Browsing by Author "Mthembu, Yolanda"

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    Mucus and Mucins: do they have a role in the inhibition of the human immunodeficiency virus?
    (BioMed Central, 2017-10-06) Mall, Anwar S; Habte, Habtom; Mthembu, Yolanda; Peacocke, Julia; de Beer, Corena
    Background: Mucins are large O-linked glycosylated proteins which give mucus their gel-forming properties. There are indications that mucus and mucins in saliva, breast milk and in the cervical plug inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in an in vitro assay. Main body of abstract: Crude mucus gels form continuous layers on the epithelial surfaces of the major internal tracts of the body and protect these epithelial surfaces against aggressive luminal factors such as hydrochloric acid and pepsin proteolysis in the stomach lumen, the movement of hard faecal pellets in the colon at high pressure, the effects of shear against the vaginal epithelium during intercourse and the presence of foreign substances in the respiratory airways. Tumour-associated epitopes on mucins make them suitable as immune-targets on malignant epithelial cells, rendering mucins important as diagnostic and prognostic markers for various diseases, even influencing the design of mucin-based vaccines. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV-AIDS in the world. The main points of viral transmission are via the vaginal epithelium during sexual intercourse and mother-to-child transmission during breast-feeding. There have been many studies showing that several body fluids have components that prevent the transmission of HIV-1 from infected to non-infected persons through various forms of contact. Crude saliva and its purified mucins, MUC5B and MUC7, and the purified mucins from breast milk, MUC1 and MUC4 and pregnancy plug cervical mucus (MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC6), inhibit HIV-1 in an in vitro assay. There are conflicting reports of whether crude breast-milk inhibits HIV-1 in an in vitro assay. However studies with a humanised BLT mouse show that breast-milk does inhibit HIV and that breast-feeding is still advisable even amongst HIV-positive women in under-resourced areas, preferably in conjunction with anti-retroviral treatment. Conclusion: These findings raise questions of how such a naturally occurring biological substance such as mucus, with remarkable protective properties of epithelial surfaces against aggressive luminal factors in delicate locations, could be used as a tool in the fight against HIV-AIDS, which has reached epidemic proportions in sub-Saharan Africa.
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    The role of human breast milk mucus and mucins in HIV-AIDS
    (2012) Mthembu, Yolanda; Mall, Anwar Suleman
    Milk molecules such as mucins, antibodies, bactericidal enzymes like lysozymes and fatty acids that lyse bacteria, viral particles and bacterial peptides, offer anti-microbial activity in milk. Despite human breast milk being rich in anti-microbial substances, such as mucin, that protect against pathogens and viruses, it remains a significant route of HIV transmission from mother to child. ... The objectives of the study were to isolate, purify, identify and investigate the anti-HIV-1 activity of crude breast milk particularly the human milk fat globule material (MFGM) and its purified mucin components, in HIV positive patients (n = 20) compared with those who are not infected (n = 20). This study also tested the effect that heat (80°C, 10 min) might have on breast milk which might release the milk mucins and consequently have an inhibitory effect on HIV-1.