Articles tagged with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
A new study by the HIV Prevention Trials Network found that financial incentives had no significant overall impact on achieving viral suppression among HIV-positive patients. However, specific clinical settings such as hospital-based clinics and those with lower patient engagement saw enhanced viral suppression rates. The study also sh...
A study estimates that undiagnosed HIV individuals and those diagnosed but not in medical care accounted for over 90% of the estimated 45,000 HIV transmissions in 2009. These individuals were 19-94% less likely to transmit HIV than those with viral suppression.
A new molecule called eCD4-Ig has shown promise in controlling HIV without daily antiretroviral drugs. The molecule, developed by NIH-funded scientists, safely protected monkeys from infection with an HIV-like virus during a 40-week study period.
Researchers confirm how viral reservoirs form in patients living with HIV and prove effective in animal trials at blocking pathways to those reservoirs in the brain and gut. Natalizumab, a humanized antibody, effectively blocks monocyte traffic, reversing lesions on the central nervous system.
Researchers from Scripps Florida have developed an anti-HIV agent that blocks all strains of HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV, offering potential protection for at least eight months after injection. The new compound binds to the virus's envelope, preventing entry into host cells.
Researchers at KU Leuven's Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology have identified a recombinant form of HIV that targets the anchor point CXCR4 early after infection, shortening the healthy phase and triggering rapid progression to AIDS. The study found abnormally high doses of the virus and defensive molecule RANTES in i...
The NIH's 2015 Avant-Garde Awards highlight five groundbreaking projects tackling prevention, immune system dysfunction, and drug use disorders. Researchers aim to develop novel therapies and strategies to combat HIV/AIDS in substance users.
Researchers will investigate gut leakage in HIV patients, leading to systemic inflammation and organ damage. They aim to determine if gut repair improves overall health.
New research reveals that established HIV epidemics conserve 'founder effects', slowing the spread of secondary strains. This means the dominant strains may not be the most transmissible, but rather lucky to have been picked up early in the pandemic.
The VOICE trial found that women who used tenofovir gel had a lower risk of HIV, despite overall product non-adherence being high. Tenofovir gel reduced HIV risk by 14.7% for those who used it, but the study as a whole showed products were not effective in preventing HIV.
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders affect 10-50% of aging patients, causing cognitive impairment and daily challenges. Researchers found that the tat protein disrupts autophagy, a critical disposal process, in neurons.
A new study found that HIV penetrates the blood-brain barrier by relying on proteins expressed by mature monocytes. These proteins could serve as a target for preventing HIV from reaching brain cells. The research aims to shed light on novel mechanisms for improving drug delivery to the brain.
Research from the University of Minnesota found a significant connection between Craigslist's personals section and a 16 percent increase in reported HIV cases. The study suggests that online platforms can facilitate new social routes of HIV transmission, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to reduce disease spread.
A study published in The Lancet HIV reports that an HIV testing campaign in Kenya's Bunyala subcounty yielded over 1,300 new diagnoses, with only 15% of newly diagnosed individuals seeking care. Home-based counseling and testing provided a diagnosis to nearly 40% of people living with HIV who otherwise would not have sought testing.
Researchers at Caltech develop antibody-based molecules that bind to and neutralize HIV more effectively than natural antibodies, offering a potential approach to engineer more effective HIV-fighting drugs. The breakthrough uses DNA as a molecular ruler to design novel molecules.
A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that some health insurers are using drug coverage decisions to discourage people with HIV from selecting their plans, resulting in higher costs for those enrolled in these plans. This practice could undermine a central feature of the Affordable Care Act.
The global AIDS community must adopt more specific and focused approaches to meet the 90-90-90 targets, which aim to eliminate AIDS by 2020. This involves identifying at-risk subpopulations, tailoring prevention tools to each population's risk profile, and developing innovative solutions.
Research reveals that HIV/AIDS patients in the southern US have significantly lower survival rates compared to other regions. The study found that 15% of people diagnosed with HIV and 27% of those diagnosed with AIDS died within five years of diagnosis.
Researchers have developed an alternative method to isolate CD4+ T cells, enabling HIV monitoring at a lower cost. The use of glass microbubbles, which are readily available and affordable, allows for the separation of target cells from unwanted cells.
Researchers are exploring innovative approaches to combat HIV latency, including shock-and-kill strategies and monoclonal antibody-based drugs. These novel therapies aim to eradicate latent viral reservoirs, a key challenge in achieving an HIV cure.
The Women of Color HIV Initiative found that urban women faced more barriers to care, substance abuse, and sexual risk behaviors. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes were associated with activity limitation among study participants.
A meta-analysis of 12 studies involving over 39,500 women found a moderate increase in HIV risk associated with DMPA use, with no increased risk for oral contraceptive pills or other hormonal methods. The study highlights the need for further research on high-risk groups
Researchers discover that HIV's ability to mutate beyond recognition evades the immune system. A new study finds that training killer T cells to recognize unaltered viral protein segments can reawaken the natural killer instinct, killing 61% of HIV-infected cells.
A global study found that HIV-positive children in developing countries are six times more likely to die from pneumonia than their non-HIV positive peers. The research, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, highlights the need for improved early testing for HIV in infants, antiretroviral therapy and vaccination.
Byproducts from gum disease bacteria can reactivate dormant HIV in T-cells, leading to higher virus replication. This discovery highlights the significance of treating periodontal disease early for individuals with HIV infections.
Researchers have identified how PF74 and CPSF6 molecules bind to HIV-1's capsid, preventing its disassembly. This process can be targeted for therapeutic purposes in HIV-1 infections, potentially blocking viral replication.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine propose that cell-associated HIV transmission is an important element contributing to the HIV epidemic, challenging traditional views on virus transmission. Genetic evidence suggests that HIV-infected cells populate genital secretions and breast milk, providing a new target for HIV ...
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation will receive funding to improve early infant diagnosis of HIV, enabling a ten-fold increase in HIV treatment and universal access. The project aims to reach rural communities with limited access to testing and treatment services.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine found that home-based HIV testing and counseling services can achieve higher participation rates among rural Africans. The researchers compared two community approaches: home-based and mobile clinic-based services. They found that the home-based approach reached more first-time testers, particular...
A new study from UCLA found that combining social media with behavioral psychology increased HIV testing rates among men who have sex with men in Peru. The Harnessing Online Peer Education intervention was more effective than traditional care through social media, suggesting a valuable tool in the fight against HIV.
A new fMRI test can detect neural dysfunction in HIV-positive individuals before they exhibit cognitive decline, according to a Georgetown University Medical Center study. The researchers found that the neural specificity in brain regions associated with face processing is reduced in HIV-positive participants.
A UCLA study suggests targeting 'hot zones' in sub-Saharan Africa could significantly reduce the spread of HIV. The research found that focusing on areas with higher risk of infection would prevent 40% more new infections than traditional strategies, making it a cost-effective approach.
A Penn Medicine study found that people with mental illness are more likely to have been tested for HIV than those without. The study also found that those with schizophrenia and bipolar disease had the highest rate of HIV testing.
Research suggests that HIV's rapid evolution is slowing its ability to cause AIDS, while access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) enables infected individuals to progress more slowly. The study found that HIV adaptation to the immune system comes at a cost, making the virus less virulent.
Research shows that starting HIV therapy soon after infection significantly reduces the risk of developing AIDS and improves immune function, particularly when treatment is initiated within 12 months of seroconversion. A normal CD4+ T-cell count above 800 cells per cubic millimeter is crucial for reconstituting immune-fighting cells.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 12 months of estimated dates of seroconversion (EDS) improves the likelihood of restoring CD4+ T-cell counts. Patients who initiated ART after 12 months had lower CD4 normalization rates and increased risk of AIDS.
A study published in Science reports that HIV/AIDS drugs, such as NRTIs, can prevent retinal degeneration in a mouse model of dry AMD by blocking the innate immune pathway called inflammasome. This discovery offers hope for repurposing these inexpensive and safe drugs to treat untreatable conditions.
UC Davis researchers use new techniques in electron microscopy to study HIV and other viruses. They find that the gp120 trimer associates with gp41 to form a structure that allows HIV to enter host cells. The study also reveals how viruses hijack cellular processes to enter cells, shedding light on potential vaccine targets.
Researchers at KU Leuven discovered that HIV's integration site determines disease progression. The team found that manipulating the integration site can lead to faster disease progression in some cases, but also opens up possibilities for developing new therapies by targeting safer regions of host DNA.
Researchers found HIV-infected adults diagnosed with kidney failure six months younger than the general population, while heart attack and cancer diagnoses were similar. The study suggests successful treatments are helping HIV-infected persons achieve similar longevity.
A recent survey of symptomatic HIV-positive people in rural Mozambique found that those who initially consulted traditional healers had a 2.4 times longer delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis of HIV. The study highlights the need to engage traditional healers in HIV care and provide incentives for referrals.
A case study published in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses suggests that HIV transmission via shared manicure instruments is possible. Genetic analysis indicates a common viral ancestor between two patients, supporting the theory of transmission through infected equipment.
Researchers at Harvard University have used CRISPR technology to edit out the CCR5 receptor in human blood stem cells, which could provide a new approach to treating HIV/AIDS. The edited cells showed no unwanted mutations and retained their functionality.
Scientists have developed a topical microbicide loaded with hyaluronic acid nanofibers that could potentially prevent HIV transmission. The delivery system is triggered by semen fluid and provides prolonged retention at the target site, reducing discomfort.
Scientists have obtained the first high-resolution structure of HIV's immature form, revealing a surprising arrangement of its building blocks. This breakthrough enables researchers to probe further into potential drug targets and understand how mutations influence virus assembly.
Researcher Sean Young suggests that social media can be used to monitor and predict HIV transmission by analyzing psychological and health-related data from users. This approach has shown promising results in identifying individuals at risk of HIV transmission and increasing awareness of the disease.
A new study by NYU researchers finds that tourism areas in the Dominican Republic create opportunities for drug use, which fuels local economies and increases HIV risk behaviors. The study highlights the need for targeted research and intervention efforts to address local drug use within the context of tourism areas.
Researchers will explore biological tools to enhance the immune system's ability to attack HIV infection, which persists in brain cells despite antiviral treatments. The goal is to enable the immune system to eliminate HIV infection through innovative therapies.
South African epidemiologist Quarraisha Abdool Karim wins TWAS-Lenovo Science Prize for her groundbreaking work on HIV prevention in women. Her discovery of a topical anti-HIV gel has the potential to save millions of lives, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where women are disproportionately affected by the epidemic.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have discovered a new protein, Ssu72, that plays a critical role in HIV replication. The team found that Ssu72 binds to the Tat protein, revving up the engine of viral replication and potentially making it a target for drug therapy.
Scientists develop technology to visualize HIV protein motion in real-time, revealing key insights into the virus's ability to infect human immune cells. The study reveals three different conformations of the envelope trimer and provides a basis for developing effective therapies.
A Rutgers study found that positive family relationships and open communication lead to an increase in safe sex practices among gay and bisexual youth. The study also highlights the importance of parental acceptance and support in reducing high-risk sexual behaviors.
Researchers from University of Southern Denmark have developed a new method that enables the fast and accurate identification of potential HIV drugs. By screening half a million compounds, they found 14 promising compounds that inhibit the virus's ability to reproduce. This breakthrough could significantly shorten the time it takes to...
A new clinical trial found that drug combinations not including efavirenz are effective as first-line antiretroviral therapy for HIV patients who cannot tolerate efavirenz. The study showed high rates of HIV control and immune system restoration with these regimens, but noted differences in tolerability.
The first article suggests that physicians can steer eligible defendants into treatment programs instead of correctional facilities, while the second article advocates for fair hiring practices in hospitals to improve the health and wellbeing of former inmates. Both articles emphasize the importance of addressing social issues such as ...
A team of researchers reports a case of a baby born with HIV who appeared to be cured after early antiretroviral treatment, but later exhibited detectable HIV infection. The child's immune system showed signs of responding to HIV even after the virus was undetectable.
A new study reconstructs the genetic history of HIV-1 group M and concludes that it originated in Kinshasa around 1920. The team's analysis suggests a 'perfect storm' of factors, including urban growth, transport links, and social changes, contributed to the emergence of HIV from Kinshasa and its spread across Africa and the world.
The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center will conduct proof-of-concept studies in monkeys and launch Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials to test broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. The goal is to suppress or eradicate HIV in humans, providing an alternative to antiretroviral therapies.
The UCSF Clinician Consultation Center has been funded by the CDC to provide a telephone consultation service for healthcare providers prescribing PrEP. The service will guide clinicians on identifying patients at risk, evaluating their ability to take PrEP regularly and ensuring safe prescribing practices.
Researchers have discovered a surprisingly diverse family of antibodies that can broadly neutralize different strains of HIV, providing new options for vaccine design. The findings offer clues on how to elicit high levels of these antibodies in people.