BackgroundDevelopment of a protective vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an important subject in the field of medical sciences; however, it has not yet been achieved. Potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies are found in the plasma of some HIV-1-infected patients, whereas such antibody responses have failed to be induced by currently used vaccine antigens. In order to develop effective vaccine antigens, it is important to reveal the molecular mechanism of how strong humoral immune responses are induced in infected patients. As part of such studies, we examined the correlation between the anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibody response and disease progression.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe evaluated the anti-HIV-1 neutralizing activity of plasma derived from 33 rapid and 34 slow progressors residing in northern Thailand. The level of neutralizing activity varied considerably among plasmas, and no statistically significant differences in the potency and breadth of neutralizing activities were observed overall between plasma derived from rapid and slow progressors; however, plasma of 4 slow progressors showed neutralizing activity against all target viruses, whereas none of the plasma of rapid progressors showed such neutralizing activity. In addition, 21% and 9% of plasmas derived from slow and rapid progressors inhibited the replication of more than 80% of CRF01_AE Env-recombinant viruses tested, respectively. Neutralization of subtype B and C Env-recombinant viruses by the selected plasma was also examined; however, these plasma samples inhibited the replication of only a few viruses tested.Conclusions/SignificanceAlthough no statistically significant differences were observed in the potency and breadth of anti-HIV-1 neutralizing activities between plasma derived from rapid and slow progressors, several plasma samples derived from slow progressors neutralized CRF01_AE Env-recombinant viruses more frequently than those from rapid progressors. In addition, plasma derived from HIV-1-infected Thai patients showed CRF01_AE-specific neutralizing activity.

Background: Osteopenia and osteoporosis has been observed frequently in HIV-infected adolescents. Vitamin D deficiency may be a contributing factor. We aimed to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among perinatally HIV-infected Thai adolescents who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in adolescents with perinatal HIV infection. Vitamin D level, parathyroid hormone and calcium were measured in blood. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as levels of 25-(OH)-vitamin D below 20 ng/ml and insufficiency as 20-30 ng/ml. The information of dietary consumption and sunlight exposure were collected by self report structured questionnaire.Results: 101 adolescents, 50% male, median age 14.3 (range, 12.0-19.5) years, were enrolled. Median (IQR) duration of ART was 83.9 (52.2-104.2) months. 90% of children had plasma HIV RNA < 50 copies/ml in the past 6 months. The median vitamin D level was 24.8 (range, 6.9-46.9) ng/ml. Twenty-five patients (25%) had 25-(OH)-vitamin D level < 20 ng/ml and twenty-nine patients (29%) had level of 20-30 ng/ml. The median parathyroid hormone was 44 (range,15.4-121.6) ng/L. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had higher parathyroid hormone level [13.3(3.2-55.6),P < 0.001]. There was no significant difference in serum calcium level or hours of exposure to sunlight between the patients with or without vitamin D deficiency. Conclusion:Half of the HIV-infected adolescents were found to have insufficiency or deficiency of vitamin D. Preventive measures should be included in routine care.