HIV-1 Integrase (IN) is a primary target for combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Only a limited number of studies report on the emergence of resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in Cameroon. We observed that (1.4%) of sequence from treatment naïve patients had Integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) RAMs. These mutations confer resistance to raltegravir (RAL) and elvitegravir (EVG). We

Gene editing approaches using CRISPR/Cas9 are being developed as a means for targeting the integrated HIV-1 provirus. Enthusiasm for the use of gene editing as an anti-HIV-1 therapeutic has been tempered by concerns about the specificity and efficacy of this approach. Guide RNAs (gRNAs) that target conserved sequences across a wide range of genetically diverse HIV-1 isolates will have greater clinical

In our study, we reported a novel CRF01_AE/B/C HIV-1 recombinant form among six epidemiologically unlinked heterosexual patients in Yunnan, China. It was named CRF106_cpx (this is temporary as we have not received the CRF number from HIV databases). After sequencing and analyzing of the near full-length genome (NFLG), we found that CRF106_cpx was generated by three B segments and two CRF01_AE segments

Antiretroviral treatment based on tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) is increasingly recommended, as it maintains the viral suppression and improves renal function and bone density in comparison with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). We carried out a retrospective cohort study including experienced patients who switched treatment from TDF to TAF. Serum lipids and glucose, renal function, body

People living with HIV (PLWH) experience chronic pain that may impact function. Gaps in knowledge exist for factors that impact pain and pain medication use in older (age 50+) PLWH. Data for this study were obtained from the Aging with Dignity, Health, Optimism and Community (ADHOC) cohort, an observational study of older PLWH from 10 clinics across the United States. Participants self-reported socioeconomic

Insurance enrollment is complex for people living with HIV (PLWH) and people at increased risk for HIV, in part due to needing to ensure access to adequate provider networks and appropriate formularies. Insurance for PLWH facilitates access to HIV care/treatment and, ultimately, viral suppression, which has the individual benefit of longevity and the public health benefit of decreased HIV transmission

People living with HIV (PLWH) who are on protease inhibitor (PI) containing regimens have been shown to have increases in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and a greater decrease in spine bone mineral density (BMD) than those receiving non-PI regimens when initiating treatment. This increase in VAT has been hypothesized to falsely lower spine BMD measured via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), suggesting

The efficacy of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) against HIV-1 is evidenced by reduction of plasma viremia, disease progression, viral transmission and mortality. However, major challenges still remain in HIV-1 management, especially the emergence of resistant strains and the persistence of viral reservoirs, apparent after cART treatment interruption. Efforts are ongoing to explore the most effective

C-C chemokine receptor (CCR) 5 (CCR5) is the main HIV-1 co-receptor involved in virus entry and cell-to-cell spread during acute and chronic infections: such CCR5-using and T cell-tropic viruses are adapted to and replicate in CD4+ memory T cells. Polymorphisms in CCR5 regulate CCR5 expression, which, in turn, influences HIV infection acquisition and subsequent disease progression. Among these polymorphisms

One cannot spend >5 min on social media at the moment without finding a link to some conspiracy theory or other regarding the origin of SARS-CoV2, the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. From the virus being deliberately released as a bioweapon to pharmaceutical companies blocking the trials of natural remedies to boost their dangerous drugs and vaccines, the Internet is rife with far-fetched

Despite tremendous improvements in viral load (VL) monitoring and early infant diagnosis (EID) in many countries, low VL and EID testing rates and low VL suppression rates persist in specific regions and among certain subpopulations. The VL/EID cascade includes patient and provider demand creation, sample collection and transportation, laboratory testing, results transmission back to the clinic, and

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection results in gut microbiota alteration and this is associated with immune activation and chronic inflammation. The gastrointestinal tract is a primary site of viral replication and thus HIV-induced loss of T-helper (Th) cells in the gut causes impairments in intestinal barriers, resulting in disruptions in intestinal immunity and precipitating into gut dysbiosis

Barriers to sustainable virologic suppression (VS) of HIV-infected adolescents and young adults include drug resistance mutations (DRMs) and limited treatment options, which may impact the outcome of second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). We sequenced plasma viral RNA from 74 adolescents and young adults (16–24 years) failing first-line ART at Newlands Clinic, Zimbabwe between October 2015 and December

Although the first HIV circulating recombinant form (CRF01_AE) is the predominant strain in many Asian countries, it is uncommonly found in the Congo Basin from where it first originated. To fill the gap in the evolutionary history of this important strain, we sequenced near complete genomes from HIV samples with subgenomic CRF01_AE regions collected in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can impact assays used for cross-sectional HIV incidence testing, causing inaccurate HIV incidence estimates. We evaluated the relationship between the timing of ART initiation and the performance of two serologic HIV incidence assays. We analyzed 302 samples from 55 individuals from the RV217 cohort (Early Capture HIV Cohort Study). Participants were grouped by ART start

Older adults face physiological, psychological, social, and economic changes, which may impair nutritional status, making the body vulnerable to illness and adverse clinical outcomes. Little is known regarding the nutritional status among elderly people living with HIV (PLHIV). We aimed to study the prevalence of malnutrition and the associated factors in a Thai aging cohort. A cross-sectional study

Iron is a key factor at various stages of HIV life cycle and determines the progression of HIV infection. Data about cellular labile iron pool (LIP) in the settings of contemporary antiretroviral therapy (cART) are lacking. Yet LIP is directly related to the generation of reactive oxygen species, and may contribute to immune activation, dysfunction, and exhaustion. Using multiparameter flow cytometry

A significant progress has been made over the years in the prognosis and treatment of patients with early diagnosis of HIV infection. However, late presentation of a large number of patients remains a serious public health problem. The aim of our study is to highlight the dimensions of the problem by evaluating the data from the HIV Unit of Alexandroupolis, a rural region with population heterogeneity

Two HIV virologic control advances are in various stages of development, including long-acting antiretroviral therapy (ART) formulations and strategies aimed at sustained ART-free HIV control. Perceptions of risks and benefits toward HIV virologic control strategies may be different based on an individual's age due to differing experiences of the impacts of the domestic HIV epidemic, altruistic attitudes

College students are disproportionately affected by HIV-1 in China. However, little is known about the genetic characteristics of HIV-1 among this population. A molecular epidemiological investigation was conducted among the newly diagnosed antiretroviral therapy-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals during 2015–2019 in Nanjing city, China. The pol fragment (HXB2: 2,253–3,311) was obtained by HIV-1 RNA

In this study, we identified a novel circulating recombinant form (CRF) of HIV (CRF105_0108) in a total of five patients with no obvious epidemiological linkage in Sichuan, China. Four strains were found in this study, and another strain (XC2014EU01) was reported in a previous study. The phylogenetic analysis of the five near full-length genomes showed that a CRF08_BC segment was inserted into the

Among transgender women, the effects of feminizing hormone therapy use on rectal mucosal HIV transmission are largely unknown. In this small pilot study, we compared the rectal mucosal transcriptome in transgender women utilizing feminizing hormone therapy to a group of cisgender men who have sex with men engaging in condomless receptive anal intercourse and to a group of cisgender men who had never

Despite the implementation of health education and free condom distribution for decades, the HIV/AIDS epidemic among older adults in China shows no sign of declining. This study aims to identify HIV transmission patterns and pathways in a rural county area and provide insight for developing effective HIV prevention strategies among older adults. Epidemiological field surveys combined with phylogenetic

Between October 2015 and August 2016, Zimbabwe conducted the Zimbabwe Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (ZIMPHIA) cross-sectional survey to determine progress toward epidemic control. Of 25,131 eligible adults aged 15–64 years, 20,577 (81.8%) consented to face-to-face questionnaire and biomarker testing in this nationally representative household survey. Home-based rapid HIV testing was performed

HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) is of increasing health concern, especially among key populations. We investigated the prevalence of virological suppression (VS), prevalence and correlates of HIVDR in HIV-infected women, enrolled in a high-risk cohort. We enrolled 267 women initiated on first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2015 and 2018. Participants' plasma samples were analyzed for HIV RNA

A growing number of people living with HIV/AIDS are participating in HIV cure-related research at the end of life (EOL). Due to the novelty of EOL HIV cure-related research, there is a need to understand how their next-of-kin (NOK) perceive such research. We conducted in-depth interviews with NOK of the Last Gift study participants at the University of California, San Diego. The Last Gift study occurs

End-of-life (EOL) HIV cure-related research provides a novel approach to studying HIV reservoirs. The Last Gift is a rapid autopsy research study at the University of California San Diego that enrolls terminally ill people living with HIV (PLWHIV) with a desire to contribute to HIV cure-related research. We conducted in-depth baseline and follow-up interviews with Last Gift study participants. We analyzed

Mitochondrial dysfunction (MD) is linked to cardiometabolic complications, such as obesity and insulin resistance (IR), the frequencies of which are higher in adults living with HIV infection and receiving combination antiretroviral therapies (ARV). ARV-treated youth living with perinatally-acquired HIV infection (YLPHIV) may be especially susceptible to IR due to long-term exposure to both factors

Background: Assessment tools are necessary for the adequate stratification of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). Aim: To evaluate the ability of severity assessment scores and inflammation- and nutrition-based parameters for predicting the 180-day mortality of AIDS-related PCP. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with

Unhealthy alcohol use is prevalent among persons living with HIV (PLWH). Aging and increased survival of PLWH on antiretroviral therapy (ART) are complicated by metabolic dysregulation and increased risk of insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes mellitus. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and association of IR with unhealthy alcohol use in adult in-care PLWH. A cross-sectional

ackground: This study meta-analyzed the literature on possible association of three polymorphisms (-592, -1082, -819) in the interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene with susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Google Scholar were systematically searched to identify relevant studies in English. Meta-analyses were performed to examine the association of IL-10 polymorphisms -592, -1082

Backgroud The role of HIV infection in precipitating different clinical features in Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) patients remains controversial. Methods One hundred and twelve CM patients living with HIV/AIDS (CM+HIV+ patients) and 112 CM patients living without HIV/AIDS (CM+HIV- patients) were enrolled after propensity score matching. Demographic characteristics, symptoms, routine blood tests, biochemical

Background: Diversity of genotypes and prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) challenge the epidemic control and vaccine development of HIV-1. However, little is known about the situation in Tianjin. Methods: Blood samples were collected from newly diagnosed antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naive HIV/AIDS patients from January 2016 to November 2019. Target fragment in the pol gene was sequenced

This study aimed to ascertain the patterns of HIV risk behaviors among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and explore the relationships between personality traits and patterns of HIV risk behaviors. 375 YMSM were recruited from March to December 2013, in central China. Latent class analysis was utilized to identify underlying subgroups of HIV risk behaviors; multinomial logistic regression was

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly improved the quality of life of HIV-infected individuals: reducing plasma viremia, restoring CD4+ T-cell numbers and correcting imbalances in blood memory T-cell subsets. While ART improves immune correlates at mucosal sites, including the lower female genital tract (FGT), ART initiation has been associated with reactivation of common FGT infections. We

Non-nucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor (NNRTI)-containing antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has led to dramatic reductions in perinatal HIV infection in resource-constrained settings. Nonetheless, PMTCT programs are complicated by repeat pregnancies, in which long-term or repeat exposures to PMTCT regimens

Overlap in metabolism pathways of endogenous female sex hormones and antiretroviral drugs may lead to altered exposure to these compounds. In a family planning clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi, blood, blood cell, and cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) samples from seventy-three HIV positive Malawian women taken in follicular and luteal menstrual phases were assessed for estradiol and progesterone by chemiluminescent

Low serum vitamin D levels are very common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. In our cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and serum inflammation markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC), D-dimers, platelet count (PLT)] in 148 HIV-infected patients on combined antiretroviral therapy [28 on tenofovir

This study aims to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and identify the possible factors leading to infant HIV infection using a retrospective cohort study of early infant diagnosis (EID). Information on a total of 3,145 exposed infant-mother pairs was collected from the EID platform from July/2014 to December/2019. The MTCT rate was 2.1%. Spatial-temporal

Limited data exist on the effects of contraceptives on HIV disease progression. We studied the association between intramuscular injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM), the copper intrauterine device (IUD), and the levonorgestrel (LNG) implant on markers of HIV disease progression at the time of HIV detection and 3 months postdetection and time from detection to CD4 count <350 cells/mm3

People living with HIV (PLH) may be at increased risk of experiencing both chronic pain and opioid dependence. Physical therapy (PT) has been shown to be effective as a nonpharmacological strategy for mitigating chronic pain in the general population, however, there is gap in research investigating PT to reduce chronic pain and opioid use among PLH. This case series describes the feasibility of an

Sub-Saharan region in Africa still holds the highest burden of HIV/AIDS globally. HIV-1 requires coreceptor to gain entry into permissive cells to initiate infection. Molecular analysis of the chemokine coreceptor usage is important clinically and in the effective management of AIDS virus. This study aims to determine the coreceptor usage among HIV-1 drug naïve patients residing in the Eastern Cape

The Rakai Community Cohort Study in south central Uganda has surveyed people aged 15–49 since 1994. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) was introduced in 2004. HIV p24 and gp41 subtype distribution and viral diversity were studied from blood samples collected at three surveys in 1994–1995, 2002–2003, and 2008–2009, which were compared with a new survey round from 2011 to 2012. These included 1364 HIV+ individuals

Tanzania has recently adapted World Health Organization antiretroviral guidelines that include integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) in the first-line regimen. However, there is lack of evidence on integrase (IN) gene polymorphisms in viral strains circulating in Tanzania. In this study, we characterize IN gene polymorphisms in viral strains circulating in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, before introduction

The Phylogenetics And Networks for Generalized HIV Epidemics in Africa (PANGEA-HIV) consortium has been vital in the generation and examination of near full-length HIV-1 sequences generated from Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we examined a subset (n = 275) of sequences from Rakai, Uganda, collected between August 2011 and January 2015. Sequences were initially screened with COMET for subtyping

In this study, we sequenced the full-length HIV type 2 (HIV-2) long terminal repeat region from the proviral DNA of 23 HIV-2-infected individuals from the southern parts of India. We identified two different promoter variant strains circulating in this region along with the globally circulating common promoter variant. Seven sequences had an additional nuclear factor kappa-light chain enhancer of activated

Recombinant forms contribute substantially to the genetic diversity of HIV-1. Recent studies have also revealed that three major viral strains (CRF07_BC, CRF01_AE, and subtype B) have been cocirculating among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Anhui, suggesting a high probability of generating new recombinants. In this study, we reported a novel CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC HIV-1 recombinant form in MSM in

Binding of HIV-1 capsid (CA) to cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 6 (CPSF6) is hypothesized to provide a significant fitness advantage to in vivo viral replication, explaining why CA-CPSF6 interactions are strictly conserved in primate lentiviruses. We recently identified a Q4R mutation in CA after propagation of an interferon (IFN)-β-hypersensitive CA mutant, RGDA/Q112D (H87R, A88G,

HIV-1 compartmentalization in the central nervous system (CNS) and its contribution to neurological disease have been well documented. Previous studies were conducted among people infected with subtypes B or C where CNS compartmentalization has been observed when comparing viral sequences in the blood to virus in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, little is known about CNS compartmentalization in

Transgender women are 49 times more likely to become HIV positive than all adults worldwide. Data were unavailable for trans women's sexual and mental health in the Middle East and North Africa until 2015–2016, when HIV prevalence (10%) and suicide attempt (46%) rates were established in Lebanon. Because of the lack of evidence-based interventions for this marginalized group, the purpose of this study

Elderly people living with HIV are increasing. At present in the United States, nearly half of newly diagnosed HIV-infected people are aged >50 years. Diagnosis and treatment of HIV-infected elderly patients tends to be delayed by several health care factors as several life-threatening diseases are common in elderly people. This study aimed to find the pooled HIV prevalence in elderly population and

Efavirenz (EFV) is one of the most commonly prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications for human immunodeficiency virus-infected adults because of its favorable pharmacokinetic profile and well-documented efficacy. Nonetheless, neuropsychiatric adverse events (AE) occur in almost half of the EFV users and it is the main reason for treatment discontinuation. To identify the sociodemographic

No abstract as letter to editor

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been widely accepted as an effective method to prevent HIV infections, but high costs precluded a widespread use in Germany. A novel distribution pathway of tenofovir-disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine PrEP was implemented, which reduced monthly PrEP costs by 16-fold in Germany. Over a period of 6 months, we recorded prescription data, demographics, and sexual

Persons living with HIV (PLWH) with substance use disorders (SUD) remain a population difficult to engage in HIV care. Project HOPE (Hospital Visits as an Opportunity for Prevention and Engagement), a randomized controlled trial testing patient navigation with/without contingency management for PLWH with SUD, aimed to address this disparity. PLWH with SUD who were out of care were recruited from 11

Support of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) testing and treatment supported by President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Africa requires immense quantities of tests and medications. We sought to use central pharmacy supply data of Mozambique's rural Zambézia Province (2017 population ≈5.11 million persons; ≈12.6% adult HIV prevalence in 2016) to examine shortages

Each year, a growing international collection of researchers meets at the NIH to share and discuss developments in the microbiome HIV story. This past year has seen continued progress toward a detailed understanding of host–microbe interactions both within and outside the field of HIV. Commensal microbes are being linked to an ever-growing list of maladies and physiologic states, including major depressive

To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of drug-resistance genotypes among unique recombinant forms (URFs) in HIV-1 infected people under long-term antiretroviral treatment failure from Yunnan Province. The plasma samples were collected from antiretroviral therapy (ART)-failure experienced individuals from 2016 to 2017 in Yunnan Province, China. The genotyping drug resistance of HIV-1 pol

The World Health Organization (WHO) has put forth recommendations for the use of integrase (IN) strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) to be part of the first-line combination antiretroviral therapy regimen to treat HIV infections. The knowledge of pretreatment drug resistance against INSTIs is still scarce in resource-limited settings (RLS). We characterized the integrase gene to identify resistance-associated

Intramuscular depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) is the most widely used hormonal contraceptive in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous meta-analyses of observational studies found a significant 40%–50% increased risk associated with DMPA-IM use, relative to no contraception or infrequent condom use. This raised substantial concerns, although these studies had important limitations. Consequently, the