New HIV Vaccine Strategy Increases Targets for the Immune System to Recognize

Increasing the ability of immune cells to recognize HIV infection is being lauded as a major advance in the development of an effective vaccine. A new study in a primate model of the disease has found that the new strategy allows the immune system to recognize several viral proteins, increasing its ability to target viral… [Continue Reading]

Infant “Functionally Cured” of HIV Infection

Researchers have reported the first “cure” of HIV in a young child. The infant underwent anti-retroviral therapy shortly after birth, and scientists say that this may have prevented the formation of “reservoirs” of the virus that make typical infections so persistent. A team of researchers from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, the University of Mississippi Medical… [Continue Reading]

Many Patients Don’t Tell Health Care Staff They Are HIV-Positive

The treatment and care of individuals infected with HIV may be impaired, doctors say, after a study has revealed that many patients don’t tell health care providers about their infection. A significant proportion of HIV positive patients may not be disclosing their infection to NHS staff, when turning up for treatment at sexual health clinics,… [Continue Reading]

Personalized Plans Help HIV Patients Better Follow Their Treatments

Patients for many diseases can have difficulty sticking to their treatment regimens and taking their medications properly. A new study has found for HIV patients, developing a personalized plan with a health care provider significantly improves their adherence to their treatment. HIV patients who participated in an intervention that helped them identify barriers to taking… [Continue Reading]

Mutation Found in HIV That Reduces Drug Resistance

A natural but rare mutation occurring in the genome of HIV makes the virus more susceptible to drugs, researchers have discovered. The finding will help scientists understand why HIV can be drug-resistant, which could improve future treatments. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can contain dozens of different mutations, called polymorphisms. In a recent study an… [Continue Reading]

Sequence of HIV Genome Reveals Vaccine’s Effects

In a major breakthrough, scientists have been able to show that on a molecular level, an HIV vaccine puts observable pressure on the virus. The work reveals aspects of the virus’ biology that could help researchers develop even more effective vaccines. Scientists used genetic sequencing to discover new evidence that the first vaccine shown to… [Continue Reading]

No Detectable HIV Left in Patient After Bone Marrow Transplant and Antivirals

Anti-retroviral drugs, together with a bone marrow transplant seem to have completely eliminated HIV from the bodies of two patients, according to a new report. The ground-breaking work suggests that the immune system can be completely repopulated by the transplant, and those cells can be protected from new infection. Two men with longstanding HIV infections… [Continue Reading]

Drug Regimen Being Tested For HIV Infection Prevention

A drug called maraviroc is part of current treatments for HIV infection, and researchers are now testing whether the compound can also prevent infection. Clinical trials are underway, where HIV-negative men are given the drug or a placebo, as well as AIDS prevention counseling, with infection rates measured after about four months. Scientists are launching… [Continue Reading]

Identifying HIV Patients with Risky Behavior Essential to Prevent Spread of Virus

A one-size-fits-all approach is not sufficient to stem the spread of HIV, according to researchers. A number of scientists have proposed targeted prevention by identifying specific patient groups that have different behavior. For example, prevention strategies should be different between patients who unaware they carry the virus and those who willfully engage in risky behaviors…. [Continue Reading]

Patients With Multiple HIV Infections May Be Widespread

Being infected with multiple forms of HIV is called superinfection, and complicates treatment. A new study indicates that superinfection may be much more common that originally thought, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) superinfection may be as common as initial HIV infection and is not limited to high risk-populations, according to a new study led by researchers… [Continue Reading]