HIV and COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean
AbstractPurpose of ReviewLatin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has been hit hard by COVID-19 due to political instability, flawed health systems, and structural inequalities. The repercussion of the pandemic on vulnerable populations, like people living with HIV (PLWH), is complex. This review aims to explore the interactions between the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics in this region.Recent FindingsData regarding the interactions of HIV and COVID-19 in LAC is scarce. Only case reports or small case series have been published regarding the clinical course of COVID-19 in PLWH and regarding the clinical course of COVID-19 in PLWH,...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Social and Behavioral Impacts of COVID-19 on People Living with HIV: Review of the First Year of Research
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewThe SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic brought unprecedented social change with the most severe impacts on the most vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV (PLWH). This review examined findings from empirical studies of social and behavioral impacts of COVID-19 on PLWH in the first year of the pandemic.Recent FindingsImpacts of COVID-19 on PLWH fit within an HIV syndemics framework, with overlapping COVID-19 and HIV comorbid conditions concerning mental health and structural inequality. Early impacts of COVID-19 on social isolation, emotional distress, stigma, and substance use var...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Emerging Single-cell Approaches to Understand HIV in the Central Nervous System
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review highlights emerging single-cell sequencing methods relevant to translational studies of HIV in the central nervous system (CNS), summarizes limited single-cell studies of HIV in the CNS, and discusses opportunities for future HIV translational CNS studies.Recent FindingsInnovative methods utilizing single-cell technologies have advanced the study of genomes, proteomes, transcriptomes, and epigenomes at an enhanced resolution and depth. Single-cell analyses of central nervous system tissue, including autopsy brain and CSF cells, may shed light on CNS perturbations in people living with H...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Central Nervous System Impact of Perinatally Acquired HIV in Adolescents and Adults: an Update
AbstractPurpose of ReviewPerinatally acquired HIV infection (PHIV) can confer neurodevelopmental risk. As children with PHIV increasingly survive through adolescence and into adulthood, understanding its long-term central nervous system (CNS) impacts is critical for maximizing adult outcomes and quality of life.Recent FindingsRecently published neurocognitive and neuroimaging findings show impacts on the CNS associated with early HIV disease progression that endure into adolescence and young adulthood. Although developmental trajectories in adolescence largely appear stable, further research on maturational processes is in...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Social Determinants of Disease: HIV and COVID-19 Experiences
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe differential impact of the COVID-19 and HIV pandemics on marginalized communities has renewed calls for more robust and deeper investigation into structural and social causes of health inequities contributing to these infections, including underlying factors related to systematic racism. Using the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework, we analyzed parallel and divergent factors associated with COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS and the prevalence of disparate disease in diverse communities. We utilized PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant literature (N = 210 articles) that resulted in a review of...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Impact of Chronic HIV Infection on SARS-CoV-2 Infection, COVID-19 Disease and Vaccines
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has developed into a global pandemic that affect the health of hundreds of millions worldwide. In particular, SARS-CoV-2 infection in people with chronic human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection is of concern, due to their already immunocompromised status. Yet, whether and how the immunological changes brought about by HIV will affect the immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 acute infection and impact the effectiveness of vaccines remain unclear. We discuss the intersection of COVID-19 in HIV-infected individuals.Recent FindingsPe...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
COVID-19: Impact on the HIV and Tuberculosis Response, Service Delivery, and Research in South Africa
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo describe how mitigation measures against COVID-19 have impacted HIV and TB research in South Africa.Recent FindingsSouth Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 (34%) cases in Africa, accounting for 43% of all reported COVID-19-related deaths on the continent. The country accounts for 20% of all people living with HIV and ranked third in the world for new TB infections in 2019.SummaryWhile South Africa ’s investments in its HIV and TB responses enabled it to pivot rapidly to respond to the emerging COVID-19 epidemic, it negatively impacted the HIV and TB response through temporary suspension...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Adventures in COVID-19 Policy Modeling: Education Edition
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo introduce readers to policy modeling, a multidisciplinary field of quantitative analysis, primarily used to help guide decision-making. This review focuses on the choices facing educational administrators, from K-12 to universities in the USA, as they confronted the COVID-19 pandemic. We survey three key model-based approaches to mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 spread in schools and on university campuses.Recent FindingsFrequent testing, coupled with strict attention to behavioral interventions to prevent further transmission can avoid large outbreaks on college campuses. K-12 administrators can greatl...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
HIV and SARS-CoV-2: Tracing a Path of Vaccine Research and Development
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review examines the major advances and obstacles in the field of HIV vaccine research as they pertain to informing the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.Recent FindingsAlthough the field of HIV research has yet to deliver a licensed vaccine, the technologies developed and knowledge gained in basic scientific disciplines, translational research, and community engagement have positively impacted the development of vaccines for other viruses, most notably and recently for SARS-CoV-2. These advances include the advent of viral vectors and mRNA as vaccine delivery platforms; the use of str...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Intersecting Pandemics of HIV and SARS-CoV-2: Commentary on the Special Issue
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis editorial introduces this special Global Health Section on the interface of the HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics.Recent FindingsAuthors of articles in this special issue take on a variety of topics that capture how the acute COVID-19 pandemic affected global efforts towards HIV control, and how co-infection, stigma, and social determinants of disease have affected populations on multiple continents.SummaryTwo historic pandemics -- HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 -- have affected the world in our lifetimes at a level reminiscent of the 1918-1919 H1N1 influenza pandemic. We have much to learn from bot...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - February 1, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
HIV and COVID-19 in Latin America and the Caribbean
AbstractPurpose of ReviewLatin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has been hit hard by COVID-19 due to political instability, flawed health systems, and structural inequalities. The repercussion of the pandemic on vulnerable populations, like people living with HIV (PLWH), is complex. This review aims to explore the interactions between the HIV and COVID-19 pandemics in this region.Recent FindingsData regarding the interactions of HIV and COVID-19 in LAC is scarce. Only case reports or small case series have been published regarding the clinical course of COVID-19 in PLWH and regarding the clinical course of COVID-19 in PLWH,...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - January 29, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
HIV and SARS-CoV-2: Tracing a Path of Vaccine Research and Development
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review examines the major advances and obstacles in the field of HIV vaccine research as they pertain to informing the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.Recent FindingsAlthough the field of HIV research has yet to deliver a licensed vaccine, the technologies developed and knowledge gained in basic scientific disciplines, translational research, and community engagement have positively impacted the development of vaccines for other viruses, most notably and recently for SARS-CoV-2. These advances include the advent of viral vectors and mRNA as vaccine delivery platforms; the use of str...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - January 28, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
COVID-19: Impact on the HIV and Tuberculosis Response, Service Delivery, and Research in South Africa
AbstractPurpose of ReviewTo describe how mitigation measures against COVID-19 have impacted HIV and TB research in South Africa.Recent FindingsSouth Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 (34%) cases in Africa, accounting for 43% of all reported COVID-19-related deaths on the continent. The country accounts for 20% of all people living with HIV and ranked third in the world for new TB infections in 2019.SummaryWhile South Africa ’s investments in its HIV and TB responses enabled it to pivot rapidly to respond to the emerging COVID-19 epidemic, it negatively impacted the HIV and TB response through temporary suspension...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - January 22, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
PEPFAR ’s Role in Protecting and Leveraging HIV Services in the COVID-19 Response in Africa
We describe the impact of COVID-19 on PEPFAR programs in Africa and how PEPFAR adapted and leveraged its interventions to the changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic.Recent FindingsTo mitigate the potential impact of COVID-19 on the HIV response and protect the gains, continuity of treatment was the guiding principle regarding the provision of services in PEPFAR-supported countries. As the COVID-19 pandemic matured, PEPFAR ’s approach evolved from a strictly “protect and salvage” approach to a “restore and accelerate” approach that embraced innovative adaptations in service and “person-centered” care.Summ...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - January 4, 2022 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Introducing the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring in Sub-Saharan Africa: What Can We Learn from Oral PrEP?
AbstractPurpose of reviewClinical trials have found that the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR) is safe to use and effective at reducing women ’s risk of acquiring HIV infection. As countries prepare for the introduction of this novel long-acting, woman-controlled prevention method, an examination of key learnings from oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery will help programs leverage successful innovations and approaches to suppo rt DVR scale-up and expand the method mix for HIV prevention.Recent findingsIntensive efforts over the past 5 years have yielded lessons on how to facilitate access to oral PrEP; expand ser...
Source: Current HIV/AIDS Reports - December 15, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
