Search Results (565)

Background/Objectives: Rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) and HIV co-infection remain major contributors to morbidity and mortality, particularly in high-burden settings. HIV-related clinical factors, including viral suppression, CD4-defined immune status, HIV drug resistance, virological failure, and ART failure, may influence RR-TB treatment response; however, existing evidence remains fragmented. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol aims to synthesize evidence on the impact of HIV viral suppression, immune status, and HIV drug resistance/ART resistance status on RR-TB treatment outcomes. Methods: This protocol was developed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. Published peer-reviewed studies and relevant grey literature from January 2005 to December 2025 will be searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, EBSCOhost, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and other relevant sources. No language restriction will be applied at the search stage. Where feasible, non-English records will be translated for title/abstract and full-text screening. Two reviewers will independently screen studies, extract data, and assess study quality, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Study-level risk of bias will be assessed using design-appropriate tools, and the certainty of evidence for each outcome will be evaluated using GRADE. Results: Evidence will be synthesized narratively and, where studies are sufficiently homogeneous, quantitatively through meta-analysis. Outcomes of interest will include treatment success, treatment failure, mortality, treatment completion, microbiological cure, and adverse events. Subgroup analyses will be considered by viral suppression status, CD4-defined immune status, HIV drug resistance/ART resistance status, geographic region, and treatment regimen where data permit. Conclusions: This review will provide evidence on how HIV viral suppression, immune status, and HIV drug resistance/ART resistance influence RR-TB treatment outcomes. The findings may inform integrated TB/HIV care, clinical monitoring, and treatment strategies for individuals co-infected with HIV and RR-TB. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the genital pathogen profile and co-infection dynamics using multiplex RT-qPCR, specifically evaluating the independent associations with age, sex, and HIV status. Methods: Data from 1217 patients who underwent a sexually transmitted infection (STI) panel study at the Microbiology Laboratory of Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital between January 2024 and December 2025 were retrospectively reviewed. Pathogen detection was performed using a commercial kit (Bioeksen, Istanbul, Türkiye) with the multiplex RT-qPCR method. The independent effects of HIV positivity, age, and sex on pathogen frequency and co-infection were analyzed using logistic regression models; results were evaluated using adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Any-pathogen positivity was detected in 57.8% of patients, with Ureaplasma spp. (36.9%) and Gardnerella vaginalis (32.5%) being the most prevalent. While overall pathogen positivity did not differ significantly by HIV status (p = 0.158), HIV-positive patients exhibited distinct microbiological architectures. Higher positivity rates were observed in women in both groups, and a strong correlation was found between sex and the presence of infection (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that HIV positivity was independently associated with an over fivefold increase in HSV-2 detection (aOR = 5.09, 95% CI: 1.47–17.65; p = 0.010). Furthermore, HIV-positive individuals were significantly enriched for complex polymicrobial patterns involving three or more pathogens (p = 0.008). Conversely, male sex was independently associated with a substantially lower risk of co-infection (aOR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.12–0.22; p < 0.001), and increasing age showed an inverse relationship with co-infection frequency (aOR = 0.98 per year, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99; p = 0.001). Conclusions: This study adds to current epidemiological evidence by showing that genital pathogen distribution is shaped by age- and sex-related heterogeneity, with flora-associated co-infections predominating in women and more classical STI-related agents occurring more often in men. Our findings suggest that multiplex RT-qPCR provides value not only for broad pathogen detection but also for identifying demographic- and HIV-associated co-infection patterns that may support stratified screening and targeted clinical management. Full article

Background: The immunological factors associated with long-term hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific humoral immunity after cure remain uncharacterized, particularly in people with HIV (PWH). This study investigated T-cell immunophenotypes and plasma biomarkers associated with anti-E2 binding (HCV-E2Abs) and neutralizing antibody (HCV-nAbs) titers 5 years after achieving sustained virologic response (SVR). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed 64 PWH with cured HCV and prior advanced fibrosis. We quantified plasma antibody titers against 5 HCV genotypes, T-cell phenotypes (n = 58), and plasma biomarkers (n = 50). Associations were assessed using Generalized Linear Models (gamma distribution, log-link function) adjusted for clinical confounders, reporting adjusted Arithmetic Mean Ratios (aAMRs) and false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected q-values. Results: Higher frequencies of CD4⁺ T-cell activation (CD38⁺; aAMR = 1.58; q = 0.028) and soluble CD27 levels (aAMR = 1.46; q = 0.038) were associated with higher HCV-E2Abs titers. In contrast, memory T-cell activation across CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ compartments (HLA-DR⁺ and CD38+; all q < 0.10) and elevated soluble immune checkpoints (sCD28, sPD-L2, sLAG-3, sCTLA-4; all q < 0.10) were associated with preserved HCV-nAbs titers. Conversely, a higher frequency of naïve CD8⁺ T-cells was associated with lower neutralization capacity (aAMR = 0.41; q = 0.042). Regarding inflammatory markers, soluble TNF-RI was positively associated with neutralizing titers (aAMR = 1.44; q = 0.019), whereas IL-18 was inversely associated (aAMR = 0.53; q = 0.019). Conclusions: Specific activated T-cell subsets, checkpoint shedding, and selective inflammatory signals were associated with higher long-term HCV-nAbs titers in PWH. In contrast, higher frequencies of naïve CD8⁺ T-cells and elevated IL-18 levels were associated with reduced neutralizing capacity. Full article

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) increasingly affects non-HIV immunocompromised patients; however, the spectrum of computed tomography (CT) findings in this population remains poorly defined. Objectives: To describe and compare chest CT findings of PJP in patients with and without HIV infection and to evaluate the impact of respiratory coinfections on imaging patterns. Methods: This retrospective single-centre cohort study included 72 adult patients with confirmed PJP diagnosed between 2011 and 2024, 27 HIV-positive and 45 non-HIV immunocompromised patients. Chest radiography was available in 71 patients and chest CT in 62. Imaging studies were independently reviewed for predefined patterns, including ground-glass opacities, alveolo-interstitial pattern, mosaic attenuation, crazy paving, pulmonary cysts, consolidation, and pleural effusion. CT findings were compared between HIV-positive and non-HIV patients, and a subgroup analysis was performed in non-HIV patients according to the underlying type of immunosuppression. Respiratory coinfections were recorded and classified based on microbiological results. Results: Chest radiography was normal in 32.4% of patients. An interstitial pattern tended to be more frequent in HIV-positive patients, whereas consolidations were more commonly observed in non-HIV patients (p = 0.051). On CT, ground-glass opacities were the predominant finding in both groups. HIV-positive patients more frequently demostrated an alveolo-interstitial pattern, mosaic attenuation, and pulmonary cysts, while consolidations and pleural effusions were more common in non-HIV patients, particularly among solid organ transplant recipients. Respiratory coinfections were identified in 63.9% of patients; however, no statistically significant differences in CT patterns were observed between patients with and without coinfections. Conclusions: PJP demonstrates different CT presentations according to immune status. HIV-positive patients more frequently demonstrated alveolo-interstitial patterns, mosaic attenuation, and pulmonary cysts, whereas consolidations were more commonly observed in non-HIV immunocompromised patients. Respiratory coinfections do not appear to significantly influence CT patterns. Full article

Tuberculosis remains one of the leading infectious causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Tuberculosis during pregnancy represents a major clinical challenge, as physiological and immunological changes associated with pregnancy may obscure symptoms, delay diagnosis, and contribute to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. This narrative review provides an updated and clinically oriented overview of tuberculosis during pregnancy, with particular emphasis on diagnostic challenges, imaging strategies, microbiological testing, maternal–fetal complications, and therapeutic management. Key topics include symptom-based screening, tuberculin skin test and interferon gamma release assays, as well as molecular diagnostic methods such as GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/Rifampicin (MTB/RIF) and Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, chest radiography, computed tomography, and emerging biomarkers. We also discuss the impact of tuberculosis on pregnancy outcomes, including prematurity, low birth weight, maternal morbidity, and neonatal complications, as well as the particular challenges posed by human immunodeficiency virus HIV coinfection and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Current treatment strategies, preventive approaches, postpartum care, neonatal management, and Bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccination are reviewed in light of contemporary evidence and international recommendations. Finally, we highlight practical diagnostic algorithms, current evidence gaps, and priorities for future research aimed at improving maternal and neonatal outcomes in both high- and low-resource settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Medication beliefs are important determinants of adherence in patients with chronic diseases. Failure to take medication threatens the successful treatment of tuberculosis. This research aimed to determine the associations of tuberculosis knowledge and psychological distress with medication beliefs in patients with tuberculosis from Southwest China. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design conducted in Liangshan Prefecture, Southwest China, from March 2024 to January 2025. The HIV-TB co-infection group comprised patients newly diagnosed with HIV-TB co-infection in 2024, while the TB mono-infection group comprised individuals randomly selected from those with tuberculosis mono-infection during the same period within the same region. Trained interviewers collected data through structured telephone questionnaires to assess medication beliefs, psychological distress, TB knowledge, and behavioral characteristics. Path analysis was used to examine the relationships between these variables. Results: Overall medication belief scores were low among participants. Beliefs varied significantly across clinical and sociodemographic factors, being relatively higher in groups such as patients with HIV co-infection, residents of formerly impoverished counties, individuals of Yi ethnicity, and those with primary education or less. Path analysis indicated that psychological distress partially mediated the relationship between TB knowledge and medication beliefs. The indirect effect was 0.014 (95% CI: 0.001, 0.033), accounting for 37.12% of the total effect of knowledge on beliefs, while the direct effect was non-significant. Conclusions: These findings underscore that both TB knowledge and psychological distress critically shape medication beliefs. Intervention strategies should therefore integrate evidence-based health education with targeted psychological support to strengthen treatment adherence and improve outcomes. Full article

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, contributing to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for an estimated 68% of incident HBV infections, where co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is common and associated with poorer clinical outcomes. In Botswana, limited HBV screening and the absence of established HBV management guidelines persist despite reported HIV-HBV co-infection rates ranging from 1.1% to 10.6%. This scoping review aimed to summarise existing research on HBV and HIV-HBV co-infection in Botswana and assess clinical and policy implications. Following PRISMA methodology, searches were conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and Consensus databases. Thirty eligible peer-reviewed studies were identified and evaluated for prevalence data, virological characteristics, genotypes, mutations, treatment outcomes, vaccination programs, and the availability of guidelines. Findings indicate intermediate-to-high HBV and HIV-HBV disease burden, substantial occult HBV infection, and gaps in diagnostic and preventive practices. The lack of routine screening, deficient infant birth-dose and adult vaccination, and established treatment pathways likely increase the risk of HBV-associated morbidity and mortality. Strengthened public health interventions, including expanded testing, enhanced vaccination coverage, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission strategies, are recommended to improve disease control and clinical outcomes in Botswana. Full article

Syphilis and HIV are sexually transmitted disease (STDs) that interact synergistically. However, data on HIV–syphilis co-infection in Romania remain limited. We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a single Romanian HIV/AIDS Day Clinic, including 439 adult people living with HIV (PLWH) monitored between 2020 and 2025. Demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, including HIV staging and syphilis history. Syphilis co-infection was identified in 81 patients (18.5%), and 61.5% met criteria for AIDS. Viral suppression was achieved in 82.2%, and 78.4% achieved CD4 counts >350 cells/mm³. Male sex, urban residence, unmarried status, sexual HIV transmission, genital condyloma, and other STIs were independently associated with syphilis. First episodes of syphilis were predominantly secondary (61%), neurosyphilis was present in 5%, and serofast evolution occurred in 12%, more frequently after reinfection. Among deceased patients, 20.9% had a history of syphilis, but co-infection was not significantly associated with mortality. Nine of 28 patients lost to follow-up had prior syphilis, suggesting a potential impact on retention in care. These findings indicate that HIV–syphilis co-infection is increasingly prevalent in Romania, driven primarily by behavioral factors, and highlight the need for targeted STD screening and prevention strategies among high-risk PLWH. Full article

Syphilitic panuveitis is a severe and diagnostically highly challenging manifestation of ocular syphilis. Its predominant posterior-segment involvement and its tendency to mimic noninfectious or viral uveitis may delay etiologic recognition and increase the risk of permanent vision loss. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a rare but vision-threatening complication that likely reflects advanced, inflammation-induced disruption of the vitreoretinal interface. A narrative literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (January 2000 to 10 September 2025). Studies addressing the clinical presentation, imaging findings, pathophysiology, and management of syphilitic panuveitis and associated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment were analyzed. Infectious mimickers were also presented, with particular emphasis on West Nile virus (WNV). Evidence was synthesized qualitatively. Posterior uveitis and panuveitis are one of the most common ocular manifestations of syphilis. Posterior segment involvement in ocular syphilis is frequently bilateral, typically presenting with dense vitritis, retinal vasculitis, and optic neuropathy. RRD is a rare presenting complication, most often developing in areas of prior inflammatory retinitis and arising due to retinal necrosis, persistent vitreoretinal traction, and early proliferative vitreoretinopathy, which increases surgical complexity and may limit functional recovery. HIV coinfection often modifies disease severity. In relevant endemic or seasonal settings, WNV-associated ocular inflammation represents an important diagnostic pitfall. Syphilitic panuveitis should be considered early in patients presenting with unexplained posterior uveitis or panuveitis. Routine testing for syphilis and HIV in the uveitic laboratory palette, together with targeted evaluation for infectious mimickers, is essential to reduce diagnostic delay and avoid inappropriate immunosuppression. RRD should be recognized as a marker of advanced, inflammation-induced vitreoretinal interface damage requiring timely antimicrobial therapy and early involvement of vitreoretinal surgery. Full article

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) have a substantially increased risk of both AIDS-defining cancers (ADCs) and non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs), which remain a major cause of morbidity despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART); this review aims to integrate current epidemiological, molecular, and clinical evidence on HIV-associated oncogenesis. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed (2000–2026) using predefined keywords, including “HIV”, “cancer”, “oncogenesis”, and “immune dysregulation”, with inclusion of original studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses meeting predefined quality criteria. Results: Available evidence indicates that HIV contributes to cancer development through both direct and indirect mechanisms: viral proteins such as Tat, Nef, and Vpr disrupt apoptosis, DNA repair, and cell cycle regulation, while chronic immune activation, persistent inflammation, and immunosuppression impair tumor immune surveillance and facilitate oncogenic viral co-infections, including Epstein–Barr virus, human papillomavirus, and human herpesvirus 8. Emerging pathways, such as epigenetic alterations, microRNA dysregulation, metabolic reprogramming, and the contribution of HIV reservoirs to pro-tumorigenic microenvironments, further modulate cancer risk. Conclusions: HIV may function as a cofactor that enhances the effects of oncogenic viruses by promoting viral persistence and immune dysregulation; while biologically plausible, direct evidence linking HIV to amplification of tumorigenesis in humans remains limited. Full article

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) remains a major public health challenge in South Africa, particularly in rural settings with high HIV co-infection rates. Understanding predictors of treatment response among people living with HIV is essential for improving clinical management and programmatic outcomes. This study aimed to identify socio-demographic and clinical predictors of treatment outcomes among HIV-positive individuals diagnosed with multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using routinely collected clinical records of DR-TB patients initiated on treatment between January 2020 and December 2024 at two public healthcare facilities. A total of 239 patients with complete treatment outcome data were included. Treatment outcomes were classified as favourable (cured or treatment completed) or unfavourable (death, treatment failure, or loss to follow-up). Descriptive statistics were used to summarise patient characteristics, while univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with treatment outcomes. Results: Most participants were aged ≤ 39 years (58%), male (60%), unemployed (90%), and without income (80%). MDR-TB accounted for 40% of cases, rifampicin-resistant-TB (RR-TB) for 53%, and XDR-TB for 7.1%. Multivariable analysis showed that XDR-TB was the strongest independent predictor of unfavourable treatment outcome (AOR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06–0.58; p = 0.004). Income status was also significantly associated with outcome, with participants reporting some incomes having lower odds of favourable outcomes (AOR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.23–0.92; p = 0.036). The model demonstrated modest predictive performance (AUC = 0.67). Conclusions: These findings highlight the dominant influence of resistance phenotype, particularly XDR-TB, on treatment prognosis among HIV-positive DR-TB patients in rural Eastern Cape. Integrating early resistance profiling, intensified clinical management of XDR-TB, and socioeconomic support mechanisms may improve treatment outcomes in high-burden rural settings. Full article

Objectives: To determine the incidence and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to evaluate seroconversion rates and quantify antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines in two cohorts of persons living with HIV at a possible higher risk of poor outcomes (HCV coinfection and those over the age of 65 years). Methods: We included participants from two established cohorts of persons living with HIV, those who were older than 65 years of age, and those with hepatitis C (HCV) co-infection. Four hundred and seventy-one participants completed questionnaires on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccine doses and submitted peripheral blood specimens for measuring antibody levels to COVID-19 antigens, full-length spike trimer, its receptor binding domain (RBD), and nucleocapsid protein (N) at 6-month intervals up to three visits between February 2021 and December 2024. Logistic and ordinal logistic regression models evaluated predictors of seroconversion and antibody levels. Results: Overall, 51% of participants developed a SARS-CoV-2 infection, but it was mild, with only nine requiring hospital admission and no deaths. Overall, 99% of tested specimens had antibodies above threshold to either spike or RBD proteins. Specimens that did not and those with lower antibody levels had testing earlier in the pandemic, and were from participants with fewer vaccine doses, and did not have natural infection. Age, depression, comorbidity, HCV co-infection, current substance use, CD4 count, or HIV viral load were predictive of antibody level. Those with hybrid immunity had higher antibody responses. Conclusions: In cohorts of persons with HIV-HCV coinfection and those who are ageing, we observed high rates of seroconversion to COVID-19 antigens. Antibody levels were higher among those with more vaccine doses, hybrid immunity, and later in the pandemic waves. Although 51% developed a breakthrough infection, outcomes were mild with no deaths. Full article

Hepatitis delta (HDV) infection affects 5% of hepatitis B (HBV)-positive patients and is associated with an increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma; however, it remains underdiagnosed. The first part of our Delta Describe study highlights the insufficient level of HDV screening among patients in metropolitan France. In this study, we report on their real-world management. Patients with at least one positive HDV RNA test performed in 2019 were identified through the major public and private laboratories in France. From January 2024 to July 2025, informed patients were interviewed, and physicians supplemented the collected data. A total of 547 patients were included, with a median age of 44 years; most originated from Africa or Eastern Europe. HIV and hepatitis C coinfections were reported in 15.2% and 4.6% of patients, respectively. Liver fibrosis was primarily assessed using FibroScan^®. Most patients knew the year of their delta diagnosis, and 69.1% knew their fibrosis stage. Liver-related events occurred in 14.3% (67/468) of patients, mainly comprising portal hypertension (61.6%), liver failure (12.3%), and hepatocellular carcinoma (26%), and 45 patients (45/468) underwent liver transplantation. At the time of the survey, 47.1% of the patients reported undetectable HDV RNA; 40.6% (222/547) had currently or previously undergone BLV treatment. Among patients receiving ongoing treatment for HDV at the time of the survey, 84.8% were receiving nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUCs). In metropolitan France, HDV patients had access to specialized follow-up care and innovative therapies (bulevirtide), were mostly on NUCs, and demonstrated good disease awareness. Full article

Background and Objectives: Accurate assessment of liver fibrosis is essential for treatment decisions in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Although liver biopsy is considered the reference standard, its invasive nature limits routine use. Serum-based non-invasive fibrosis scores have been proposed as alternatives; however, their diagnostic performance in CHB remains variable. This study aimed to compare multiple serum-based non-invasive fibrosis scores with liver biopsy findings and to evaluate their association with histological activity. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 219 adult patients with CHB who underwent liver biopsy with simultaneous laboratory evaluation. Patients with viral co-infections (HIV, HCV, or HDV), metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, hepatic steatosis, or incomplete data were excluded. Non-invasive fibrosis scores—including APRI, FIB-4, AST/ALT ratio (AAR), age–platelet index (API), GGT-to-platelet ratio (GPR), Lok index, modified Forns index, Albumin–Bilirubin (ALBI) score, and red cell distribution width (RDW)-based indices—were calculated using routine laboratory parameters. Histopathological fibrosis staging served as the reference standard. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and areas under the curve (AUC) were compared using the DeLong test. Associations with histological activity index (HAI) were assessed using Spearman correlation. Results: For the prediction of significant fibrosis (≥F2), FIB-4 demonstrated the highest AUC, followed by ALBI and APRI. For advanced fibrosis (≥F3), FIB-4 again showed the highest AUC, followed by APRI and GPR. For significant fibrosis (≥F2), DeLong analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between FIB-4 and the other serum-based scores (p > 0.05). APRI (r = 0.556, p < 0.001) and FIB-4 (r = 0.463, p < 0.001) showed the strongest correlations with HAI. In ROC analysis for moderate-to-severe histological activity (HAI ≥ 4), APRI demonstrated the highest diagnostic accuracy (AUC = 0.677). Conclusions: Serum-based non-invasive fibrosis scores demonstrate comparable but overall modest diagnostic performance for biopsy-confirmed fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Indices such as FIB-4 and APRI demonstrated relatively better discrimination and may be considered as screening or rule-out tools in selected clinical contexts. APRI and FIB-4 also show associations with histological activity; however, their clinical application should be interpreted with caution, given their moderate discriminatory capacity. Full article

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains a significant public health threat, responsible for 1.6 million deaths in 2021. The development of new treatments is particularly urgent for immunocompromised individuals, including those with Mtb/HIV coinfection, who experience severe disease outcomes. Previous studies demonstrated that blockade of VEGFR1, a receptor expressed on monocytes that mediates their recruitment to infection sites, limits Mtb-induced pathology in immunocompetent mice of both Mtb-resistant (C57BL/6J) and Mtb-susceptible (B6.C3H-sst1) strains. The present study extends these findings by evaluating the VEGFR1/2 blockade strategy in immunocompromised hosts. Treatment with the VEGFR1/2 blocker SU5416 (semaxanib) reduced monocyte infiltration into the lungs of Mtb-infected immunocompromised RAG1KO mice without affecting bacterial protection. Reduced monocyte recruitment improved lung pathology. VEGFR1/2 blockade also decreased the number of NK cells in the lungs of RAG1KO mice. Notably, an elevated ratio and increased absolute number of neutrophil granulocytes were observed in the Mtb-infected lungs of both immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice following SU5416 administration. However, this increase in neutrophils did not exacerbate lung pathology, as most recruited granulocytes remained within the lung vasculature. The beneficial effect of VEGFR1/2 blockade in RAG1KO animals suggests that further investigation of VEGFR blockers, such as SU5416, as adjunctive therapy to anti-tuberculosis drug regimens for immunocompromised populations with tuberculosis is warranted. Full article