Schistosoma mansoni Infection Increases Susceptibility to HIV in Rhesus Macaques
Author Information
Author(s): Chenine Agnès-Laurence, Shai-Kobiler Ela, Steele Lisa N., Ong Helena, Augostini Peter, Song Ruijiang, Lee Sandra J., Autissier Patrick, Ruprecht Ruth M., Secor W. Evan
Primary Institution: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Hypothesis
Does infection with Schistosoma mansoni increase susceptibility to HIV-1 infection?
Conclusion
Acute schistosomiasis significantly increases the risk of acquiring HIV-1, suggesting that controlling helminth infections could help reduce HIV transmission.
Supporting Evidence
- Parasitized monkeys required 17-fold lower doses of virus to become infected compared to normal monkeys.
- Coinfected animals had significantly higher peak viral RNA loads than controls.
- Acute schistosomiasis was shown to increase the risk of HIV acquisition.
Takeaway
Monkeys infected with a type of worm needed much less virus to get HIV, showing that these worms can make it easier to catch the virus.
Methodology
Rhesus macaques were divided into two groups, one infected with Schistosoma mansoni and the other not, and both groups were exposed to SHIV-C to measure infection rates and viral loads.
Limitations
The study only models the acute phase of schistosomiasis and does not assess chronic infection effects on HIV susceptibility.
Participant Demographics
Chinese-origin adult female rhesus macaques.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 4×10−4 to 5×10−3
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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