Journal of Clinical Virology - Volume 82 - Supplement 1 - September 2016

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Abstracts / Journal of Clinical Virology 82S (2016) S1–S142 S7
transplantation. Determination of anti-BKV Nabs titer in donors
and recipients before transplantation may allow for better-suited
induction and maintenance immunosuppressive therapy as well as
adapted viral monitoring.
Abstract no: 341
Presentation at ESCV 2016: Oral 12
A longitudinal study on dynamics of plasma
neutralising antibodies and its determinants in
HIV-2 infected individuals
G. Ozkaya Sahin ∗, S. Karlson , F. Mansson ,
A. Biague Norrgren Jansson
1 Clinical Microbiology, Laboratory Medicine Skane,
Lund, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund
University, Lund, Sweden
2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund
University, Lund, Sweden
3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University,
Malmo, Lund, Sweden
4 National Public Health Laboratory, Bissau,
Guinea-Bissau
5 Division of Infection Medicine, Department of
Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Background: Majority of HIV-2-infected individuals survive as
elite controllers. Therefore, HIV-2 infection represents a model for
the studies of immune responses that may control an HIV infec-
tion, and possibly give leads towards a functional cure. Plasma
neutralising antibodies (NAb) are thought to play a central role
in HIV-2 evolution and pathogenesis. However, due to relatively
silent disease course, it has been almost impossible to diagnose
HIV-2 seroconversion time, to follow-up the natural history of
infection and to investigate the dynamics of the NAb response.
Research group in Sweden andGuinea-Bissau has been organised to
investigate the long-termepidemiological trends of HIV-2 infection
since 1987. Questions: When does broad and potent NAb response
develop in HIV-2 infected individuals? What are the modulators of
broad and potent NAb response?
Materials and methods: Forty-six plasma with known T cell
count were obtained from 15 individuals from a cohort of police
officers in Guinea-Bissau, between 1992-2010. Participants were
classified into two subgroups based on mean CD4+ T cell count/ l:
Immunocompetent group with cell count ≥ 500 vs immunosup-
pressed group with cell count <500 for the neutralization assay
ghost 3-ccr5 cell line heat-inactivated plasma andfive hiv-2 isolates
originating from west Africa were used cut-off point was 30.
Results: Immunocompetent individuals were HIV-2 serocon-
verted at an earlier age and displayed higher plasma CD8+ T
cell count/ l compared to immunodeficient group (median age,
28 years vs 38 years, respectively, p < 0.05; median CD8+ T cell
count/ l, 755 vs 334, respectively, p < 0.01). In all participants,
NAb response was found to be potent and broad already dur-
ing the first year of infection. Moreover, this response persisted
throughout the whole follow-up period. Interestingly, at the end of
follow-up period, NAb responsewas significantly broader andmore
potent in the immunocompetent group compared to immunodefi-
cient group (breadth 4.3 vs 2.9, p< 0.05; potency 200000 vs 25000,
respectively, p < 0.05). In both groups, age at seroconversion cor-
related negatively with CD4+ and CD8+ T cell count (r = −0.64 and
−0.41, respectively, p < 0.05). In the immunocompromised group,
CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts tended to decrease with infection
duration (Spearman’s r: −0.62 and −0.88, respectively, p < 0.05).
Interestingly, decreasing number of cellular immunity cells cor-
related negatively with potency of NAb response (r: −0.55 and
−0.78, p < 0.05). In the immunocompetent group, both breadth and
potency of NAb response tended to increase with infection dura-
tion (r: 0.53 and 0.51, respectively, p < 0.05). Furthermore, potency
of NAb response correlated positively with CD4+ T cell count (r:
0.72, p < 0.05).
Discussion and significance: This study represents the most
diverse longitudinal primary infection cohort studied to date for
HIV-2 neutralization. Broadly p-NAb response in HIV-1 infection
arises only in around 15% of patients after 2-4 years of infection.
In addition, p-NAb response tends to fluctuate with low potency.
Contrarily, here we show that broad and potent p-NAb response
develops in all HIV-2 infected participants during the first year of
infection and tends to be persistent. These results may provide
insights into the role of potently persistent neutralizing humoral
immune response on mild outcome of HIV-2 infection.
Abstract no: 108
Presentation at ESCV 2016: Oral 13
Implementation of a rapid HIV-1 RNA test in
diagnosing acute HIV infections among visitors
of the Amsterdam clinic of sexually transmitted
infections
M. Dijkstra ∗ Bruisten oornenborg
A. Hogewoning , H. de Vries ,
M. Schim van der Loeff erretty inde
K. Adams , U. Davidivich ,
G. de Bree , on behalf of the H-TEAM initiative
1 Public Health Service of Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
2 Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and
Development, The Netherlands
3 Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
Background: Immediate diagnosis and treatment of acute HIV
infection (AHI) is important both from a patient and a public health
perspective. Firstly, it can prevent progression to chronic symp-
tomatic HIV disease and thereby improve an individual’s prognosis.
Secondly, it can reduce the risk of onward transmission associated
with AHI in individuals unaware of being infected and usually hav-
ing high viral loads. At the sexually transmitted infections (STI)
outpatient clinic in Amsterdam, the diagnosis of AHI relied on the
routine use of serological antibody and antigen assays. These assays
have awindowphase of at least 15 days between infection and sero-
conversion. A new promising avenue is the incorporation of a rapid
HIV-RNA test that shortens this period with around 5 days.
As part of the HIV-Transmission Elimination AMsterdam (H-
TEAM) initiative a rapid AHI diagnosis and referral trajectory was
implemented at the STI clinic in Amsterdam in 2015. This involved
the addition of a rapid HIV-RNA assay to standard HIV testing
among men who have sex with men (MSM). We now present our
first experiences with this new rapid AHI test and referral trajec-
tory.
Methods: MSM were assessed for eligibility at the STI clinic
for an AHI test. They were either referred by a media campaign
with a self-referral screening tool), or by their gen-
eral practitioner (GP), or if they came for routine STI screening.
Eligibility was based on symptoms of AHI in combination with
condom-less anal sex with a man within 2 weeks to 3 months
preceding the visit. Participants completed questionnaires and pro-