needed to determine whether HTLV-1 infection affects HPV progression and cervical cancer development and to assess the potential benefits of vaccination for women living with HTLV-1.
Imbalanced IL10/TGF-β production by regulatory T-lymphocytes in patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/ tropical spastic paraparesis Luana Leandro Gois, Bárbara Ribeiro-Soares, Carlos Gustavo Regis-Silva, Dalila L Zanette, Raphaella Lisboa, et al. BMC Infectious Diseases, 2024 Background Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), also denominated Human T-cell leukemia virus-1, induces immune activation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, especially in individuals with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) may control of inflammation through the production of regulatory cytokines, including IL10 and TGF-β. In this study we determined the frequencies of CD4 + and CD8 + Tregs in a HAM/TSP population, compared to asymptomatic carriers and uninfected individuals, as well as investigated the profiles of regulatory and inflammatory cytokines. Methods Asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and HAM/TSP patients were matched by sex and age. The frequencies of IL10- and/or TGF-β-producing Tregs were quantified by flow cytometry. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify HTLV-1 proviral load and the mRNA expression of cytokines and cellular receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Results Total frequencies of CD4 + Tregs, as well as the IL10-producing CD4 + and CD8 + Treg subsets, were statistically higher in patients with HAM/TSP compared to asymptomatic HTLV-1-infected individuals. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the frequency of CD4 + IL10 + Tregs and proviral load in the HAM/TSP patients evaluated. A positive correlation was also observed between gene expression of proinflammatory versus regulatory cytokines only in HAM / TSP group. Conclusions A higher frequencies of IL10-producing Tregs were identified in patients with HAM/TSP. Imbalanced production of IL10 in relation to TGF-β may contribute to the increased inflammatory response characteristically seen in HAM/TSP patients.
Evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold for the Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in HTLV-1-Infected Patients Luana Leandro Gois, Natália Barbosa Carvalho, Fred Luciano Neves Santos, Carlos Gustavo Regis-Silva, Thainá Gonçalves Tolentino Figueiredo, et al. Viruses, 2024 Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) test for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection in HTLV-1-infected individuals. HTLV-1-infected participants were divided into four groups: HTLV-1-infected individuals with a history of tuberculosis (HTLV/TB), individuals with positive HTLV and tuberculin skin tests (HTLV/TST+) or negative TST (HTLV/TST−), and HTLV-1-negative individuals with positive TST results (HN/TST+). We compared the diagnostic performance of the QFT assay with that of the TST as a reference and evaluated test sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio. The results showed a higher frequency of positive TST results and induration diameter ≥10 mm in HTLV-1-infected individuals than in the controls. The QFT test was more frequently positive in the HTLV/TB group than in the other groups, while a combined analysis of HTLV/TB and HTLV/TST+ indicated a QFT sensitivity of 57.5%. No significant differences were found in the other diagnostic performance measures, as QFT test results were in agreement with TST results, particularly in TST-negative individuals. Given the low sensitivity of QFT for LTBI in individuals infected with HTLV-1, the TST may be preferable in regions where both infections are endemic.
Comprehensive analysis of early T cell responses to acute Zika Virus infection during the first epidemic in Bahia, Brazil Assia Samri, Antonio Carlos Bandeira, Luana Leandro Gois, Carlos Gustavo Regis Silva, Alice Rousseau, et al. Plos One, 2024 Background In most cases, Zika virus (ZIKV) causes a self-limited acute illness in adults, characterized by mild clinical symptoms that resolve within a few days. Immune responses, both innate and adaptive, play a central role in controlling and eliminating virus-infected cells during the early stages of infection. Aim To test the hypothesis that circulating T cells exhibit phenotypic and functional activation characteristics during the viremic phase of ZIKV infection. Methods A comprehensive analysis using mass cytometry was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from patients with acute ZIKV infection (as confirmed by RT-PCR) and compared with that from healthy donors (HD). The frequency of IFN-γ-producing T cells in response to peptide pools covering immunogenic regions of structural and nonstructural ZIKV proteins was quantified using an ELISpot assay. Results Circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from ZIKV-infected patients expressed higher levels of IFN-γ and pSTAT-5, as well as cell surface markers associated with proliferation (Ki-67), activation ((HLA-DR, CD38) or exhaustion (PD1 and CTLA-4), compared to those from HD. Activation of CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cell subsets, including Transitional Memory T Cells (TTM), Effector Memory T cells (TEM), and Effector Memory T cells Re-expressing CD45RA (TEMRA), was prominent among CD4+ T cell subset of ZIKV-infected patients and was associated with increased levels of IFN-γ, pSTAT-5, Ki-67, CTLA-4, and PD1, as compared to HD. Additionally, approximately 30% of ZIKV-infected patients exhibited a T cell response primarily directed against the ZIKV NS5 protein. Conclusion Circulating T lymphocytes spontaneously produce IFN-γ and express elevated levels of pSTAT-5 during the early phase of ZIKV infection whereas recognition of ZIKV antigen results in the generation of virus-specific IFN-γ-producing T cells.
Prevalence and characteristics of HTLV-associated uveitis in patients from Bahia, an endemic area for HTLV − 1 in Brazil Daniele Piai Ozores, Regina Rathsam Pinheiro, Ney Boa-Sorte, Maurício Campos e Silva Dias, Raianne Silva Lima, et al. Virology Journal, 2023 Background HTLV-1-associated uveitis (HAU) is an inflammatory reaction of the choroid, retina, optic nerve and vitreous that can lead to vision impairment. The worldwide prevalence of HAU varies widely. Objective To determine the prevalence of HAU in patients from Salvador, Bahia-Brazil, and describe uveitis type and associated symptoms. Methods Cross-sectional analytical study to determine the prevalence of uveitis in HTLV-1-infected patients recruited in Bahia, Brazil, a region considered endemic for HTLV-1. Patients were enrolled at a local reference center for HTLV (infected) and at an outpatient ophthalmology clinic (noninfected group). All patients were examined by the same ophthalmologist following a single protocol. Prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated. Results A total of 168 consecutively examined HTLV-1-infected patients and 410 noninfected patients (randomly selected) were included. Females predominated (82.1%) in the HTLV-1-infected group (versus 64.4% in the uninfected group) (p < 0.001). The mean age of infected and uninfected patients was 53.2 and 62.8 years, respectively (p < 0.001). The prevalence of uveitis in HTLV-1 + and HTLV-1 − patients was 7.14% and 0.73%, respectively (PR = 9.76; 95CI%:2.79–34.15; p < 0.01). Bilateral intermediate uveitis, associated with symptoms including visual disturbances and floaters, was most commonly identified in the HTLV-1-infected patients, whereas unilateral anterior uveitis, in association with symptoms such as blurring and ocular pain, was more common in the uninfected group. Conclusion The prevalence of uveitis in patients with HTLV-1 was markedly higher than in uninfected subjects. HAU patients were mostly asymptomatic and exhibited bilateral presentation, with uveitis more frequently localized in the intermediate chamber.
Epidemiological and molecular evidence of intrafamilial transmission through sexual and vertical routes in Bahia, the state with the highest prevalence of HTLV-1 in Brazil Aidê Nunes da Silva, Thessika Hialla Almeida Araújo, Ney Boa-Sorte, Giovanne Farias, Ana Karina Galvão-Barroso, et al. Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2023 Introduction Familial clustering of HTLV-1 and related diseases has been reported in Brazil. However, intrafamilial transmission of HTLV-1 based on molecular analysis has been studied only in a few communities of Japanese immigrants and African-Brazilians. Objective To investigate the familial clustering of HTLV-1 infection and to determine the likely routes of transmission through epidemiological and genetic analyzes. Methods Medical records of 1,759 HTLV-1+ patients from de the Center for HTLV in Salvador, Brazil, were evaluated to identify first-degree relatives previously tested for HTLV-1. Familial clustering was assumed if more than one member of the same family was HTLV-1+. LTR regions of HTLV-1 sequences were analyzed for the presence of intrafamilial polymorphisms. Family pedigrees were constructed and analyzed to infer the likely transmission routes of HTLV-1. Results In 154 patients at least one other family member had tested positive for HTLV-1 (a total of 182 first-degree relatives). Of the 91 couples (182 individuals), 51.6% were breastfed, and 67.4% reported never using a condom. Of the 42 mother-child pairs, 23.8% had a child aged 13 years or younger; all mothers reported breastfeeding their babies. Pedigrees of families with 4 or more members suggests that vertical transmission is a likely mode of transmission in three families. Three families may have had both vertical and sexual transmission routes for HTLV-1. The genetic signatures of the LTR region of 8 families revealed 3 families with evidence of vertical transmission, another 3 families (spouses) with sexual transmission, and one family with both transmission routes. HTLV-1 sequences belonged to Cosmopolitan subtype HTLV-1a Transcontinental subgroup A. Conclusion Sexual and vertical transmission routes contribute to the intrafamilial spread of HTLV-1 in the state of Bahia.
Zika virus in the eye of the cytokine storm Christopher Maucourant, Gabriel Andrade Nonato Queiroz, Assia Samri, Maria Fernanda Rios Grassi, Hans Yssel, et al. European Cytokine Network, 2019
Vaginal infections in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women Paula Matos Oliveira, Rita Elizabeth Mascarenhas, Suzana Ramos Ferrer, Rone Peterson Cerqueira Oliveira, Iane Érica Marques Travessa, et al. Revista Brasileira De Ginecologia E Obstetricia, 2008
