Explanipedia

Evolution and Viral Properties of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.3.2 Subvariant Open

Zesuliwe Jule, Cornelius Römer, Taskeen Hossen, Victoria Sviridchik, Kajal Reedoy , et al. · 2025

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.3.2 descends from BA.3. It emerged 2 years after BA.3 ceased to circulate and differs by 39 spike mutations from BA.3. Similar to BA.2.86, which circulated at low levels before giving rise to JN.1, BA.3…

Severe disease is not essential for a high neutralizing antibody response post-SARS-CoV-2 infection Open

Afrah Khairallah, Zesuliwe Jule, Alice Piller, Mallory Bernstein, Kajal Reedoy , et al. · 2024

Neutralizing antibody responses correlate with protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection, yet higher neutralizing responses associate with more severe disease. Whether people without severe disease can also develop strong neutralizing responses…

Dolutegravir Resistance in African Programmatic Settings Among Patients With Failure of Dolutegravir-based ART Open

Richard A. Murphy, Pradeep H Bedesi, Nirmala Perumal, Bernadett I. Gosnell, Timothy Hatlen , et al. · 2024

Dolutegravir resistance is emerging in routine clinical contexts in southern Africa, primarily in patients with prior treatment experience failing dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy (ART). This potential issue was raised by The Nucl…

Clearance of persistent SARS-CoV-2 associates with increased neutralizing antibodies in advanced HIV disease post-ART initiation Open

Farina Karim, Catherine Riou, Mallory Bernstein, Zesuliwe Jule, Gila Lustig , et al. · 2024

SARS-CoV-2 clearance requires adaptive immunity but the contribution of neutralizing antibodies and T cells in different immune states is unclear. Here we ask which adaptive immune responses associate with clearance of long-term SARS-CoV-2…

Evolution and neutralization escape of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 subvariant Open

Khadija Khan, Gila Lustig, Cornelius Römer, Kajal Reedoy, Zesuliwe Jule , et al. · 2023

Omicron BA.2.86 subvariant differs from Omicron BA.2 as well as recently circulating variants by over 30 mutations in the spike protein alone. Here we report on the isolation of the live BA.2.86 subvariant from a diagnostic swab collected …

Evolution and neutralization escape of the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 subvariant Open

Khadija Khan, Gila Lustig, Kajal Reedoy, Zesuliwe Jule, Cornelius Römer , et al. · 2023

Omicron BA.2.86 subvariant differs from Omicron BA.2 as well as recently circulating variants by over 30 mutations in the spike protein alone. Here we report on the first isolation of the live BA.2.86 subvariant from a diagnostic swab coll…

Emergence of neutralizing antibodies associates with clearance of SARS-CoV-2 during HIV-mediated immunosuppression Open

Farina Karim, Mallory Bernstein, Zesuliwe Jule, Gila Lustig, Janine-Lee Upton , et al. · 2023

To design effective vaccines and other immune interventions against a pathogen, it is necessary to know which aspect of immunity associates with protection. We investigated whether neutralizing antibodies associate with infection clearance…

Hen Egg White Bovine Colostrum Supplement Reduces Symptoms of mild/moderate COVID-19: a Randomized Control Trial Open

Jaclyn K. Mann, Tarylee Reddy, Mary van der Stok, Ayanda Ngubane, Takalani Mulaudzi , et al. · 2023

DOH-27-062021-9191 (South African National Clinical Trials Register).

Symbolic and anticipated HIV stigma are associated with mental health and education in South Africa Open

Megan F. Meyer, Caitlin A. Moe, Sean R. Galagan, Sabina Govere, Bernadett I. Gosnell , et al. · 2023

HIV stigma continues to act as a barrier to HIV care in South Africa, necessitating further research on the intersections of socioeconomic factors and the anticipation and expression of stigma surrounding HIV. We measured the prevalence of…

Author Correction: Omicron BA.4/BA.5 escape neutralizing immunity elicited by BA.1 infection Open

Khadija Khan, Farina Karim, Yashica Ganga, Mallory Bernstein, Zesuliwe Jule , et al. · 2022

Omicron BA.4/BA.5 escape neutralizing immunity elicited by BA.1 infection Open

Khadija Khan, Farina Karim, Yashica Ganga, Mallory Bernstein, Zesuliwe Jule , et al. · 2022

Omicron infection enhances Delta antibody immunity in vaccinated persons Open

Khadija Khan, Farina Karim, Sandile Cele, Kajal Reedoy, James Emmanuel San , et al. · 2022

The extent to which Omicron infection 1–9 , with or without previous vaccination, elicits protection against the previously dominant Delta (B.1.617.2) variant is unclear. Here we measured the neutralization capacity against variants of sev…

Omicron sub-lineages BA.4/BA.5 escape BA.1 infection elicited neutralizing immunity Open

Khadija Khan, Farina Karim, Yashica Ganga, Mallory Bernstein, Zesuliwe Jule , et al. · 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant first emerged as the BA.1 sub-lineage, with extensive escape from neutralizing immunity elicited by previous infection with other variants, vaccines, or combinations of both 1,2 . Two new sub-line…

Beta infection combined with Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccination leads to broadened neutralizing immunity against Omicron Open

Sandile Cele, Mallory Bernstein, Farina Karim, Khadija Khan, Yashica Ganga , et al. · 2022

Omicron (B.1.1.529) shows extensive escape from vaccine immunity, although vaccination reduces severe disease and death 1 . Boosting with vaccines incorporating variant spike sequences could possibly broaden immunity 2 . One approach to ch…

SARS-CoV-2 prolonged infection during advanced HIV disease evolves extensive immune escape Open

Sandile Cele, Farina Karim, Gila Lustig, James Emmanuel San, Tandile Hermanus , et al. · 2022

Characterizing SARS-CoV-2 evolution in specific geographies may help predict properties of the variants that come from these regions. We mapped neutralization of a SARS-CoV-2 strain that evolved over 6 months from ancestral virus in a pers…

Omicron infection of vaccinated individuals enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta variant Open

Khadija Khan, Farina Karim, Sandile Cele, James Emmanuel San, Gila Lustig , et al. · 2021

Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) infections are rapidly expanding worldwide, often in settings where the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was dominant. We investigated whether neutralizing immunity elicited by Omicron infection would also neutralize t…

Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization Open

Sandile Cele, Laurelle Jackson, David S. Khoury, Khadija Khan, Thandeka Moyo-Gwete , et al. · 2021

The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Omicron (Pango lineage B.1.1.529), first identified in Botswana and South Africa, may compromise vaccine effectiveness and lead to re-infections1. Here we investigated Omicron escape from …

Omicron extensively but incompletely escapes Pfizer BNT162b2 neutralization Open

Sandile Cele, Laurelle Jackson, David S. Khoury, Khadija Khan, Thandeka Moyo-Gwete , et al. · 2021

Immunogenicity of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection and Ad26.CoV2.S Vaccination in People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Open

Khadija Khan, Gila Lustig, Mallory Bernstein, Derseree Archary, Sandile Cele , et al. · 2021

Background People living with HIV (PLWH) have been reported to have a higher risk of more severe COVID-19 disease and death. We assessed the ability of the Ad26.CoV2.S vaccine to elicit neutralizing activity against the Delta variant in PL…

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron has extensive but incomplete escape of Pfizer BNT162b2 elicited neutralization and requires ACE2 for infection Open

Sandile Cele, Laurelle Jackson, David S. Khoury, Khadija Khan, Thandeka Moyo-Gwete , et al. · 2021

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, first identified in Botswana and South Africa, may compromise vaccine effectiveness and the ability of antibodies triggered by previous infection to protect against re-infection (1). Here we investigate…

HIV status alters disease severity and immune cell responses in Beta variant SARS-CoV-2 infection wave Open

Farina Karim, Inbal Gazy, Sandile Cele, Yenzekile Zungu, Robert Krause , et al. · 2021

There are conflicting reports on the effects of HIV on COVID-19. Here, we analyzed disease severity and immune cell changes during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection in 236 participants from South Africa, of which 39% were people living with H…

T cell derived HIV-1 is present in the CSF in the face of suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Open

Gila Lustig, Sandile Cele, Farina Karim, Anne Derache, Abigail Ngoepe , et al. · 2021

HIV cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) escape, where HIV is suppressed in blood but detectable in CSF, occurs when HIV persists in the CNS despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). To determine the virus producing cell type and whether lowered CSF ART …

T cell derived HIV-1 is present in the CSF in the face of suppressive antiretroviral therapy Open

Gila Lustig, Sandile Cele, Farina Karim, Anne Derache, Abigail Ngoepe , et al. · 2021

HIV cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) escape, where HIV is suppressed in blood but detectable in CSF, occurs when HIV persists in the CNS despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). To determine the virus producing cell type and whether lowered CSF ART …

SARS-CoV-2 evolved during advanced HIV disease immunosuppression has Beta-like escape of vaccine and Delta infection elicited immunity Open

Sandile Cele, Farina Karim, Gila Lustig, James Emmanuel San, Tandile Hermanus , et al. · 2021

Summary Characterizing SARS-CoV-2 evolution in specific geographies may help predict the properties of variants coming from these regions. We mapped neutralization of a SARS-CoV-2 strain that evolved over 6 months from the ancestral virus …

A case series of emtricitabine-induced pure red cell aplasia Open

Nithendra Manickchund, Camille du Plessis, Melanie-Anne A. John, Thandekile C. Manzini, Bernadett I. Gosnell , et al. · 2021

This study provides strong circumstantial evidence that emtricitabine plays an important role in the pathogenesis of reversible PRCA. The mechanisms through which emtricitabine induces PRCA remain unclear and require further study.

Author response: HIV status alters disease severity and immune cell responses in Beta variant SARS-CoV-2 infection wave Open

Farina Karim, Inbal Gazy, Sandile Cele, Yenzekile Zungu, Robert Krause , et al. · 2021

SARS-CoV-2 cell-to-cell spread occurs rapidly and is insensitive to antibody neutralization Open

Laurelle Jackson, Hylton Rodel, Shi-Hsia Hwa, Sandile Cele, Yashica Ganga , et al. · 2021

Viruses increase the efficiency of close-range transmission between cells by manipulating cellular physiology and behavior, and SARS-CoV-2 uses cell fusion as one mechanism for cell-to-cell spread. Here we visualized infection using time-l…

Laboratory Reflex and Clinic-Based Point-of-Care Cryptococcal Antigen Screening for Preventing Meningitis and Mortality Among People Living With HIV Open

Paul K. Drain, Sean R. Galagan, Sabina Govere, Meighan Krows, Hilary Thulare , et al. · 2021

Introduction: Cryptococcosis remains a leading cause of meningitis and mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV) worldwide. We sought to evaluate laboratory-based cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) reflex testing and a clinic-based point-of-…

Escape of SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 from neutralization by convalescent plasma Open

Sandile Cele, Inbal Gazy, Laurelle Jackson, Shi-Hsia Hwa, Houriiyah Tegally , et al. · 2021

Escape of SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 from neutralization by convalescent plasma Open

Sandile Cele, Inbal Gazy, Laurelle Jackson, Shi-Hsia Hwa, Houriiyah Tegally , et al. · 2021

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) have arisen independently at multiple locations and may reduce efficacy of current vaccines targeted at the spike glycoprotein. We re-cently described the emergence of VOC in South Africa (501Y.V2 or PA…

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