The Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic: how does it spread and how do we stop it?
Purpose of review
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global health threat associated with major socioeconomic disruptions. Understanding on the transmission characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for optimizing preventive strategies.
Recent findings
SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted efficiently between persons through respiratory droplets and direct and indirect contact. The significance of airborne droplet nuclei in SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community setting is less clear. SARS-CoV-2 RNA and live viral particles ma...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - October 6, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: COVID19: Edited by Zhiwei Chen and Linqui Zhang Source Type: research
Editorial: The battle for survival between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and human beings
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS)
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - October 6, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: COVID19: Edited by Zhiwei Chen and Linqui Zhang Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS)
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - October 6, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
Roles of fragment crystallizable-mediated effector functions in broadly neutralizing antibody activity against HIV
Purpose of review
‘Broadly neutralizing antibodies’ (bNAbs), are rare HIV-specific antibodies which exhibit the atypical ability to potently neutralize diverse viral isolates. While efforts to elicit bNAbs through vaccination have yet to succeed, recent years have seen remarkable preclinical and clinical advancements of passive immunization approaches targeting both HIV prevention and cure. We focus here on the potential to build upon this success by moving beyond neutralization to additionally harness the diverse effector functionalities available to antibodies via fragment crystallizable-effector (Fc) functions.
R...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - August 28, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: ANTIBODY STRATEGIES IN HIV PREVENTION AND CURE: Edited by Mattia Bonsignori and Marina Caskey Source Type: research
Broadly neutralizing antibodies combined with latency-reversing agents or immune modulators as strategy for HIV-1 remission
Purpose of review
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is extremely effective in controlling HIV-1 infection; however, ART is not curative. Here, we review broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibodies (bNAbs) combined with latency-reversing agents (LRAs) or immune modulators as strategy for achieving long-term HIV-1 remission.
Recent findings
Clinical trials testing the effect of a single intervention such as a LRA ‘shock and kill’, immune modulator or bNAbs among HIV-1 infected individuals on long-term suppressive ART have not lead to long-term HIV-1 remission when ART is stopped. Novel combinations of interventions design...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - August 28, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: ANTIBODY STRATEGIES IN HIV PREVENTION AND CURE: Edited by Mattia Bonsignori and Marina Caskey Source Type: research
Opening the HIV envelope: potential of CD4 mimics as multifunctional HIV entry inhibitors
Purpose of review
Close to 2 million individuals globally become infected with HIV-1 each year and just over two-thirds will have access to life-prolonging antivirals. However, the rapid development of drug resistance creates challenges, such that generation of more effective therapies is not only warranted but a necessary endeavour. This review discusses a group of HIV-1 entry inhibitors known as CD4 mimics which exploit the highly conserved relationship between the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein and the receptor, CD4.
Recent findings
We review the structure/function guided evolution of these inhibitors, vital mechanist...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - August 28, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: ANTIBODY STRATEGIES IN HIV PREVENTION AND CURE: Edited by Mattia Bonsignori and Marina Caskey Source Type: research
Engineering antibody-based molecules for HIV treatment and cure
Purpose of review
Immunotherapy strategies alternative to current antiretroviral therapies will need to address viral diversity while increasing the immune system's ability to efficiently target the latent virus reservoir. Antibody-based molecules can be designed based on broadly neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies that target free virions and infected cells. These multispecific molecules, either by IgG-like or non-IgG-like in structure, aim to target several independent HIV-1 epitopes and/or engage effector cells to eliminate the replicating virus and infected cells. This detailed review is intended to stimulat...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - August 28, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: ANTIBODY STRATEGIES IN HIV PREVENTION AND CURE: Edited by Mattia Bonsignori and Marina Caskey Source Type: research
Recent insights into Fc-mediated effector responses to HIV-1
Purpose of review
Recent work defining Fc-mediated effector functions for both viral control and protection against infection is summarized and considered along with new strategies to drive robust Fc-mediated responses.
Recent findings
In new human and nonhuman primate (NHP) vaccine trials as well as studies of natural infection, Fc-mediated effector responses have sometimes been observed to correlate with decreased risk of infection or with better clinical outcomes, suggesting a potential role for these responses in HIV-1 prevention and therapy. Recent highlights include use of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicit...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - August 28, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: ANTIBODY STRATEGIES IN HIV PREVENTION AND CURE: Edited by Mattia Bonsignori and Marina Caskey Source Type: research
Advances in simian--human immunodeficiency viruses for nonhuman primate studies of HIV prevention and cure
Purpose of review
Simian--human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs), chimeric viruses that encode HIV-1 Env within an SIV backbone, are key reagents for nonhuman primate studies of antibody-based vaccines, broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs), and other Env-targeting reagents. Here, we discuss the provenance and characteristics of currently relevant SHIVs, novel technical advances, recent discoveries enabled by SHIV challenge studies, and the continued development of SHIVs for persistence and cure experiments.
Recent findings
SHIV SF162P3, SHIV AD8EO, and transmitter/founder SHIVs with Env375 mutations are now common ...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - August 28, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: ANTIBODY STRATEGIES IN HIV PREVENTION AND CURE: Edited by Mattia Bonsignori and Marina Caskey Source Type: research
Hitting the sweet spot: exploiting HIV-1 glycan shield for induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies
Purpose of review
The surface of the HIV-1 Env glycoprotein, the target of neutralizing antibodies, is extensively covered by N-linked glycans that create a glycan shield. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), the primary targets of HIV-1 vaccine design, have to negotiate this glycan shield. Here, we review the barriers and opportunities that the HIV-1 glycan shield presents for vaccine induction of bNAbs.
Recent findings
Glycan shields can impact the nature of the antibody response and influence the development of neutralization breadth in HIV-1 infections. The architecture of the glycan shield arising from glycan...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - August 28, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: ANTIBODY STRATEGIES IN HIV PREVENTION AND CURE: Edited by Mattia Bonsignori and Marina Caskey Source Type: research
Editorial introductions
No abstract available (Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS)
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - August 28, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: EDITORIAL INTRODUCTIONS Source Type: research
Global public health efforts to address HIV and related communicable disease syndemics
Purpose of review
To review recent progress in public health efforts to address HIV, and the extent to which key approaches can be applied to three key epidemics that commonly co-occur with HIV: TB, viral hepatitis, and STIs.
Recent findings
The public health approach to tackling HIV in low-income and middle-income settings relied on standardized treatment regimens and monitoring approaches, task sharing and community involvement, and decentralized and integrated service delivery. These approaches can all be applied to three key epidemics that commonly co-occur with HIV: TB, viral hepatitis, and STIs.
Summary
HIV, ...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - June 9, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: HIV SYNDEMICS: Edited by Kenneth H. Mayer Source Type: research
Let's talk chronic disease: can differentiated service delivery address the syndemics of HIV, hypertension and diabetes?
Purpose of review
Differentiated service delivery (DSD) for HIV provides an approach to scaling services that are client-centred and aims to address client challenges whilst reducing the burden on health systems. With access to antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV are living longer and increasingly present with comorbid conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes. This review presents the syndemic burden of HIV, hypertension and diabetes and highlights opportunities and challenges to leveraging DSD across diseases.
Recent findings
Prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in the eight highest HIV prevalence ...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - June 9, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: HIV SYNDEMICS: Edited by Kenneth H. Mayer Source Type: research
Syndemic theory, structural violence and HIV among African–Americans
Purpose of review
This paper will review recent use of syndemic frameworks in HIV research among African–Americans.
Recent findings
Researchers have used syndemic theory in diverse African–American study populations, including MSM, cis-women, trans-women, heterosexual men and adolescents. These studies have evaluated the associations between syndemic conditions and a variety of outcomes, such as sexual behaviours, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, HIV testing, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, HIV suppression and preexposure prophylaxis use. The most frequently evaluated syndemic conditions have be...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - June 9, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: HIV SYNDEMICS: Edited by Kenneth H. Mayer Source Type: research
Characterizing the role of intersecting stigmas and sustained inequities in driving HIV syndemics across low-to-middle-income settings
Purpose of review
In 2020, key populations around the world still have disproportionate risks for HIV acquisition and experiencing HIV-related syndemics. This review presents current data around HIV-related syndemics among key populations globally, and on the role of intersecting stigmas in producing these syndemics in low-to-middle-income settings.
Recent findings
Sex workers, sexual and gender minorities, prisoners, and people who use drugs experience high burdens of tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections, viral hepatitis, and violence linked to heightened HIV-related risks or acquisition. Adverse sexual, rep...
Source: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS - June 9, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: HIV SYNDEMICS: Edited by Kenneth H. Mayer Source Type: research
