The Relationship between Schistosomiasis and HIV Susceptibility in Women

Epidemiologic studies by Weill Cornell faculty member Dr. Jennifer Downs suggest that women with the tropical parasitic disease schistosomiasis are at increased risk for HIV. Schistosomiasis is a helminth infection that infects 200 million people worldwide. Schistosoma haematobium resides in the veins of the bladder and genital tract and causes chronic inflammation of these tissues. The mechanism for schistosomiasis increasing the risk of HIV infection in women is not completely known. Investigators, including Drs. Kathryn Dupnik, MD and Jennifer Downs, MD, PhD, recently published “Altered cervical mucosal gene expression and lower IL-15 levels in women with S. haematobium but not S. mansoni infection”, to explore how the parasite impacts the cervix.  

Women with and without S. haematobium were recruited from different villages in rural Tanzania. RNA from cervical cells and cytokine levels in cervical fluid were analyzed. The study demonstrated that women infected with S. haematobium had altered cervical mucosal gene expression and lower IL-15 levels, when compared to controls without infection. This finding suggests that cervical inflammation may be one mechanism by which schistosomiasis increases HIV susceptibility.

Dr. Dupnik is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology. Her research focuses on human immune responses to mycobacterial and parasitic pathogens. Dr. Downs is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology. Her research focuses on the relationship between schistosomiasis, mucosal immunity, and HIV susceptibility in women. Both are members of the Center for Global Health.

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