Articles tagged with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
A South African child diagnosed with HIV at 32 days old has maintained undetectable viral levels and good health despite ART cessation at age 9.5 years, suggesting early treatment may be key to long-term remission.
A randomized trial found that same-day ART initiation improved retention (80% vs. 72%) and evidence of ART working (53% vs. 44%), with further improvements needed to hit UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. The study supports accelerating HIV testing and treatment processes.
A study conducted in the US has found that adolescent girls can safely use a dapivirine vaginal ring to prevent HIV. The ring, which contains an antiretroviral drug, was shown to be highly acceptable and easy to use, with high adherence rates among participants.
A study administered VRC01 antibody infusions to virally suppressed volunteers who initiated ART during acute HIV infection, showing a delay in viral load rebound. The results provide valuable lessons for future studies on early-treated individuals with combination broadly neutralizing antibodies.
A two-year clinic-based HIV testing program in Zimbabwe failed to identify many cases of HIV in children. The study found that 37.7% of HIV-positive children were undiagnosed, highlighting the need for alternative testing methods to reach these vulnerable populations.
The second Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey (SHIMS2) reveals significant progress in combating the HIV epidemic, with a doubling of population viral load suppression since 2011. The survey found nearly half fewer new HIV infections among adults aged 18-49 years compared to 2011.
Researchers at UNC are testing a therapeutic vaccine to target HIV reservoirs and boost the immune system's response. The goal is to potentially pair the vaccine with latency-reversing agents to clear the virus.
A nine-year-old South African child has suppressed HIV virus without anti-HIV drugs for eight and a half years, according to the NIH-funded study. The child received early limited anti-HIV treatment in infancy and was found to have maintained undetectable levels of HIV despite not receiving ongoing therapy.
A phase 2 trial found that an injectable antiretroviral therapy was as effective in maintaining viral suppression in patients with HIV as a daily oral dose over 96 weeks. The long-acting injections had similar efficacy to the daily oral medication in preventing treatment failure and drug-resistant mutations.
An investigational HIV vaccine regimen was well-tolerated and generated immune responses against HIV in healthy adults, according to the APPROACH trial. The results support further development of candidate vaccines and plans for a larger trial in southern Africa to evaluate safety and efficacy.
A new study found that over half of HIV-positive transgender women are concerned about combining antiretroviral therapy with feminizing hormone therapy due to unknown drug interactions. This concern affects their adherence to medication and treatment, highlighting the need for better health care optimization.
Researchers have successfully elicited broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) to HIV in calves by immunization, a breakthrough that may inform HIV vaccine and therapeutics design. The unique structure of bovine bNAbs, particularly the long HCDR3 loops, shows promise for promoting human immune system development.
Researchers have developed an animal model using cows to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV, which are difficult to achieve in humans. This breakthrough has the potential to accelerate the development of a more effective AIDS vaccine.
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) affect approximately one in four people living with HIV, causing symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive decline. Researchers have found elevated levels of microRNAs affecting brain development, providing a potential biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring disease progression.
Researchers found that active users are more likely to be denialists, with a core group promoting denialist views and recruiting support through interactions. The study identified a high-risk group of over 1,000 users, including those who interact with the core and are influenced by their views.
The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) has received a four-year, £12 million UK government award to develop and commercialize new HIV prevention products for women. IPM's dapivirine vaginal ring, approved in two large clinical trials, will receive regulatory support.
A massive simulation of the HIV capsid has revealed new details about how it interacts with its environment, including oscillations that transmit information between different parts. The study also found that ions flow in and out of the capsid pores, potentially creating vulnerabilities for new drug development.
Researchers at UNC have shown that interval dosing of Vorinostat can reverse latent HIV and improve detection, paving the way for further research into clearing infection. The study's findings suggest that pairing a latency reversing agent with an antiviral immune therapy may be necessary to achieve a cure.
A streamlined method of tracking medical records reduced racial disparities in HIV care, with blacks and Latinos showing significant improvements in viral suppression rates. The study found that integrated medical records improved use of anti-retroviral therapy and reduced gaps between whites and minorities in HIV health outcomes.
The HPTN 065 study found that financial incentives can motivate some people living with HIV to take their medication regularly and maintain viral load suppression. This increase in viral suppression was observed at care sites offering financial incentives, with an overall increase of 5% at the peak of the intervention.
A recent study by Columbia University found that financial incentives significantly increased viral suppression and clinic attendance among HIV-positive patients. The study showed a four-percent higher percentage of patients with suppressed virus at sites offering gift cards compared to those without.
A clinical trial found that financial incentives increased viral suppression among HIV-positive patients, but not linkage to care. The study offered gift cards as incentives and found a 3.8% higher proportion of virally suppressed patients at financial incentive sites compared to standard care sites.
A study by H. Fisher Raymond found that MSM with known HIV infection who know their viral status tend to reduce sexual risk behaviors. The results suggest a link between undetectable viral load and safer sex practices, but more research is needed to confirm this association.
A plant compound, patentiflorin A, has been discovered to be more effective against HIV than the widely used drug AZT. The compound inhibits an enzyme needed for HIV to replicate, making it a promising candidate for development into a new HIV treatment.
The NIH-funded Einstein-Rockefeller-CUNY Center for AIDS Research aims to prevent HIV transmission and develop a cure. The center will focus on behavioral science, clinical translation, biomarker discovery, and HIV vaccine development to improve population health outcomes.
Implementation of community-based testing and treatment programs was associated with increased HIV diagnosis, ART initiation, and viral suppression among HIV-positive adults. After two years, 80% of residents achieved viral suppression, and 96% had been previously diagnosed.
A recent study found that specific types of vaginal bacteria, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, can rapidly break down the active form of an HIV prevention medication, tenofovir. This degradation renders the drug less effective in preventing HIV acquisition among women.
Researchers at the University of York have found that tobacco use is more common among HIV positive individuals and can lead to a loss of up to 12 years of life. The study highlights the need for tailored interventions to tackle tobacco use among this population.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that immune cells latently infected with HIV can proliferate and replenish the virus reservoir, which is resistant to antiretroviral drug therapy. The proliferation of these reservoir cells poses a significant challenge to developing a cure for HIV.
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a test sensitive enough to detect 'hidden' HIV, which reveals that people who appear cured may still carry a larger virus reservoir than previously estimated. The test, called TZA, is faster, less labor-intensive and less expensive than existing tests.
Researchers at EMBL and ESPCI Paris have developed a new technique to rapidly sort HIV viruses, which could significantly speed up vaccine development. The system enables the analysis and sorting of hundreds of HIV viruses per second, allowing for rapid testing of millions of viral variants.
A study by Stanford Medicine researchers identifies cost-effective ways to combat HIV risk among intravenous drug users, with opioid agonist therapy and needle-syringe exchange programs showing high value. The study also found that combining these methods could avert up to 40,000 HIV infections over 20 years.
A new study published in Prevention Science found that Charlie Sheen's HIV-positive disclosure on November 17, 2015, corresponded with record levels of HIV testing, including a near-doubling in at-home rapid test sales. The study also suggests that public health leaders should consider embracing big media data for decision-making.
A special issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases focuses on HIV eradication, exploring scientific thinking behind cure strategies. Researchers from UNC and other institutions discuss challenges and priorities in key areas of HIV cure research.
New research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that the US could see a significant decline in HIV infections and prevalence if critical milestones are met. By 2025, annual new infections could drop to 12,000, marking a turning point for the epidemic.
A new study models HIV incidence, prevalence, and mortality to determine feasible targets for ending the US AIDS epidemic. Achieving a reduction of 12,000 new infections by 2025 could mark an important turning point in the epidemic, with significant declines in HIV transmission rates and related deaths.
A systematic review finds that criminalizing drug use has negative health effects, including increased HIV transmission and overdose rates. The study suggests that alternative strategies and policies are needed to address the harms associated with drug use.
The life expectancy of treated individuals with HIV in the EU and North America has increased by around a decade since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy. Projections suggest that life expectancy may approach that of the general population for those starting treatment from 2008 onwards.
The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) starts a Phase I study to test a vaginal ring containing dapivirine and levonorgestrel, aiming to provide protection against HIV and unintended pregnancy. The trial aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the dual-purpose ring.
The study discovered genetically coupled promoters in viral-host networks, presenting an additional layer of regulation between virus and host. The findings reveal a mechanism for synchronizing gene expression in synthetic gene circuitry and provide novel design principles to reverse-engineer viral circuitry.
Early findings from PopART, a clinical trial evaluating universal HIV testing and treatment, show increases in HIV awareness and ART coverage. However, challenges persist in reaching men and younger adults with HIV, highlighting the need for optimized resource allocation to accelerate progress against the global HIV epidemic.
Providers who prescribe PrEP believe their role is to support informed sexual health decisions, and the protective benefit of PrEP outweighs any potential increase in risky behavior. More than 1.2 million Americans are eligible for PrEP, but less than 100,000 have been prescribed it.
Research finds elevated immune activation during treatment is not driven by low HIV levels in the blood. Pre-treatment immune events may contribute to continued activation despite antiretroviral success.
A study found that pretreatment HIV levels and immune activation are linked to persistent inflammation during treatment, contradicting previous results. The research suggests that diagnosing HIV early may prevent elevated immune activation, leading to health problems like heart disease.
A new behavioral intervention program called HOLA en Grupos has been shown to increase condom use and HIV testing among Latino MSM, reducing the risk of infection. The program achieved a 100% retention rate and significant increases in knowledge and skills, providing a promising solution for addressing this growing public health concern.
Researchers found that defective forms of HIV create proteins recognized by cytotoxic T cells, which can distract the immune system from functional viruses. This discovery could help develop a vaccine to boost immunity against HIV.
Research found that defective HIV proviruses can produce viral proteins, reducing the effective immune response and interfering with HIV cure. This discovery highlights a previously unknown obstacle in HIV treatment and may lead to new courses of therapy.
A new Northwestern University study finds that teaching positive emotion skills to men with HIV reduces their viral load and improves mental health. The intervention, which consisted of eight weekly sessions, also led to increased happiness and a stronger immune system.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine have found that HIV persists in macrophage cells, a type of white blood cell, which has significant implications for HIV cure research. This discovery demonstrates that two types of cells may be targets for therapeutic intervention to eradicate the virus.
Researchers at TSRI have found a way to tether HIV-fighting antibodies to immune cells, creating a cell population resistant to the virus. This technique could potentially cure HIV by quickly replacing diseased cells.
Case Western Reserve University researchers aim to combat chronic inflammation by targeting oral complications in HIV patients, which can lead to malnourishment and further weaken the immune system. The team will investigate regulatory T-cells and study tissues from HIV-positive patients taking common antiretroviral drugs.
Researchers used financial math models to accurately predict changes in HIV surface proteins over 30 years. By analyzing structural properties and 'volatility,' they can design vaccines that match the virus's evolving targets.
A new study projects that a culturally adapted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program promoting alcohol abstinence among HIV-infected residents in Kenya could save $628,000 over five years. The program uses trained paraprofessionals with limited training to deliver the intervention, which boosts alcohol abstinence rates to 69 percent.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers engineer an on/off switch into a weakened form of HIV to enhance vaccine safety and effectiveness. The team demonstrates that flipping the switch allows weakened HIV to replicate at a level likely to generate immunity in a host, while also allowing for controlled replication.
A new study has found that U.S. youth infected with HIV around the time of their birth are at higher risk for experiencing serious health problems, poor control of the HIV virus, or death as they age. The study highlights the need to strengthen services for these patients, taking into account their developmentally specific needs.
Researchers found that HIV co-infections drive natural selection in M. tuberculosis, favoring epitope conservation and influencing its evolution. This discovery has implications for vaccine design to combat the co-epidemic in high-HIV TB settings.
The study estimates that there were 69 perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections among infants born in the US in 2013. Maternal and infant factors associated with infant HIV infection include late maternal diagnosis and lack of antiretroviral treatment and prophylaxis.
Researchers found HTLV-1/HIV co-infected patients had higher CD4+ T-cell counts after treatment, which didn't predict response to therapy. Viral load testing was shown to be more effective in monitoring ART response, contrary to current CD4+ T-cell count use.
A Duke Health-led research team has developed a synthetic HIV outer envelope mimic that induces broadly neutralizing antibodies with vaccination. The study supports the concept of designing vaccine candidates that mimic critical regions of HIV.
A new study reveals that 15% of patients with suppressed HIV infection still have active HIV in the brain. MRI scans identify high-risk individuals for further testing and potential treatment regime changes.