Research on HIV infection and how the virus behaves. Covers viral persistence, prevention policy, adolescent consent, and how HIV infects cells.
A new study shows natural killer cells can contribute to HIV immune response, suggesting an additional cell type with anti-HIV activity. Researchers found that HIV strains infecting individuals with specific NK cell receptors had variant forms of viral proteins, implying the virus mutates to avoid NK cell activity.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a new, more potent form of the HIV-fighting protein cyanovirin-N by linking two proteins together. The engineered protein, called CVN2L0, is 18 times more effective at preventing infection than the naturally occurring single protein and neutralizes all 33 subtypes of HIV tested against it.
The study estimates that around 10 million injecting drug users globally are infected with HCV, while 1.3 million have HBV infection. The authors emphasize the need for increased attention to viral hepatitis in IDUs and enhanced access to treatments.
The article highlights the connection between neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and HIV/AIDS, proposing ways to integrate NTD treatment programs with HIV/AIDS initiatives. Studies show that areas with high NTD infection rates also have high HIV/AIDS prevalence, and co-infections can exacerbate HIV/AIDS.
A new study suggests that adopting the World Health Organization's treatment initiation criteria for HIV-infected individuals would significantly reduce the country's HIV incidence, extend life-years, and ultimately save money. By starting ART earlier, South Africa could prevent more than 120,000 additional life-years by 2040.
Researchers from BUSM and BMC will implement a clinical model to coordinate narcology and HIV systems of care in Russia, aiming to increase engagement in medical care among HIV-infected IDUs. The LINC project aims to address the missed opportunity of delayed or non-receipt of HIV medical care in Russia.
Cell biologists from the University of Zurich have identified the infection mechanism for type-5 adenoviruses, revealing that viruses use scavenger cells to trigger an immune response and expose shielded receptors on lung epithelial cells. This discovery has implications for both gene therapy and cancer treatment.
A new study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that 30-40% of women in Sudan, Uganda, and Congo do not want more children, yet only 4-16% use modern contraception. This gap highlights the need for increased family planning services in conflict-affected regions.
A study found that only about one third of patients with HIV test positive but are not yet eligible for treatment remain in care until they become eligible and start treatment. The researchers highlight the need for better health information systems to track patients between service delivery points.
Researchers call for integrated strategies to prevent HIV infection, building on progress in vaccine research and the development of a vaginal gel. A combination of biomedical and non-biomedical approaches is seen as crucial to address the evolving landscape of HIV prevention.
The Rome Statement for an HIV Cure aims to accelerate HIV cure research by building a global consensus on the state of HIV reservoirs and defining scientific priorities. The strategy recognizes the importance of developing a safe, accessible, and scalable HIV cure as a therapeutic and preventive strategy against HIV infection.
The HPTN 052 study found that early initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) significantly reduces the risk of HIV transmission to uninfected partners, with a 96% reduction in transmissions. Early cART also benefits the infected individual by maintaining higher CD4 counts and reducing HIV-related illnesses or death.
Scientists at UNC are developing new treatments to prevent sexual transmission of HIV, building on significant progress made in measures to prevent infection. The project aims to explore candidate drugs and experimental compounds that can be tested in humanized BLT mice.
The Partners PrEP Study and the CDC's TDF2 study found significant reductions in HIV infections among participants taking antiretroviral drugs. The VOICE study will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, with a focus on its impact on women and the optimal treatment approach.
The Partners PrEP Study demonstrates that antiretroviral medication tenofovir significantly reduces HIV infection risk in individuals at high risk. The study found that those who received daily tablets containing tenofovir or a combination of tenofovir and emtricitabine experienced fewer HIV infections than those who received a placebo.
A new study has revealed that Trichomonas vaginalis is more than twice as common in women aged 40 and older, with 13% of women in this age group infected. The infection can lead to severe health problems if left untreated, including pelvic inflammatory disease and premature labor.
The University of North Carolina will lead a national effort to find a cure for AIDS by developing ways to purge the latent HIV virus from patients' immune systems. The five-year grant aims to better understand where and how the virus is established, and how to eliminate it.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded over $14 million in grants to three research teams focused on developing strategies to eradicate HIV reservoirs. The grants aim to develop proteins that directly attack these reservoirs, as well as study immune cells' resistance to the virus.
A new $20 million, five-year study will test transplantation of gene-modified immune cells to deny HIV entry into the body's blood cells. Researchers aim to develop tools to eradicate existing reservoirs of infection and potentially eliminate the disease.
A new Cardiff University study aims to develop a vaccine patch targeting immune cells in the skin to boost the body's response and prevent HIV transmission. The research uses microneedles to modulate dendritic cells, increasing their potency and inducing immunity.
Researchers identified a new gonorrhea strain, H041, with extreme resistance to cephalosporin-class antibiotics. This discovery poses a significant threat to public health as the last remaining effective treatments are no longer effective against the bacterium.
A new combination therapy of rifapentine and isoniazid, taken once weekly for three months, has been shown to be as effective as traditional daily treatment in preventing latent tuberculosis in people with and without HIV. The study found that 95% of participants completed the treatment, compared to 60% or less with traditional therapy.
Researchers identified a key virus-sensing mechanism necessary for a successful immune response against retroviruses, including HIV. The study found that sensing of early stages of retroviral infection is sufficient to induce an efficient immune response.
Researchers have discovered a cellular factor called SAMHD1 that inhibits HIV infection in myeloid cells, part of the body's immune system. This discovery may help explain why some individuals can control HIV better than others and could provide a basis for new therapies to block HIV replication.
A recent study found that HIV infection in astrocytes breaks down the blood-brain barrier, leading to cognitive impairment and other neurological complications. The researchers suggest that minute numbers of infected astrocytes can trigger a cascade of signals that open the brain to toxic influences.
Researchers have discovered a way sooty mangabeys' immune cells resist SIV infection: they close the gates that viruses use to enter cells. This finding may lead to better coping strategies for HIV-infected individuals.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a sugar-binding protein called galectin-9 that traps PDI on T-cells' surface, making them more susceptible to HIV infection. This finding may lead to the development of new anti-HIV therapeutics by inhibiting PDI or galectin-9.
A new analysis found mortality from all causes to be higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. The study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, compared mortality rates among 9,378 adults with and without hepatitis C and found a two-fold increased risk of death from both liver- and non-liver related causes.
A study published at SNM's 58th Annual Meeting found that molecular imaging, specifically FDG-PET scans, can effectively diagnose the cause of fever of unknown origin. The research suggests that FDG-PET may improve patients' prognosis and cut healthcare costs by providing a non-invasive diagnostic tool.
Researchers at NIH have demonstrated how to reactivate immune cells exhausted by chronic HIV using siRNA-based approach. This breakthrough may lead to improved human antibody responses against HIV and other pathogens.
AIDS-related cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, is a frequent harbinger of HIV, with FSU scientist Dr. Fanxiu Zhu leading research on the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) to develop targeted therapies. His work focuses on viral proteins, including ORF45, which plays a crucial role in infection and immune evasion.
A recent study found that high out-of-pocket costs were a significant factor in the public's willingness to use PrEP, outweighing its effectiveness in preventing HIV infection. Participants expressed a desire for a 100% effective pill and reported concerns over sexual risk disinhibition and stigma associated with PrEP use.
A new UCSF study finds no evidence of a mouse virus in human blood, contradicting previous claims that it caused Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The study suggests the virus was detected in contaminated laboratory samples, and scientists need to continue searching for the real cause of the illness.
Researchers have identified a novel hepatitis C-like virus in dogs, providing new insights into the origins of the human disease. The discovery offers renewed hope for developing a model system to study HCV's mechanisms and may lead to the development of drugs and vaccines.
China's nationwide HIV treatment coverage has increased to 63.4%, while mortality among eligible patients has fallen by 60%. However, targeting injecting drug users, those infected sexually, and men remains crucial for further improvement.
Researchers have developed a novel, topically-applied molecular microbicide that uses RNA interference (RNAi) to prevent HIV transmission. The microbicide was tested in mice and found to provide long-lasting protection against HIV infection, opening the door to developing an intravaginal microbicide for women's protection.
Researchers developed CD4 aptamer-siRNA chimeras that inhibit HIV infection in primary cells and humanized mice. These agents protect against vaginal transmission of HIV when applied vaginally to humanized mice.
A UNC-led study found that early initiation of antiretroviral treatment in people infected with HIV can prevent them from transmitting the virus to their partners. The study showed a 96% reduction in HIV transmission to partners among those treated promptly, highlighting the critical impact of early treatment on preventing the spread o...
A major randomized clinical trial found that treating an HIV-infected individual can significantly reduce the risk of sexual transmission of HIV to an uninfected partner. The study, known as HPTN 052, demonstrated a 96% reduction in transmission when antiretroviral therapy was initiated early.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University developed an approach to sensitize prostate cancer cells to radiation therapy by knocking down the expression of a gene responsible for DNA repair. Meanwhile, researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College found that a multiple sclerosis drug causes adverse effects in the lungs by degrading S1P rece...
Researchers at the Ragon Institute identified variations in peptide stability that alter targeting of infected cells by CD8 T cells. The study found that specific mutations can reduce peptide stability, impairing immune response and increasing HIV resistance.
Scientists administered SIV vaccine to monkeys and found neutralizing antibodies and genetic factors correlated with protection. The vaccine reduced infection rate by 50% in some monkeys, providing evidence for immune response needed to prevent HIV infection.
A new study found that adding community mobilization activities and post-test psychosocial support services to easily accessible HIV counseling and testing programs improved initial and repeat testing rates significantly. The project detected almost four times as many HIV cases in community-based areas than clinic-only programs.
Researchers discovered that lopinavir selectively kills HPV-infected non-cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells relatively unaffected. The study suggests a potential treatment for HPV-related cervical cancer using locally applied lopinavir cream or pessary.
Research sheds light on origins of Cryptococcus neoformans, a fungal infection that causes meningitis in HIV patients. The study reveals the pathogen evolved and spread from Africa to Asia over 7,000 years ago.
Young black gay men are more likely to contract HIV due to their preference for masculine partners and misconceptions about HIV risk. Researchers found that these men perceive masculine men as lower risk, leading to increased unprotected sex with partners whose HIV status they often miscalculate.
A study found that 26.3% of symptomatic adolescent females tested positive for an STI, with chlamydia being the most common. ED providers should be aware of this association and test these patients to intervene and prevent serious long-term consequences.
Research finds that high maternal viral load and HIV co-infection are risk factors for HCV transmission to child, while a genetic variation in the IL28B gene is associated with spontaneous HCV clearance. The study analyzed 145 mothers infected with HCV and found that 61% of those with a certain IL28B variant were HCV-RNA positive.
A new study in South Africa found that HIV-positive individuals take almost as much risk in their sexual behavior when they know their partner is HIV-negative or don't know their status, as when they know their partner is already infected. Couples-based HIV counseling is recommended to address this issue and reduce transmission.
A study found that HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of heart failure, even after adjusting for traditional risk factors. Patients with high baseline HIV-1 RNA levels also showed a higher risk of heart failure.
Researchers have discovered TRIM5's mechanism of preventing HIV multiplication, which opens up new prospects for fighting the virus in humans. The protein triggers an immune response and stimulates the production of signal molecules to eliminate infected cells.
Researchers found that vaccine candidates were more efficacious against US-strain genital herpes, while African viruses required higher doses for similar protection. The study's findings offer hope for developing a potent vaccine to prevent HIV transmission in Africa.
A new study by the University of California, San Francisco suggests that treating HIV-infected adults as soon as they are diagnosed can significantly reduce the rate of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men in San Francisco. This approach is expected to cut new infections by almost 60% over five years.
Researchers found that higher levels of HIV-1 in genital secretions are associated with a greater risk of transmission between opposite-sex couples, independent of blood levels. The study's findings offer insight into the biology of infection spread and suggest new strategies for prevention.
The National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research has launched its new identity as the Kirby Institute, with a focus on broader work beyond HIV. The institute has received a $10m donation from The Atlantic Philanthropies to support new facilities and research.
Researchers present promising entry inhibitors, a new mechanism of action for treating viral hepatitis B and D infections. These drugs could provide the first new treatments in many years and have shown high effectiveness against HBV infection, reducing markers by 90%.
Researchers propose engineered virus-like particles that can subdue HIV infection in individuals and spread to high-risk populations, potentially lowering the prevalence of infection. The treatment could be used in conjunction with current antiretroviral therapies or vaccine campaigns.
Elevated p21 protein levels in natural HIV controllers effectively suppress key viral life cycle steps. This ability is associated with increased p21 expression and may be linked to shared mechanisms of immune defense against cancer and HIV.
A new oral HIV preventive drug regimen has shown promising results with a near 50% reduction in HIV incidence in high-risk individuals. However, more research is necessary to address ongoing monitoring of side effects, adherence and counseling needs, physician attitudes, and the effectiveness of intermittent dosing.
Research reveals T cells from elite controllers are resistant to HIV infection due to selective upregulation of p21, an enzyme inhibitor. Blocking p21 increases viral gene expression, highlighting potential treatment strategies for vulnerable patients.