Articles tagged with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
A new assay developed by NIH-supported scientists can accurately count the cells comprising the HIV reservoir, enabling researchers to understand whether their strategies are working. This advance aims to speed HIV research by allowing scientists to easily quantify the number of proviruses that must be eliminated to achieve a cure.
A study found that adolescent girls exposed to severe drought conditions in rural Lesotho had higher rates of HIV and were more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors. The researchers call for a coordinated policy to attenuate the effects of drought on HIV infection in southern Africa.
Researchers have developed a more effective treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in HIV patients, combining AmBisome with miltefosine. The combination therapy achieved parasite clearance rates of up to 88% compared to 55% with monotherapy.
A recent study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases has shown that combination therapy is highly effective in treating patients with both HIV and visceral leishmaniasis. The treatment regimen, which combines liposomal amphotericin B with the oral drug miltefosine, resulted in a 67% cure rate after 28 days of treatment.
A new 90-day vaginal ring containing tenofovir is being tested for its safety in preventing HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections. The Phase I study aims to determine the safety of the ring for three months, with results expected mid-2020.
The U=U concept has been scientifically established, showing that people with undetectable viral loads cannot transmit HIV through sex. Large clinical trials and cohort studies validate the concept, which can help control the HIV pandemic and reduce stigma.
A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that prescribed opioids increase the risk of pneumonia in individuals with and without HIV. Patients taking medium or high doses of opioid painkillers were at greater risk for pneumonia, particularly those with immunosuppressive properties.
Researchers at Michigan State University discovered that faulty SLAMF7 receptors can lead to chronic immune activation and disease-related complications in HIV patients. The finding suggests a new angle for targeting immune activation and could lead to novel drug treatments.
A randomized trial in Malawi found that providing pregnant women with HIV self-testing kits and incentivizing their male partners to test increased partner participation rates. Self-testing with financial incentives or phone reminders were particularly effective, while standalone self-testing without additional support had limited impact.
A study published in PLOS ONE finds that lay provider HIV testing is an effective way to reach people at risk of HIV who have never been tested or test infrequently. The approach resulted in a high ART initiation rate of 91% and higher HIV positivity rates compared to facility-based testing.
A new study published in Immunity shows that an experimental HIV vaccine protects rhesus macaques from infection by inducing neutralizing antibodies against a Tier 2 virus. The vaccine strategy, developed over two decades, aims to train the immune system to recognize and attack vulnerable areas on the HIV envelope protein.
Researchers found that schistosomiasis is associated with increased HIV transmission, acquisition in uninfected women, and mortality in infected women. Treating schistosomiasis may be a cost-effective way to reduce new HIV cases and death rates among HIV-positive individuals.
The NIH will fund HIV care and prevention research in counties with high rates of new HIV cases nationwide. The new initiative leverages partnerships with local health authorities and community-based groups to test sustainable interventions.
A team of researchers at Duke University Medical Center has identified a shortcut to recreate a critical HIV antibody that neutralizes the virus. By understanding the maturation pathway of this antibody, they found a strategic detour around a previous obstacle, enabling the development of more effective vaccines.
A systematic review by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that repressive policing increases the risk of violence, poorer health, and HIV/STI rates among sex workers. Reforms are urgently needed to protect their safety, health, and rights.
Researchers discovered a way to manipulate the Tat gene circuit to activate latent HIV in cells, making them susceptible to immune system destruction or drug therapies. This could lead to a cure for HIV by targeting the latent reservoir.
A new study finds that young black gay men are 16 times more likely to have an HIV infection than their white peers, despite engaging in fewer risk behaviors. The study highlights the importance of understanding social networks and access to medical care for addressing these disparities.
A study found that a gene mutation believed to have protected people from the bubonic plague may also protect HIV patients with hepatitis C from fatal liver scarring. Researchers matched patients with and without the CCR5-delta 32 gene mutation and found that those with the mutation had less fibrosis progression.
Canadian researchers found that genetic mutations affecting the HIV-1 capsid make it possible for TRIM5α to trigger an antiviral state in elite controllers, a subset of patients with strong immune systems. This mechanism could be used to develop immunity strategies against HIV.
A new smartphone and tablet application called HIVSmart! has been evaluated among an at-risk population in Montreal, showing that it is feasible and accepted by the community. The study found that 99.3% of participants who self-tested negative received counselling, while 98.8% found the app useful.
Researchers emphasize the importance of treating and preventing HIV among men, citing gaps in care due to gender norms and stigma. Innovative approaches are being explored, including workplace testing and care, ART home delivery, and expanded diagnosis and treatment for men.
Despite substantial progress, Europe still faces challenges in diagnosing HIV-positive individuals and providing antiretroviral therapy. The report highlights a significant gap between diagnosed cases and those receiving treatment, particularly in Eastern European countries.
The European Region saw a significant increase in new HIV diagnoses, with the eastern part recording over 130 000 cases. However, there is encouraging progress in the EU and EU/EEA countries, particularly among men who have sex with men, where diagnoses have declined by 20% since 2015.
A recent study found a direct link between the amount of stigma men with HIV report experiencing and their scores on cognitive tests, measuring abilities like memory and attention. The researchers suggest that addressing stigma may address cognitive impairment in this population by reducing anxiety and depression.
A new candidate HIV vaccine from Scripps Research stimulates a powerful anti-HIV antibody response in animal tests, overcoming technical hurdles that stymied previous vaccine efforts. The vaccine strategy is based on the HIV envelope protein, Env, and uses a simple method to stabilize Env proteins in the desired shape.
The ECDC Guidance promotes integrated testing strategies to reduce undiagnosed cases of hepatitis B, C, and HIV. The guidance outlines key principles, including accessibility, confidentiality, and linkage to care, to improve public health outcomes by 2030.
Scientists have identified a new DNA recombination process in Alzheimer's disease brains, producing thousands of previously unknown gene variations. The process, requiring an enzyme found in HIV, may hold a key to developing new treatments for the disease.
Nurses can collect and analyze data using smartphone applications, leading to improvements in data quality and better health outcomes for patients with HIV/AIDS. A larger selection of apps is needed to scale up mHealth innovations and combat the pandemic.
A systematic review by the Public Health Agency of Canada found that there is a negligible risk of transmitting HIV during sex when an individual has a suppressed viral load of less than 200 copies/mL. Condom use also significantly reduces transmission risk.
A study found that HIV latency differs between the gut and blood, with unique mechanisms governing transcription in each. This discovery could inform new therapies aimed at curing HIV.
A portable and affordable mobile diagnostic tool utilizing nanotechnology can detect HIV viruses from a single drop of blood. The device offers high detection precision and is suitable for individuals with limited access to medical care.
The South African National Blood Service has increased the proportion of donations from black South Africans by fivefold since 2005. This significant improvement is attributed to the implementation of individual donation nucleic acid testing (NAT), which has reduced HIV transmission risks.
A new study suggests that a monthly vaginal ring releasing dapivirine, an antiretroviral drug, poses minimal risk of developing drug-resistant HIV. The research analyzed plasma samples from women who acquired HIV during the ASPIRE Phase III trial and found no cases of dapivirine-associated resistance.
A study suggests that immunotherapy is safe and feasible for HIV-positive cancer patients. The treatment appears to be well-tolerated as long as antiretroviral therapy is continued in parallel, the key finding of the study.
Families participating in pediatric advance care planning experienced a better understanding of their child's end-of-life care choices, leading to alleviated physical symptoms. The study found that patients and families who received these sessions had significantly reduced HIV-specific symptoms up to 12 months later.
Xiuli Wang's research aims to create a single infusion therapy that can treat HIV, eliminating the need for lifelong antiretroviral drug treatment. The innovative approach combines chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells with a cytomegalovirus vaccine to stimulate the immune system.
A study found that patients with HIV are more likely to experience tuberculosis drug-related adverse events and have longer treatment durations. The researchers emphasized the importance of having resources and expertise to treat coinfected patients in areas with high HIV prevalence.
A study from Australia found a rapid decline in new HIV infections after the implementation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for men who have sex with men. The study, which followed 3,700 participants, showed a significant reduction in HIV diagnoses by 25% within one year.
Researchers studied 3.6 million pregnancies and found beta-blockers not associated with a large increase in cardiac or general birth defects. The risk estimates were generally consistent across Nordic and US data.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine aim to create ultra-long-acting antiretroviral formulations for HIV treatment and prevention. The new grant will enable them to continue and expand upon a line of work that showed promise in animal models, where the implant delivered the drug effectively for five months.
A systematic review by CDC researchers found that HIV-related stigma varies by gender, race, provider category, and clinical setting. Inadvertent behaviors and beliefs, such as homophobia and negative views of people who inject drugs, can create barriers to HIV prevention and treatment.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that fewer than half of people with HIV are retained in care three years after release from incarceration. The study suggests that better access to health insurance and transitional case-management services may improve retention in HIV care and viral suppression.
A team of nurses and physicians has received a four-year, $3 million grant to extend traditional HIV treatment protocols to improve cardiovascular health. The project aims to address the rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease among HIV patients.
Researchers identified seven specific HPV types linked to increased risk of HIV infection in a study published in PLOS ONE. The study found that individuals with any HPV type, multiple HPV types, or high-risk HPV were more likely to test positive for HIV.
A multi-institutional team has revealed new details about the HIV virus capsid structure and its role in the life cycle. Researchers found that a naturally occurring small molecule called IP6 plays an important part in both immature and mature phases of the HIV life cycle, making it a potential target for new treatments.
In a groundbreaking operation, doctors at the University of Witwatersrand performed the world's first intentional liver transplant from an HIV-positive mother to her HIV-negative child. The successful transplant has raised hopes for using this method to save additional lives. However, the team is now unsure of the child's HIV status.
A randomized controlled study found that a sexual education and skills-building program reduced the risk of new STIs by 45% among black girls aged 14 to 18. The adapted program, IMARA, will be tested in South Africa with 525 daughter-female caregiver pairs.
A study found that vedolizumab reduces formation of HIV-infected T cell clusters in the small intestines. The compound proved safe over a 30-week period, supporting its potential as a tool to eradicate HIV.
A 4-year-old boy was infected with HIV-1 after accidental exposure to the virus through his father's skin blisters during seroconversion, a period of viral replication and immune response. The transmission highlights the importance of understanding HIV transmission in atypical ways.
Researchers found that a combination of multiple antibodies targeting distinct regions of HIV can suppress the virus and prevent resistance. In a pilot clinical trial, participants who received infusions of broadly neutralizing antibodies maintained viral suppression for over 15 weeks after stopping antiretroviral therapy.
Researchers have developed a novel immunotherapy that can suppress HIV for months at a time, using a combination of two anti-HIV antibodies. The treatment, called broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), has shown promising results in clinical trials, with some patients experiencing sustained viral suppression for over four months.
A new HIV immunotherapy study has demonstrated the safety and tolerability of a cell therapy approach involving ex vivo expansion of T cells. The study found that the treatment was well-tolerated with few adverse events, although no significant enhancement of the magnitude of the HIV-specific immune response was observed.
A clinical trial is testing infusions of two potent, HIV-specific antibodies to evaluate their safety and effectiveness in suppressing HIV. The study aims to provide a potential alternative to daily antiretroviral therapy.
A special Festschrift dedicated to Dr. Mathilde Krim celebrates her life and medical career, featuring articles on HIV research and a range of scientific studies contributed by the Krim Fellows. The issue highlights key findings on CD4-HIV-1 envelope interactions and the complex role of immunoglobulin A in HIV, among other topics.
A new study found that over a quarter of HIV medical providers surveyed couldn't say whether their state had expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Providers in states that expanded Medicaid were more likely to believe the law would improve HIV outcomes, but all providers agreed it would improve overall healthcare outcomes.
A new project aims to increase HIV testing among Nigerian youth by developing and implementing innovative tools for self-testing. Researchers will use open challenges and entrepreneurship training to engage youth in creating effective HIV services.
A new study by Yale University suggests that the HIV outbreak in Scott County, Indiana, could have been drastically reduced if state officials had acted sooner on warnings. The study provides quantitative evidence that the number of undiagnosed HIV infections had already fallen substantially before a public health emergency was declared.
A large study identified 67 post-treatment controllers with low viral loads for 24 weeks or longer without medication. These individuals had lower levels of intact viral DNA and smaller viral reservoirs before treatment interruption.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill HIV Cure Center and Cell Microsystems will use the NIH grant to automate and streamline the measurement of the HIV reservoir. The team aims to accurately detect emergence of HIV after exposure to potential therapeutics and evaluate the efficacy of latency reversal therapies.
Researchers have developed a novel method to date 'hibernating' HIV strains, revealing a genetically diverse latent reservoir that can persist for decades. The study confirms the importance of understanding the timeline and characteristics of HIV in the latent reservoir for developing an effective cure.