Articles tagged with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
A new study found TB preventive treatment to be effective in six countries with high TB and HIV rates, demonstrating program data showing scale-up impact. The study supports the critical role of TB preventive treatment in HIV care programs, highlighting the importance of sustained funding for global health programs.
The five-year Brain-FRAMe program aims to improve clinical care and brain health for people with HIV and active methamphetamine use disorder through innovative, multidisciplinary treatment approaches. The program investigates the combined efficacy of long-acting injectable ART and medication for addiction treatment.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have made a groundbreaking discovery in animal models that a one-time treatment regimen can permanently clear HIV from newborns. The study's findings have the potential to advance quickly to human clinical trials, offering new hope for millions of people worldwide who require lifelong t...
A Northwestern University study found that viral reservoirs in a proxy animal model of HIV share features with immune-suppressive tumor microenvironments, suggesting that future HIV cure strategies may benefit from traditional cancer therapy approaches. By examining the broader tissue microenvironment, researchers identified shared bio...
As more Americans with HIV age into Medicare eligibility, costs are expected to increase substantially. The study projects nearly 200,000 beneficiaries by 2035 and $27.3 billion in annual spending. Policy changes like the Inflation Reduction Act could save billions, while generic HIV medications may further reduce costs.
Researchers found that people with well-controlled HIV have more fibrosis in their fat tissues, leading to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The study also identified a blood marker of scarred fat, which may help predict metabolic future for individuals with HIV.
Researchers at UC Davis identified a naturally occurring metabolite, 10-hydroxystearic acid (10-HSA), that repairs gut damage caused by HIV infection. Combining 10-HSA with standard antiretroviral therapy improved viral suppression and helped rebuild gut immune defenses in animal models of AIDS.
An international clinical trial has shown that a once-weekly oral treatment for HIV is non-inferior to one of today's leading daily therapies. The Phase 3 ISLEND-1 trial evaluated a tablet combining islatravir and lenacapavir in adults with well-controlled HIV, demonstrating over 93% viral suppression in both groups.
A UMBC researcher is exploring the effects of two key HIV prevention drugs in colon tissue, seeking to understand why they work better for some people than others. The study aims to provide knowledge that could lead to better dosing strategies and improved formulations, making PrEP more effective.
The US government's withdrawal of funding for global HIV programs led to a sharp reduction in the number of people entering HIV care across East Africa. New patient enrollment dropped by 59% and viral load testing declined by 33% within weeks, according to findings from researchers at UC San Francisco.
The study found that the funding freeze disrupted sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV service interruptions, mental health crises, and growing inequities. Researchers propose diversified global health financing, stronger domestic preparedness, and rights-based approaches to mitigate future policy shocks.
The HIV/AIDS response program in Brazil has lost momentum as the social movement becomes depoliticized, with activists focusing on basic issues like access to food and housing. The study suggests that technological advances and medicalization of policies have contributed to this trend.
A new award will help advance the proof-of-concept work toward commercialization of an at-home HIV test that detects cases not caught by lab tests. The device, called Click Chemistry Amplified Nanopore (CAN) sensing, has shown promising results in early studies.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have made progress toward a long-sought vaccine capable of broad protection against HIV. The new approach, called germline-targeting sequential immunization, guides precursor B cells to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies that can recognize and block many different HIV strains.
Researchers developed a two-page decision aid to help patients weigh options between daily pill and injectable PrEP treatments without feeling judged. The tool targets an awareness gap in PrEP usage, with only 36% of eligible Americans taking the treatment.
A new project aims to create realistic AI-powered digital twins of people who use drugs to improve public health responses to HIV, hepatitis C and overdose. The 'AMPLIFY' project will combine community perspectives with cutting-edge AI tools to help health departments allocate resources more effectively and save lives.
NYU Langone Health has performed the world's first HIV-positive-to-HIV-positive lung transplant, expanding options for patients with limited donor availability. The successful surgery marks a significant milestone for the HIV-positive community and represents progress in creating equity in organ transplantation.
A new study by UC San Francisco found that women with HIV are more likely to die from preventable trauma-related conditions like substance use and mental illness. The researchers say these causes are largely missing from official death records, highlighting the need for broader goals in HIV care beyond just controlling the virus.
A study led by Northwestern University identified a new biological culprit behind cognitive decline in people with HIV: the degradation of protective sugar molecules. Flu drugs preserved these sugar molecules and protected the brain in lab and mouse studies.
A University of Mississippi-led study reveals counties in the US Deep South with high HIV rates and limited access to prevention tools. Public health leaders can use a prevention gap index to identify areas for targeted intervention and allocate resources effectively.
A recent study found that semaglutide, a widely used GLP-1 drug, slows down the accumulation of biological aging markers in adults with HIV. The treatment reduced chronic immune activation, visceral and ectopic fat, and reprogrammed certain cells, which may help explain its effects on multiple aging clocks.
Researchers found that HIV-associated protein gp120 increases nerve receptor activity, leading to increased pain sensitivity. Targeting this mechanism with drugs or genetic approaches may alleviate chronic pain associated with HIV, and could also treat other conditions.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute developed an experimental vaccine that leads to broadly protective HIV antibodies in every rhesus macaque tested, a reliable outcome for vaccination alone.
A Tulane University study found that long-term antiretroviral treatments did not fully restore key immune functions to protect and repair the gut lining in nonhuman primates with SIV. The researchers discovered that diet-derived compounds from vegetables like broccoli and cabbage may support immune activity involved in gut repair.
A nationally representative survey of empaneled adults found that most Americans understand how STIs spread, but there are significant gaps in public knowledge about which infections can be prevented through vaccination. The survey also revealed strong awareness of common transmission pathways and some basic facts about STIs.
A study found that adolescents aware of their state's minor consent laws were more likely to seek and receive HIV and other sexually transmitted infections testing. Teens who accurately knew their legal capacity to consent to healthcare services had higher testing rates.
A recent study by Rockefeller University researchers provides the most comprehensive view to date of how HIV-1 escapes broadly neutralizing antibodies. The study identified over 100 mutations that enable viral strains to resist these antibodies, with some requiring only a single amino acid change.
A clinical trial found that adding molecular tests on urine and stool samples did not speed up treatment initiation or reduce mortality in hospitalized patients with HIV. The study showed no significant difference in treatment initiation within 72 hours between the expanded screening group and the standard group.
Researchers found that accelerated biological aging of a type of white blood cell called monocytes is linked to cognitive and mood-related symptoms of depression. This discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and personalized treatment for depression, particularly in high-risk populations such as women with HIV.
A new vaccine strategy has generated antibodies capable of neutralising highly divergent HIV variants in an animal model. The study provides new insights into how the immune system can be guided towards a particularly protected part of the virus, which is important for developing an effective HIV vaccine.
A Rutgers Health-led survey found that 68% of people living with HIV prefer long-acting injections, but only 2.8% actually received them. The study identified factors limiting adoption, including pill burden, detectable viral load, and provider bias.
Researchers identified previously undescribed triggers of rare broadly neutralizing antibodies in people living with HIV. The study found that interactions between the immune system and other infections may be linked to how the body responds to HIV.
A study found that HAART led to a resurgence of syphilis in the US, with increases concentrated among men. The availability of HIV treatments improved survival but also changed sexual behavior and public health effects.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes identified hundreds of human genes influencing HIV infection and two potent antiviral proteins, PI16 and PPID. These proteins block HIV's entry into T cells or limit its ability to replicate within the cell.
Researchers found that antiretroviral therapy reduces accelerated biological ageing in people with HIV by nearly four years. The plasma proteomic ageing clock tool estimated biological age and showed a statistically significant mean reduction of 3.7 years.
A new study found that children who start primary school at older ages completed more years of schooling, had greater wealth in adulthood, and fewer teen pregnancies. This delay allowed them to develop greater literacy and was associated with better health outcomes, including lower rates of HIV infection and child death.
Researchers at Scripps Research create a nanodisc platform that preserves key parts of viral surface proteins, allowing for better understanding of antibody interactions. This approach can be applied to other viruses with similar membrane-embedded proteins, such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
A new study found that 10-20% of patients who stopped taking daily HIV medication were able to control the virus on their own, thanks to the interaction between antibodies and T cells. The researchers plan to investigate how to strengthen these immune mechanisms to develop a treatment for everyone.
Researchers at Linköping University found that an existing medication can restore immune cell function in people with HIV. The study showed that the medication blocks type I interferon and restored the function of immune cells, potentially improving health outcomes.
A new study reveals two specific genes that act like security locks to keep the virus asleep in some individuals who naturally control HIV even after stopping therapy. Metformin, a common diabetes drug, can activate one of these locks to keep the virus in its dormant state.
Rice bioengineer Omid Veiseh has been awarded a $2.2 million grant to develop implantable cell factory platforms that can deliver therapeutic antibodies over extended periods. The platform aims to reduce dosing frequency and improve access to biologic therapies in low- and middle-income countries.
A York University-led study used machine-learning models to analyze 64 immune biomarkers in people with and without HIV who received COVID-19 vaccines. The researchers found clear vaccine-initiated immune response biomarkers between the two groups, but also identified outliers that provide insights into the complex nature of the immune...
A new tool, HIV-seq, has been developed to profile rare HIV-infected cells from people with HIV. The tool has recovered and analyzed more HIV-infected cells and higher numbers of HIV RNA within those infected cells. The study has identified key differences in people's HIV-infected cells before versus after starting antiretroviral therapy.
A new, daily oral tablet that combines two current HIV treatment medications has shown highly effective control of the HIV virus in a phase 3 clinical trial. Nearly 96% of participants maintained viral control with no new drug resistance reported.
A new daily oral tablet combining bictegravir and lenacapavir (BIC/LEN) was found to be highly effective in maintaining HIV suppression, with nearly 96% of participants who switched to this simplified regimen maintaining viral suppression. The treatment showed similar results compared to complex, multi-pill treatments.
Researchers have successfully isolated and grown authentic reservoir clones (ARCs) that evade the immune system, providing new insights into how to eliminate them. The study suggests that potent CTLs can catch these cells during brief windows of HIV visibility, slowly shrinking the reservoir.
Researchers developed a new single-cell transcriptomic clock called Tictock to measure aging in specific immune cells. The study found that COVID-19 and HIV alter T cell composition and accelerate the biological age of naïve CD8 T cells, while long-term antiretroviral therapy stabilizes T cell proportions.
Scientists at the University of Delaware discovered a previously unknown structural role for the HIV integrase protein, which forms gluey filaments that anchor the RNA genome to the capsid. This discovery provides a promising new target for drug development and could lead to the development of next-generation inhibitors.
Researchers developed antibody–drug conjugates that combine CD4 mimic and neutralizing antibodies to target HIV entry, showing seven times better efficacy than existing approaches. The strategy aims to block HIV before it enters the host cell, offering a more targeted therapeutic profile and potentially reducing adverse effects.
A new study found that tuberculosis is a major cause of deadly sepsis among people living with HIV, particularly in Africa. Early treatment of TB has been shown to significantly reduce sepsis deaths, with a 23% reduction in mortality rate.
Research reveals disparities in access to PrEP among young cisgender females and males, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve HIV prevention. The study analyzed data from over 7,000 visits to a Boston-based clinic, finding that only 17% of visits received PrEP for under-age females.
A multinational clinical trial found that the long-term HIV treatment regimen is safe and favored by adolescents who received injectable intramuscular antiviral medications cabotegravir and rilpivirine. The study showed continued viral suppression after 48 weeks with no major safety concerns.
A team at Texas Biomedical Research Institute found that even with effective treatments for TB and HIV, the immune system remains seriously out-of-whack following treatment. The study suggests that host-directed therapies specifically targeting the immune system could potentially restore lung immune system functionality.
A study found that switching to electronic medical records at HIV clinics in Malawi led to a 28% reduction in deaths after five years, with the greatest impact on children. The introduction of EMR systems prevented approximately 5,050 AIDS deaths and improved healthcare efficiency.
Researchers will investigate how HIV and cancer drugs damage brain cells over time, identifying potential early biomarkers of neurotoxicity. They will use human brain organoids grown in the lab to mimic brain physiology.
A new modeling study suggests that regular testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can successfully reduce their spread, even if individuals on PrEP engage in riskier behavior. The paradoxical findings highlight the importance of careful surveillance data interpretation when evaluating public health interventions.
A reduced pledge by Canada to the Global Fund could lead to decreased success in controlling tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in the country. The authors of an editorial urge Canada's government to invest in improving social determinants of health and implement disease-specific suggestions to address these pressing global health issues.
Experts Gregory Folkers and Anthony Fauci highlight promising therapeutic developments in antiretroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS. The authors emphasize the need for continued research to end the AIDS epidemic, citing recent advances as unfinished business.
A new combination therapy approach enabled seven out of ten participants to keep the virus at low levels for many months after going off antiretroviral therapy. The results suggest a possible cure for HIV and offer a proof of concept that this approach could work.
Experts emphasize powerful therapeutics and successful programs like Global Fund and PEPFAR have saved millions of lives. However, funding pauses led to thousands of deaths, and further action is needed to avoid millions more HIV infections and deaths.