Research programs working toward an HIV cure. Covers reservoir reduction, prevention policy, tumor-like tissue models, and vaccine development.
A new standard definition for loss-to-follow-up (LTFU) has been established for HIV antiretroviral therapy patients, using a 180-day clinic visit threshold. This definition was developed based on statistical analysis of data from 111 health facilities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Starting HIV therapy two weeks after TB treatment increases survival by 33 percent, according to a recent study. The study suggests that immunosuppressed patients should be started on ART rapidly at two weeks after beginning TB therapy.
Researchers have discovered a highly effective antibody that can neutralize approximately 70% of globally circulating HIV strains by targeting the virus's envelope protein. The new findings suggest a promising target for AIDS vaccine development, with potential implications for broadening the protection against the fast-mutating virus.
Researchers have discovered two genetically distinct HIV types in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with HIV-associated dementia, which may predict disease progression and cognitive damage. The study found that one variant infects macrophages, a type of white blood cell, while the other reproduces in T cells.
Researchers have found a rise in male breast cancer cases over the past two decades, despite low awareness. The study highlights the need for better information, treatment, and emotional support for men affected by the disease.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered how cell-penetrating peptides, such as the HIV TAT peptide, interact with cells to facilitate the transfer of molecular cargoes. The study reveals that these peptides can act like a Swiss Army Knife, interacting strongly with membranes and cytoskeletons to produce multiple pathways of translocation.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have modified HIV to trigger an immune response, a major hurdle in vaccine development. The altered virus activates the adaptive immune system's response against HIV, negating its immunosuppressive properties.
Researchers found slower disease progression among patients starting treatment with CD4 counts between 350 and 499. The study suggests initiating therapy at this range may provide long-term benefits, but no benefit is seen for patients with CD4 counts above 500.
Researchers from Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health are part of a $10 million grant to examine the consequences of alcohol on HIV disease. The study aims to understand how alcohol affects HIV clinical manifestations and develop more effective treatments.
Researchers will evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of a unique combination of HIV prevention strategies in Botswana, aiming to reduce infections by at least 50%. The study will analyze viral gene signatures and examine the effectiveness of targeting individuals with high viral loads.
Researchers at Imperial College London discovered that removing cholesterol from HIV's membrane prevents the virus from damaging the immune system. This finding could lead to the development of an effective HIV vaccine by boosting the adaptive response and weakening the innate immune system's overreaction.
A $37 million grant has been awarded to test a combination prevention strategy to prevent HIV in African countries. The PopART project aims to reduce new HIV infections through community-wide testing, medical circumcision, and immediate ART for those testing positive.
Zachary A. Klase has been awarded the ICAAC Young Investigator Award for his groundbreaking research on HIV-1 pathogenesis and RNA interference mechanisms in mammalian cells. His work focuses on understanding HIV transcription regulation, microRNA processing, and innate immune signaling.
Researchers create cats with intrinsic immunity to feline AIDS by inserting protective protein genes. The technique, called gamete-targeted lentiviral transgenesis, also makes the offspring glow green for tracking purposes.
The Einstein College of Medicine consortium aims to collect and analyze data on nearly 40,000 patients with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Burundi, Cameroon, and Rwanda. The project will help improve the care and lives of residents by providing a robust database for researchers to examine the real-world practice and results of ART.
Scientists are working on structure-based HIV vaccines and understanding the evolutionary processes of human B cells producing broadly neutralizing antibodies. New research tools and a better understanding of the human immune response offer optimism for developing an effective HIV vaccine.
A new University of Toronto study highlights the need for improved communication with high-risk communities about HIV vaccine trials. Researchers found that misinformation, distrust, and misunderstanding persist, affecting participants' willingness to participate.
Researchers have demonstrated a new HIV vaccine approach by designing an altered form of the virus's outer coating protein. This allows for better targeting of immature B cell receptors, leading to enhanced immune responses in animal models.
Researchers studying HIV in Pakistan's general population found the virus has spread beyond at-risk groups to women and children. Genetic analysis suggests the strongest factor of disease spread is through men who sleep with male intravenous drug users.
A George Mason University research team has uncovered a new factor, LIMK, that triggers cell movement essential for HIV infection. The discovery builds upon previous findings and provides a potential therapeutic target to limit or halt HIV infection.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have developed a peptide-based fluid that reverses tooth decay by stimulating regeneration of damaged tooth tissue. The treatment is applied directly to the affected area, providing a natural and non-invasive solution to filling teeth without drilling.
Researchers at Caltech propose that cell-to-cell transmission of HIV is responsible for the formation of viral reservoirs. This mechanism allows HIV to persist in infected cells despite antiretroviral therapy.
Researchers have isolated 17 novel antibodies capable of neutralizing a broad spectrum of HIV variants, offering new targets for vaccine candidates. The potency of these antibodies is significantly higher than previously discovered ones, with some blocking infection up to 100 times more effectively.
Deborah Anderson is leading a research study on plant-based antibodies to prevent HSV and HIV infections in women. The project aims to create affordable and large-capacity manufacturing systems for biopharmaceuticals, ensuring access to treatments for at-risk populations worldwide.
A NIH-led team has discovered a method to guide the evolution of powerful HIV-neutralizing antibodies, which could lead to the development of an effective vaccine. The researchers used deep sequencing and bioinformatics techniques to decipher the genetic data of immune cells that produce these antibodies.
Researchers found that HIV detection odds differ by method, with social networks and partner services outperforming alternative venue testing. The study suggests a multi-faceted approach to HIV prevention is needed, acknowledging individual differences within the demographic.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that methamphetamine use fuels HIV infection risk among teenage boys and young men who have sex with men. Nearly one-third of meth users reported sex with an HIV-infected person, highlighting the need for HIV prevention programs to factor in substance abuse.
A global study of real-world circumcision rollout in South Africa found a marked reduction (>60 percent) of HIV acquisition among circumcised adult men. This is the first time such a large-scale community-level intervention has shown effectiveness in curbing HIV transmission.
Researchers focus on HIV cure research, highlighting the need for proactive outreach programs to prevent transmission in injecting drug users. The conference also emphasizes the importance of improving maternal and child health in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Researchers stress need for long-term response to AIDS, citing financing, retention, and socio-political instability as major challenges. Social scientists urged to take part in policy-making table.
The Rome Statement for an HIV Cure aims to accelerate HIV cure research by building a global consensus on the state of HIV reservoirs and defining scientific priorities. The strategy recognizes the importance of developing a safe, accessible, and scalable HIV cure as a therapeutic and preventive strategy against HIV infection.
A five-year NIH grant will fund research at the Emory Vaccine Center and Yerkes National Primate Research Center to develop a safe and effective HIV vaccine. The goal is to understand how to prevent early stages of mucosal infection from simian immunodeficiency virus, a key step in developing an effective HIV vaccine.
Scientists at UNC are developing new treatments to prevent sexual transmission of HIV, building on significant progress made in measures to prevent infection. The project aims to explore candidate drugs and experimental compounds that can be tested in humanized BLT mice.
Researchers call for integrated strategies to prevent HIV infection, building on progress in vaccine research and the development of a vaginal gel. A combination of biomedical and non-biomedical approaches is seen as crucial to address the evolving landscape of HIV prevention.
The IAS and NIDA have awarded fellowships to young researchers from China and Indonesia to study the linkages between drug use and HIV. The fellowships will support research in clinical science, law, and public health to improve strategies targeting HIV infections related to drug use.
Researchers found evidence of a trial effect during earlier periods but not later ones, attributing the lack of demonstrable effect to improved antiretroviral therapy and changing attitudes towards HIV.
The Partners PrEP Study and the CDC's TDF2 study found significant reductions in HIV infections among participants taking antiretroviral drugs. The VOICE study will continue to evaluate the effectiveness of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, with a focus on its impact on women and the optimal treatment approach.
A team of researchers led by UCSF and the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute aim to eradicate HIV from the body using a combination regimen. They will define HIV's reservoir, understand its creation and maintenance, and test potential treatments.
The International AIDS Society announced six winners of prestigious scientific awards to be presented at the 6th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. These awards recognize innovative HIV research throughout the world, highlighting the challenges faced by women and girls in the epidemic.
The University of North Carolina will lead a national effort to find a cure for AIDS by developing ways to purge the latent HIV virus from patients' immune systems. The five-year grant aims to better understand where and how the virus is established, and how to eliminate it.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded over $14 million in grants to three research teams focused on developing strategies to eradicate HIV reservoirs. The grants aim to develop proteins that directly attack these reservoirs, as well as study immune cells' resistance to the virus.
A new $20 million, five-year study will test transplantation of gene-modified immune cells to deny HIV entry into the body's blood cells. Researchers aim to develop tools to eradicate existing reservoirs of infection and potentially eliminate the disease.
The International Forum emphasizes the need for improved global pharmacovigilance to monitor antiretroviral drug safety. Key stakeholders must overcome differing priorities and values to establish a sustainable system.
Researchers have discovered a cellular factor called SAMHD1 that inhibits HIV infection in myeloid cells, part of the body's immune system. This discovery may help explain why some individuals can control HIV better than others and could provide a basis for new therapies to block HIV replication.
The CAPRISA 004 study demonstrated the effectiveness of tenofovir 1% gel in reducing HIV and herpes infection risk in women. The study showed a 39% reduction in HIV infections and 51% reduction in genital herpes infections compared to placebo.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine found that measuring carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) biomarker was a poor method for detecting unhealthy drinking among HIV-infected adults. The study suggests that CDT is not sufficiently sensitive for use in screening for unhealthy alcohol use in people with HIV infection.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a sugar-binding protein called galectin-9 that traps PDI on T-cells' surface, making them more susceptible to HIV infection. This finding may lead to the development of new anti-HIV therapeutics by inhibiting PDI or galectin-9.
Kinsley French receives NSF Research Fellowship to study protein aggregates and HIV transmission. Her research aims to understand how aggregates form, laying the groundwork for developing a new therapeutic against HIV transmission.
A recent study found that high out-of-pocket costs were a significant factor in the public's willingness to use PrEP, outweighing its effectiveness in preventing HIV infection. Participants expressed a desire for a 100% effective pill and reported concerns over sexual risk disinhibition and stigma associated with PrEP use.
New Northwestern University research finds that gay young men in serious relationships are six times more likely to engage in unprotected sex than their casual counterparts. The study highlights the need for targeted HIV prevention efforts towards this population, who account for nearly 70% of all new diagnoses.
Researchers aim to efficiently identify more HIV-infected people through expanded voluntary testing programs. They also seek innovative approaches to curing HIV/AIDS by eradicating or suppressing the virus in infected individuals.
Drs. Fauci and Dieffenbach emphasize the importance of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in controlling HIV transmission, with early treatment preventing 96% of transmission in a clinical trial. They also highlight the need for a cure and new biomedical prevention therapies to ultimately end the epidemic.
Researchers estimate 500 HIV-infected, but otherwise healthy deceased donors per year could donate organs due to federal ban. Reversing the ban could improve survival rates and reduce wait times for HIV-infected patients with kidney or liver failure.
Researchers from IDIBAPS have conducted a study on HIV-infected patients with undetectable viral load, finding that they can induce a broad and strong humoral immune response. The percentage of treated and untreated patients generating broad-spectrum neutralizing antibodies was very similar, suggesting a potential preventive vaccine ba...
Humanized BLT mice, created with human bone marrow, liver, and thymus tissues, have been shown to reproduce the design of a recent clinical study on topical microbicide tenofovir. The results demonstrate 88% protection against vaginal HIV transmission, warranting consideration for future testing in people.
A UNC-led study found that early initiation of antiretroviral treatment in people infected with HIV can prevent them from transmitting the virus to their partners. The study showed a 96% reduction in HIV transmission to partners among those treated promptly, highlighting the critical impact of early treatment on preventing the spread o...
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have developed a vaccine candidate that programs the immune system to respond swiftly to HIV, with over half of monkeys showing control over virus replication. The vaccine candidate has been shown to maintain control for over a year, outperforming antiretroviral therapy in clearing the ...
A new study from the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center suggests that teens who are offered free or low-cost rapid HIV testing are often willing to accept the test. The study found that 53% of teens in the age group accepted the test, with African-American teens more likely to agree.
A new study found that adding community mobilization activities and post-test psychosocial support services to easily accessible HIV counseling and testing programs improved initial and repeat testing rates significantly. The project detected almost four times as many HIV cases in community-based areas than clinic-only programs.
Young black gay men are more likely to contract HIV due to their preference for masculine partners and misconceptions about HIV risk. Researchers found that these men perceive masculine men as lower risk, leading to increased unprotected sex with partners whose HIV status they often miscalculate.