Research on HIV infection and how the virus behaves. Covers viral persistence, prevention policy, adolescent consent, and how HIV infects cells.
In sub-Saharan Africa, MSM are a high-risk group for HIV infection, with prevalence rates often 10 times higher than in the general population. The lack of access to vital services, including condoms and education, exacerbates the issue.
A randomized trial in Uganda found that circumcision of HIV-infected men did not reduce HIV transmission to female partners. The study enrolled 922 uncircumcised men and their female partners, with a higher proportion of women infected in the intervention group.
Researchers found that prolonged HAART use can better control HBV and delay or prevent liver complications. Patients with elevated liver enzymes before treatment were at increased risk of cirrhosis, highlighting the importance of monitoring these patients.
A study by UC San Diego researchers found that over half of male clients had unprotected sex and a high prevalence of drug use. Targeted interventions are necessary to prevent HIV transmission and are crucial for addressing the shared responsibility of sexual health.
Researchers developed a lab test to predict HIV microbicide safety, identifying why some 'safe' microbicides increased HIV transmission. The test detects disruptions in the vaginal epithelial barrier, which can facilitate HIV infection.
The Centre for Vulnerable Women and Children in Dharavi, Mumbai, addresses the needs of crisis victims by prioritizing family unity. Successful intervention relies on strong partnerships with healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community organizations.
The review highlights the alarming burden of disease on Indigenous infants and children, with vaccine-preventable diseases still prevalent in many groups. Chronic diseases related to lifestyle factors have also surged, with diabetes rates 18 times higher among Aboriginal children than non-Indigenous counterparts.
Researchers discovered that HIV reduces the ability of lung cells to combat TB by increasing levels of IL-10, which elevates BCL-3 and impairs their response. This finding is crucial for developing new treatments to help people with HIV prevent or recover from TB infection.
Black gay men are more likely to have tightly interconnected sexual networks, increasing the rapid spread of HIV. Social barriers and racism contribute to these networks, perpetuating health disparities among Black gay men.
Researchers discovered that microRNA miR29 suppresses HIV replication by transporting mRNA to processing-bodies where it is stored or destroyed, reducing viral infectivity. Inhibition of miR29 enhances viral replication and infectivity.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have found a key factor controlling HIV latency, which could lead to new strategies for clearing the virus. The discovery involves DNA methylation and a host protein called MBD2, and offers hope for future therapies to reactivate latent HIV.
Researchers at EMBL have produced a three-dimensional reconstruction of immature HIV, showing its protein coat assembly in unprecedented detail. The study suggests a simple model of HIV formation, involving multiple Gag proteins interacting to form a hexameric lattice.
Researchers have identified a possible method for eradicating HIV infection by targeting two subsets of memory T-cells where the virus persists. The approach involves combining medications that prevent viral replication with drugs that stop infected cells from dividing.
Scientists discovered rapamycin's paradoxical effect on immune cells, stimulating memory CD8 T cells to respond faster and stronger to infections. This finding may lead to developing new vaccines with drugs similar to rapamycin.
Researchers will investigate the human innate immune system and its role in protecting against infections like HPV, which is more frequently associated with the genital tract. The study aims to understand how oral health plays a crucial role in overall health and why some people are better protected than others.
Scientists have identified a method to predict which HIV-positive individuals are most susceptible to deadly fungal meningitis. The study found that people with low levels of IgM memory B cells are more likely to develop the disease, suggesting a genetic predisposition.
Researchers suggest a promising approach to create an antibody-based HIV vaccine by leveraging naturally occurring broadly neutralizing antibodies. By understanding how these antibodies evolve and persist, scientists aim to develop a vaccine that can prime the body to make protective antibodies before exposure to HIV.
The Einstein Proteomics Research Center aims to identify brain proteins responsible for neurological complications in people infected with HIV, particularly those who are also addicted to drugs. The center will investigate the mechanism of HIV infection and develop biomarkers to detect neurological disease.
Top HIV/AIDS researchers at NIAID outline a test-and-treat strategy that could reduce HIV incidence by 90% within 10 years. The proposal also involves pre-exposure prophylaxis, latent virus control, and improved prevention strategies.
IDO enzyme can hinder flu vaccine efficacy by suppressing T-cell response, researchers say. The team plans to block IDO using inhibitors to build better vaccines.
A Phase IIb clinical trial shows that adding a hepatitis C protease inhibitor called telaprevir to standard therapy can significantly improve the chances of being cured, with a 67% cure rate in patients treated for 24 weeks. The treatment also reduces side effects and treatment duration compared to standard therapy alone.
A recent study published in Sexually Transmitted Diseases found that Spanish prostitutes are least likely to use condoms with their clients. The study, which surveyed 400 female sex workers, revealed that 95.5% of sex workers use condoms during vaginal sex with clients, but only 12.4% do so with their regular partners.
A recent article in Medical Decision Making suggests that the FDA is ignoring critical information on home HIV tests, which may lead to underestimating their effectiveness. The test's manufacturer is unlikely to produce a cheaper version due to retail pricing concerns.
Researchers found that almost all HIV virus was packed into macrophages in diseased cells, which are immune cells that 'eat' invading disease agents. This discovery could lead to new treatments by targeting these infected macrophages.
A two-year grant from NIMH will support the adaptation and assessment of an HIV intervention designed for young, heterosexual Latino couples. The program aims to increase condom use, monogamous relationships, and decrease risky sexual behaviors.
A new vaginal ring has been designed to prevent both HIV transmission and unintended pregnancy, offering a non-hormonal alternative to existing methods. The device combines multiple antiviral drugs and compounds that arrest sperm motility, making it a promising solution for empowering women to protect themselves.
A novel vaccine approach may have broken the impasse in developing an effective HIV vaccine by bypassing the usual path followed by vaccine developers. The technique, which uses gene transfer technology, protected monkeys from SIV infection and produced long-lived neutralizing activity.
The study reveals that interleukin-21 is a crucial protein for the cross-talk between killer T-cells and helper T-cells. Its absence leads to failure of the immune system's anti-viral efforts, resulting in uncontrolled infections.
A recent clinical trial found that acyclovir, a widely used herpes treatment, did not reduce the risk of HIV transmission when taken by individuals with both HIV and HSV-2. However, the study did show a significant reduction in genital ulcers and modest decrease in HIV levels.
Researchers found that interleukin-21 (IL-21) sustains T-cells' ability to mount an immune response during long-lasting infection. Without IL-21, CD8 T-cells dwindle, preventing the immune system from containing viral spread.
A team of Penn State entomologists is searching for an insect disease that will infect mosquitoes and impair their sense of smell. By doing so, they hope to reduce the ability of infected mosquitoes to find human hosts and transmit malaria.
The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) has significantly contributed to the scientific understanding of HIV/AIDS through its 25 years of behavioral and biological data. Key findings include identifying unique features of long-term non-progressors, managing HIV treatment, and the link between viral load and progression of HIV disease.
Researchers at UCSF found that anal human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with a higher risk of new HIV infection in previously HIV-negative men who have sex with men. The study suggests that HPV enhances susceptibility to HIV infection through anatomical and immunological mechanisms.
A study of liver transplant patients found that HIV positive individuals have similar survival rates to those who are HIV negative. However, co-infection with hepatitis C virus significantly predicts poorer outcomes in this patient group, emphasizing the need for targeted antiviral therapy.
Researchers found that HIV antibodies face obstacles in blocking infection, with a narrow window of opportunity for effective binding due to the virus's low spike density. This finding highlights potential challenges for developing an effective vaccine against HIV.
A humanized mouse infected with HIV has enabled researchers to test antiviral protection against AIDS. The study shows that pre-exposure treatment and post-exposure treatment can prevent both vaginal and rectal transmission of the virus.
The new guidelines outline advances in diagnostic tests, treatments, and preventive care for HIV-infected individuals. Effective antiretroviral therapy is crucial in preventing and managing opportunistic infections.
Researchers discover HIV counteracts human cell protection by marking proteins for rapid destruction, but not in rats. Disrupting this interaction could be a promising strategy for therapy to increase cells' protective mechanisms.
A study by the University of California, San Diego found that 67% of injection drug users in Tijuana test positive for TB, which increases their risk for HIV infection. The analysis highlights the urgent need for TB screening and treatment for this high-risk population.
Researchers studying HIV-infected individuals with effective HLA genes found that the virus mutates and evolves in response to immune pressure. The study suggests that a successful vaccine should induce responses to multiple epitopes, or combinations of HLA molecule and viral protein.
Researchers found that HIV's invisibility comes at a cost: reduced replication, and only in certain individuals with specific HLA proteins
A recent study found that HIV-positive patients are entering care with lower initial CD4 cell counts and often require antiretroviral therapy soon after diagnosis. The trend suggests the virus has become more virulent, with a significant increase in patients requiring treatment before reaching the threshold of 350 CD4 cells/mm³.
New data from Ugandan scientists find that adult male circumcision decreases rates of herpes and human papillomavirus (HPV), two most common sexually transmitted infections. Circumcision is linked to a 25% reduction in HPV risk and a third reduction in HPV risk, according to researchers at the University of Washington.
A study found that medically supervised male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of acquiring genital herpes (HSV-2) and human papillomavirus (HPV), but has no effect on syphilis. Circumcision was also associated with a 28% lower risk of HSV-2 infection and a 35% reduced prevalence of HPV.
Researchers have discovered a cellular process that seeks out and fights Type 1 herpes simplex virus. The study, published in Nature Immunology, found that the nuclear membrane of infected cells can unmask the virus and stimulate the immune system to disintegrate it.
Increased schooling across sub-Saharan Africa may lower new HIV infections among younger adults, contradicting previous views of education as an AIDS risk factor. Formal education appears to reduce the risk of HIV infections by up to 34 percent in some countries.
A team of scientists has developed an automated carbohydrate synthesizer, allowing them to build complex carbohydrates in a few hours. This innovation could lead to the creation of new vaccines and treatments for diseases such as malaria and HIV.
A study found nearly 100 genes that support the replication of HCV and show that blocking several of them can suppress viral replication in cultured cells. Targeting these human genes could provide an alternative therapeutic strategy for patients with chronic HCV infection.
Researchers find suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) activates latent HIV in cells and blood samples, potentially improving upon HAART treatment. This breakthrough offers new hope for eradicating the virus.
Scientists have developed a new technology to isolate dozens of HIV-specific antibodies from a single individual, allowing for the first time to study natural antibody-mediated HIV neutralization. This breakthrough may prove important in understanding how effective HIV-neutralizing antibodies arise during infection.
A clinical trial involving over 3,000 women found a vaginal microbicide gel to be 30% effective in preventing HIV infection in women. The study, known as HPTN 035, demonstrated promise for an HIV prevention method that women can initiate.
Leading scientists issue a challenge to find a way to purge latent HIV infection and eliminate the need for chronic therapy. A drug-free remission goal requires understanding of persistent infection reservoirs and combination approaches.
Researchers at NYU College of Dentistry have been awarded a five-year grant to investigate the cooperative interactions between HIV viruses that aid in replication and disease persistence. The team aims to understand how these interactions speed up virus evolution, which could lead to new ways of slowing or stopping HIV replication.
Researchers have successfully infected pig-tailed macaques with a human version of HIV, creating an animal model for studying prevention methods. The new strain, simian-tropic HIV-1 (stHIV-1), can spread almost as quickly as in humans and persists for several months.
A new study compares cholesterol treatment in HIV patients and those without HIV, finding that lipid-lowering therapies are effective but not as effective as in non-HIV patients. The study suggests using fibrates with NNRTIs to manage triglyceride levels in HIV patients.
A study found that only 5% of released inmates filled an initial prescription for antiretroviral therapy within 10 days, highlighting significant barriers to accessing care. The majority experienced treatment interruptions lasting at least 30 or 60 days, increasing the risk of drug resistance and community transmission.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University's Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute have developed a vaccine that targets HIV in its early stages of infection. The vaccine, which involves creating resistance by programming the immune system to recognize HIV, showed protection in one-third of subjects in animal studies.
A new study reveals that the majority of US states have laws consistent with or neutral toward the CDC's revised HIV testing guidelines. Despite concerns about opt-out screening, the study finds protections for patient autonomy are not required by state laws in many cases.
A recent clinical trial found that the investigational vaginal gel PRO 2000 showed encouraging signs of success, with a 30% effectiveness rate in preventing HIV infection. The Phase II/IIb trial enrolled over 3,000 women and tested two candidate microbicides, one of which boosted the natural acidity of the vagina to inactivate pathogens.
A new mathematical model predicts that pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could substantially reduce the lifetime risk of HIV infection, but its cost-effectiveness varies depending on target population and drug costs. With modest improvements, PrEP might be as effective as other public health interventions.