Stanley Read - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Stanley Read

Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, Sep 23, 2019

Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, 2013

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop a profile of the sexual behavioural characterist... more Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop a profile of the sexual behavioural characteristics of black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada who constitute a unique mixture in terms of background, race, ethnicity, and culture. Having a profile of the sexual health and risk taking behaviours of these men is important since it provides information on these black Canadian men in comparison other black MSM.Design/methodology/approach– Data were collected as part of a cross-sectional study of black MSM in GTA. Survey participants completed a questionnaire requesting information on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, general and mental health, and awareness of social marketing strategies for gay men. The study was conducted in 2007-2008, through convenience sampling. Based on the data collected, the authors characterized the profile of black MSM with respect to sexual risk behaviours.Findings– The authors collected data on 168 bl...

American Journal of Men's Health, 2019

Male circumcision (MC) plays a significant role in reducing new HIV infections, particularly in h... more Male circumcision (MC) plays a significant role in reducing new HIV infections, particularly in high prevalence countries. This cross-sectional study assesses the prevalence of MC and attitudes toward MC among youth aged 15–18 years in The Bahamas, a medium HIV prevalence country. The survey included 797 young men who completed a questionnaire on MC. Data analyses included chi-squared tests. The self-reported prevalence of MC among youth was 16.7% (121/759). Most of the circumcised youth were circumcised as infants, 84% (107/121) were pleased with their circumcision, and 71% would recommend it to others. For uncircumcised youth, 35% (189/533) would consider voluntary male circumcision (VMC) and 26% would recommend MC to others. In all scenarios, circumcised youth were more likely to be positive about MC. Among uncircumcised young men, being older (17–18 years compared to 15–16 years) was the only variable statistically associated with considering MC or recommending MC. After being p...

Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids, 2017

HIV entry inhibitors are highly effective in controlling virus replication. We have developed a l... more HIV entry inhibitors are highly effective in controlling virus replication. We have developed a lentiviral vector that expresses a secreted entry inhibitor, soluble CD4 (sCD4), which binds to the HIV envelope glycoproteins and inactivates the virus. We have shown that sCD4 was secreted from gene-modified CD4 + T cells, as well as from human umbilical cord bloodderived CD34 + hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), and protected unmodified HIV target cells from infection in vitro. To investigate the in vivo application of our approach, we injected gene-modified HSPCs into NOD/SCID/gc null (NSG) mice. NSG hosts supported multi-lineage differentiation of human gene-modified HSPCs. Upon challenge with HIV, humanized mice capable of secreting sCD4 demonstrated a reduction of viral load over time compared to control humanized mice. In contrast to gene therapy approaches that render only gene-modified HIV target cells resistant to infection, our approach also showed protection of unmodified CD4 + T cells in the peripheral blood and tissues. Our findings provide support for the continuous delivery of secreted entry inhibitors via gene therapy as an alternative to oral administration of antiretroviral drugs or injection of antiretroviral proteins, including antibodies.

Gene Therapy, 2013

Current human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV) gene therapy strategies focus on rendering HIV ... more Current human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV) gene therapy strategies focus on rendering HIV target cells non-permissive to viral replication. However, gene-modified cells fail to accumulate in patients and the virus continues to replicate in the unmodified target cell population. We have designed lentiviral vectors encoding secreted anti-HIV proteins to protect both gene-modified and unmodified cells from infection. Soluble CD4 (sCD4), a secreted single chain variable fragment (sscFv 17b) and a secreted fusion inhibitor (sFI T45) were used to target receptor binding, co-receptor binding and membrane fusion, respectively. Additionally, we designed bi-and tri-functional fusion proteins to exploit the multistep nature of HIV entry. Of the seven antiviral proteins tested, sCD4, sCD4-scFv 17b , sCD4-FI T45 and sCD4-scFv 17b-FI T45 efficiently inhibited HIV entry. The neutralization potency of the bi-functional fusion proteins sCD4-scFv 17b and sCD4-FI T45 was superior to that of sCD4 and the Food and Drug Administration-approved fusion inhibitor T-20. In co-culture experiments, sCD4, sCD4-scFv 17b and sCD4-FI T45 secreted from gene-modified producer cells conferred substantial protection to unmodified peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In conclusion, continuous delivery of secreted anti-HIV proteins via gene therapy may be a promising strategy to overcome the limitations of the current treatment.

Surveillance data suggest that Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in Canada contribute to a hi... more Surveillance data suggest that Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in Canada contribute to a higher than expected percentage of new HIV diagnoses. HIV testing is an important part of the HIV reduction strategy in Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends HIV testing as a component of periodic routine medical care. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Black MSM in Toronto to determine the factors associated with HIV testing. One hundred sixty-five men were recruited and completed a self-administrative questionnaire. The majority of men identified as gay/homosexual. Lifetime history of HIV testing was reported at 85%, of whom 50% had tested within the last 6 months. Self-reported HIV seroprevalence was 24%. In logistic regression, variables associated with ever testing for HIV were "having friends or family with HIV" and "regularly attending religious services." Although HIV testing appears to be common among Black MSM in Canada, young Canadian-born men were less likely to test. This observation highlights the need to examine place of birth when tailoring health interventions for Black MSM.

Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2003

West Indian Medical Journal, 2012

Acceptance of MC among Health Practitioners While UNAIDS/World Health Organization (WHO) and vari... more Acceptance of MC among Health Practitioners While UNAIDS/World Health Organization (WHO) and various other health organizations recommend MC as one of the strategies for reducing HIV, its implementation does not

Culture, Health & Sexuality, 2012

The Canadian journal of infectious diseases = Journal canadien des maladies infectieuses, 1993

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is associated with significant mortality and morbidity among... more Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is associated with significant mortality and morbidity among infants infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The preferred prophylaxis strategy for such infants is a subject of debate. Medical decision analysis was used to determine the preferred strategy for primary PCP prophylaxis among asymptomatic HIV-infected infants less than one year of age, and to determine the thresholds at which different variables influence decision making. Utility measures (health state preference values) were used to determine whether prophylaxis should be given to all, some or no infants. In this regard, some infants would receive prophylaxis if baseline CD4 counts are fewer than 1500 cells/mm(3). The results suggest that the preferred option is to give prophylaxis to all asymptomatic HIV-infected infants despite CD4 counts, if the risk of PCP is equal to or greater than 25%. However, if the risk of PCP is less than 25%, prophylaxis is recommended for thos...

The Pediatric infectious disease journal, Jan 22, 2017

We evaluated quadrivalent HPV (qHPV) vaccine seroresponses among 35 girls living with HIV (ages 9... more We evaluated quadrivalent HPV (qHPV) vaccine seroresponses among 35 girls living with HIV (ages 9-13) and compared to data on girls without HIV, as part of a subgroup analysis. The qHPV vaccine was safe and well-tolerated. However, antibody response was significantly lower in girls living with HIV relative to girls without HIV. HIV virologic suppression predicted better antibody response. .

AIDS care, Jan 8, 2017

Little is known about the neurodevelopmental outcomes of children older than 3 years of age born ... more Little is known about the neurodevelopmental outcomes of children older than 3 years of age born to HIV infected mother but who are HIV-uninfected (HEU), and who have been exposed in utero and early in life to HIV and to antiretroviral medications (ARVs). We conducted a longitudinal study of cognitive, visuomotor and adaptive function of HEU children, who were assessed at two ages, 3.5 and 5.5 years. Sixty-four children (33 female) were assessed. In comparison with population norms for their age, at 3.5 years of age they had scores significantly below age expectations on aspects of adaptive behavior, but at age 5.5 years, their scores did not significantly diverge from the population norms on any of the measures. Verbal intelligence was lower at age 5.5 than at age 3.5 years, although there were also improvements in some features of adaptive behavior. Exposure to PI-based ARVs (compared to NNRTIs) was associated with higher Performance IQ, visuomotor and communication scores at age ...

BMC biotechnology, Jan 2, 2016

Recombinant proteins of therapeutic use are ideally produced in human cells to ensure appropriate... more Recombinant proteins of therapeutic use are ideally produced in human cells to ensure appropriate co- and post-translational modifications. However, purification of secreted proteins from the culture media is impeded by low expression from transfected cell lines and the presence of serum proteins. Here we describe a simple and cost-effective approach based on lentiviral vector-mediated gene delivery and expression of a secreted His-tagged protein from human embryonic kidney 293 T cells and direct affinity chromatography purification from the cell culture media. Using a protein-based HIV entry inhibitor, soluble CD4 (sCD4), we demonstrated that 293 T cells transduced with a lentiviral vector mediated over 10-fold higher secretion of sCD4 in comparison to 293 T cells transfected with the corresponding plasmid. Secretion of sCD4 increased with the dose of the lentiviral vector up to a multiplicity of infection of 50. Exchanging the native signal peptide of sCD4 with the signal peptide ...

Pediatric transplantation, Jan 18, 2015

This study examines EBV strains from transplant patients and patients with IM by sequencing major... more This study examines EBV strains from transplant patients and patients with IM by sequencing major EBV genes. We also used NGS to detect EBV DNA within total genomic DNA, and to evaluate its genetic variation. Sanger sequencing of major EBV genes was used to compare SNVs from samples taken from transplant patients vs. patients with IM. We sequenced EBV DNA from a healthy EBV-seropositive individual on a HiSeq 2000 instrument. Data were mapped to the EBV reference genomes (AG876 and B95-8). The number of EBNA2 SNVs was higher than for EBNA1 and the other genes sequenced within comparable reference coordinates. For EBNA2, there was a median of 15 SNV among transplant samples compared with 10 among IM samples (p = 0.036). EBNA1 showed little variation between samples. For NGS, we identified 640 and 892 variants at an unadjusted p value of 5 × 10(-8) for AG876 and B95-8 genomes, respectively. We used complementary sequence strategies to examine EBV genetic diversity and its application t...

The Journal of Immunology

ABSTRACT

Canadian journal of public health. Revue canadienne de santé publique

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes

HIV antigen detection kits are available from a number of commercial sources. Abbott, Coulter, an... more HIV antigen detection kits are available from a number of commercial sources. Abbott, Coulter, and Du Pont antigen kits were used to test 661 sera collected sequentially from 65 members of the Toronto Sexual Contact Study (TSCS). The sera had been collected at 3-month intervals over 4 years from nine persistently HIV-seronegative men, 14 seroconverters, and 42 seroprevalent participants. Antigen was not detected in any seronegative men. Two of 14 seroconverters were antigen positive in the specimen immediately preceding seroconversion (by all kits). Antigen was detected in 22 of 56 seropositive participants; of these, 16 of 22 demonstrated the emergence of antigen during observation. Discrepancies were noted in the time of detection of antigen (ranging from 3 months to more than 3 years) in nine participants. Although overall concordance among all kits for all specimens appears high (95.4%), when the bias introduced by testing multiple specimens from the same patient is removed, the lower bound of concordance among all three kits is estimated to be 80%. Similarly, after correction, the upper and lower bound of estimates of sensitivity are Abbott 96, 92%; Coulter 88, 63%; and Du Pont 88, 58%. There are significant differences in the performance characteristics of these commercial products for the detection of HIV antigen in serum.

Canadian Medical Association Journal

Erythema infectiosum, an acute, communicable viral disease with a highly distinctive exanthem, fo... more Erythema infectiosum, an acute, communicable viral disease with a highly distinctive exanthem, follows the usual course of a self-limiting benign disease. In pregnant women, however, it may be associated with fetal death and nonimmune hydrops fetalis. Because of the association of human parvovirus (HPV) B19 infection with fetal damage we reviewed the current knowledge of the clinical aspects of erythema infectiosum, focusing on pregnancy and fetal outcome, to determine the magnitude of fetal risk and offer recommendations for management. Among 180 infected pregnant women 44 fetal deaths (24%) occurred, 1 to 12 weeks after the infection was noted. Pregnant women should be advised that (a) because of the high prevalence (up to 65%) of anti-HPV B19 IgG antibody among adults most of them are not at risk and (b) if maternal infection does occur therapeutic abortion is not indicated since intrauterine infection causes fetal death more often than abnormal development. Infection should be suspected in pregnant women who exhibit the symptoms of erythema infectiosum with or without arthropathy. They should be monitored for an elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein level (indicating fetal aplastic crisis) and undergo serial ultrasonography for the detection of hydrops fetalis. Although the incidence of congenital malformation is no higher than the expected rate in the general population (3% to 5%), the precise incidence of fetal adverse outcomes remains unknown and requires investigation in larger, prospective studies.

Progress in Immunology, 1971