HIV Basic Science
CD4 T Memory Stem Cells Act as HIV Reservoir
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Thursday, 23 January 2014 00:00
- Written by Massachusetts General Hospital
A specific type of long-lived CD4 T-cells known as T memory stem cells continue to harbor high levels of HIV DNA despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy, and may constitute one of the main reservoirs that make the virus so difficult to eradicate, according to a reports in the January 12, 2014, online edition of Nature Medicine.
Researchers Find New Toxic Weapon Against HIV in Mouse Study
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Thursday, 16 January 2014 00:00
- Written by University of North Carolina
Researchers have developed a targeted cytotoxin, or cell-toxic agent, to kill HIV that persists in various tissue reservoirs despite antiretroviral therapy, according to a report in the January 9, 2014, issue of PLoS Pathogens.
CROI 2013: Early Antiretroviral Therapy May Reduce HIV Reservoir Size [VIDEO]
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- Category: Search for a Cure
- Published on Monday, 11 March 2013 00:00
- Written by Gregory Fowler
Starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) very early may restrict the size of the established HIV reservoir in long-lived T-cells, which could ultimately make it easier to achieve a functional cure, according to research presented last week at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) in Atlanta.
HIV Triggers CD4 T-Cell Death via Inflammation
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Monday, 23 December 2013 00:00
- Written by UCSF Gladstone Institutes
HIV infection sets off a vicious cycle of inflammation and cell death dubbed "pyroptosis" -- or fiery cell suicide -- according to a pair of recent reports from researchers at UCSF's Gladstone Institutes.
Low-Level HIV Viral Load Linked to Gut Leakage and Inflammation
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Friday, 01 February 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Even low levels of HIV in the body are associated with microbial translocation, or leakage of bacteria from the gut, which can lead to excessive immune activation and inflammation, according to study published in the February 1, 2013, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
New HIV Strain May Lead to Faster Disease Progression
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- Category: HIV Disease Progression
- Published on Wednesday, 04 December 2013 00:00
- Written by Lund University
A newly identified natural recombinant form of HIV, dubbed A3/02, was associated with nearly a 3-fold higher risk of progression to AIDS and AIDS-related death -- as well as a shorter time from seroconversion to AIDS or death --compared with 2 more common types found in West Africa, researchers reported in the August 9 advance edition of the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Dendritic Cell Therapeutic Vaccine Helps Immune Cells Control HIV Replication
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- Category: HIV Vaccines
- Published on Tuesday, 15 January 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
A therapeutic vaccine made from dendritic cells primed with heat-inactivated HIV stimulated immune cells to mount a response against the virus without it infecting and killing them, according to a study described in the January 2, 2013, issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Researchers Reveal Structure of HIV Envelope Protein Used to Enter Cells
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Wednesday, 27 November 2013 00:00
- Written by NIH
Scientists have created a sturdier version of HIV's envelope protein, known as Env, which they used to determine a more complete picture of its overall architecture, the National Institutes of Health announced this week. Better understanding of the protein's structure could aid in the development of HIV vaccines or entry inhibitor drugs.
Researchers Show How HIV Enters Dendritic Cells and Spreads to CD4 T-Cells
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Friday, 21 December 2012 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
A receptor known as Siglec-1 on the surface of dendritic cells latches on to HIV's outer membrane and enables the virus to enter these cells, which carry it to lymphoid organs where it can infect neighboring CD4 T-cells, according to research published in the December 18, 2012, edition of PLoS Biology.
Changes in Gut Bacteria May Promote Inflammation and HIV Disease Progression
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Wednesday, 24 July 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Changes in intestinal bacteria may contribute to disease progression and development of non-AIDS conditions in people with HIV, even those on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to a report in the July 10, 2013, issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Immune Activation Raised HIV Risk in CAPRISA Trial, but Some Develop Protective Antibodies
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- Category: HIV Prevention
- Published on Tuesday, 06 November 2012 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Women in the CAPRISA 004 vaginal gel trial who showed evidence of prior immune activation had an increased likelihood of becoming infected with HIV, researchers recently reported. Another CAPRISA analysis found that 2 women exhibitedbroadly cross-neutralizing antibodies targeting a newly emergent antigen on HIV's envelope -- a discovery that could advance vaccine research.
International AIDS Society Conference Starts Sunday
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Thursday, 27 June 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
The 7th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2013) will kick of Sunday, June 30, in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Key areas of interest will include new developments in antiretroviral therapy, biomedical HIV prevention, and improving access to and retention in care.
AIDS 2012: Studies Shed Light on Inflammation and Immune Activation in People with HIV
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- Category: Inflammation & Immune Activation
- Published on Friday, 10 August 2012 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
HIV and aging was a major medical themes at the recent XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) in Washington, DC. A growing body of evidence indicates that inflammation and excessive immune activation contribute to cardiovascular disease and other non-AIDS conditions in people with HIV as they live to older ages, despite viral suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Several studies presented at the conference looked at the causes and consequences of inflammation in this population. 
Researchers Discover How HIV Integration into T-Cells Triggers Cell Death
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Thursday, 06 June 2013 00:00
- Written by NIAID
Viral integration into CD4 T-cells triggers host cell death by activating DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), according to study findings published in the June 5, 2013, advance online edition of Nature. Learning how HIV signals infected cells to die may lead to new ways to prevent immune system decline.
AIDS 2012: Aspirin Dampens Immune Activation in HIV+ People on ART
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- Category: Inflammation & Immune Activation
- Published on Friday, 10 August 2012 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Taking a daily aspirin reduces immune activation and activity of platelets -- the cells responsible for blood clotting -- which may help counteract the increased risk of cardiovascular problems among people with HIV taking antiretroviral therapy (ART), researchers reported at the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) last week in Washington, DC. 
Very Early Antiretroviral Therapy Does Not Prevent Immune Activation
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- Category: Search for a Cure
- Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
People who started antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute HIV infection and experienced sustained viral suppression saw a substantial decrease in immune activation markers on their CD8 T-cells after 2 years of treatment, but often not to the level seen in HIV negative individuals, according to a report in the April 15, 2013, Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
AIDS 2012: Causes and Implications of Inflammation in People with HIV [VIDEO]
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Wednesday, 01 August 2012 00:00
- Written by Gregory Fowler
A growing body of evidence indicates that persistent inflammation and immune activation can cause a host of problems for people with HIV. Steven Deeks from the University of California San Francisco gave us a brief summary of HIV-related inflammation at the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) last week in Washington, DC.
CROI 2013: Challenges and Opportunities for the Development of Long-acting Antiretrovirals [VIDEO]
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 15 March 2013 00:00
- Written by Gregory Fowler
Marta Boffito from Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London presented an overview of some of the challenges and opportunities in the development of long-acting antiretroviral agents for HIV treatment and prevention in a themed discussion at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) last week in Atlanta.
Researchers Shed Light on Natural Control of HIV
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Friday, 15 June 2012 00:00
- Written by Press Release
Certain T-cell antigen receptor types are associated with greater response to HIV, which may help explain how a small proportion of people are able to naturally control HIV without antiretroviral therapy, according to a report in the June 10, 2012, advance online edition of Nature Immunology.
CROI 2013: Can HIV Elite Controllers Benefit from Antiretroviral Treatment?
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- Category: HIV Treatment
- Published on Friday, 15 March 2013 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Elite controllers -- people who naturally maintain undetectable viral load without antiretroviral therapy (ART) -- experienced decreased levels of HIV genetic material and reductions in markers of inflammation and immune activation after starting experimental treatment, according to study findings presented at the 20th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2013) last week in Atlanta.
Immediate Antiretroviral Therapy Reduces HIV Infection of Resting CD4 T-Cells
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- Category: HIV Basic Science
- Published on Tuesday, 12 June 2012 00:00
- Written by Liz Highleyman
Starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the acute phase of HIV infection appears to reduce the number of latently infected resting CD4 T-cells in most people, but this may not be the case for individuals with very few initially infected cells, according to a study published in the May 29, 2012, advance online edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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