14 FEBRUARY 2020 VOLUME 21 ISSUE 6

Media Coverage

• Botswana to Engage Community Leaders to Fight HIV/AIDS

  Botswana will on Sunday launch a new initiative aimed at fully engaging community leaders in the fight against the pandemic HIV, the virus that causes the infectious AIDS.

  February 14, 2020

  General

  Xinhua

• The Search for an Effective HIV Vaccine Continues

  An HIV vaccine trial that started in 2016 in South Africa was halted in February 2020. The study sponsors made the call after interim results showed that the vaccine, known as HVTN 702, did not prevent HIV. This result was disappointing, but the search for an effective HIV vaccine continues. Anatoli Kamali speaks to The Conversation Africa’s Ina Skosana about other developments in the field.

  February 13, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  The Conversation

• Opinion: Fighting for Global Health With ‘One-Two Punch’ of Innovation and Access

  The arrival of 2020 kicked off what the United Nations is calling a “decade of action” around a host of efforts to reach the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals that world leaders have promised to achieve by 2030.

  February 13, 2020

  General

  Devex

• Nuances in SA’s HIV Epidemic: Seven Graphs that Tell the Story

  Over the last decade there have been significant decreases in the rates of new HIV infections, HIV-related deaths, and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) in South Africa. Yet, there are still staggering gaps between different subsets of the population.

  February 12, 2020

  General

  Spotlight

• Criminal Appeal Could Set a New Precedent for HIV Patients Who Use Condoms During Sex

  A group of HIV/AIDS organizations is hoping to establish a new legal precedent that would keep people with HIV from facing criminal charges if they use a condom during sex. The group is making its argument Wednesday at an ongoing case at the Ontario Court of Appeal in Toronto.

  February 12, 2020

  Male and Female Condoms, General

  CBC

• England and Wales PrEP Warning: We’re Running Out of Money

  English and Welsh local councils have warned they may not be able to afford to deliver PrEP from April onwards. Experts have credited the drug with plummeting HIV infection rates in the UK, particularly among gay and bisexual men. But the UK government still hasn’t announced how it will fund PrEP in the long term.

  February 12, 2020

  PrEP

  Gay Star News

• Only Half of Those on HIV Treatment Are Virally Suppressed in Ghana

  Same-day viral load testing finds 49 percent are virally unsuppressed while one in five are failing their treatment with suspected drug resistance.

  February 11, 2020

  Treatment

  Avert

• We’ll Only Rest Once We Get Vaccine, Say Experts Despite Failed Test

  HIV researchers in Kenya and around the world are regrouping to look for a way forward after a promising new vaccine failed a critical test.

  February 11, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  Daily Nation

• ‘Not a Sip of Water in the House’: Living With HIV in a Drought – In Pictures

  Three years of water shortages in Eswatini have disproportionately affected the HIV-positive community. The founder of a local support group in Lubombo is empowering others to look after themselves.

  February 10, 2020

  General

  The Guardian

• Preventative PrEP Rolling Out Could Help Stem the Rise of HIV Among Teen Girls

  Government is embarking on a massive rollout plan to ensure that by the end of September this year, all public health centres will be offering PrEP - a pill to prevent HIV infection.

  February 10, 2020

  PrEP

  Cape Talk

• Gilead Says ‘Step Up for PrEP’ in Descovy’s First HIV Prevention Campaign

  Gilead Sciences is winding down advertising for its first HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) med Truvada—but a new TV campaign for its next-gen Descovy is here, and the company wants viewers to know its pedigree.

  February 10, 2020

  PrEP

  Fierce Pharma

• This Is Not the Time to Give Up, Says SA HIV Advocates

  South African HIV advocates say there is an urgent need for the government to make PrEP available to everyone who needs it. This comes after the announcement made earlier this week by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) about the non-efficacy of the HIV-prevention vaccine in the HVTN 702 clinical trial.

  February 7, 2020

  HIV Vaccine, PrEP

  Health-E News

Published Research

• Structural Basis for Strand-Transfer Inhibitor Binding to HIV Intasomes

  Here, we present high-resolution cryo–electron microscopy structures of HIV intasomes bound to the latest generation of INSTIs. These structures highlight how small changes in the integrase active site can have notable implications for drug binding and design and provide mechanistic insights into why a leading INSTI retains efficacy against a broad spectrum of drug-resistant variants. The data have implications for expanding effective treatments available for HIV-infected individuals.

  February 14, 2020

  Treatment

  Science

• The Effect of 90-90-90 on HIV-1 Incidence and Mortality in eSwatini: A Mathematical Modelling Study

  Scale-up of ART over the last decade has already contributed to substantial reductions in HIV-1 incidence and mortality in eSwatini. Focused ART targeting would further reduce incidence, especially in younger individuals, but even the most aggressive treatment campaigns would be insufficient to end the epidemic in high-burden settings without a renewed focus on expanding preventive measures.

  February 13, 2020

  Treatment

  Lancet HIV

• Mechanisms of Endogenous HIV-1 Reactivation by Endocervical Epithelial Cells

  Pharmacological HIV-1 reactivation to reverse latent infection has been extensively studied. However, HIV-1 reactivation also occurs naturally, as evidenced by occasional low-level viremia (“blips”) during antiretroviral treatment (ART). Clarifying where blips originate from and how they happen could provide clues to stimulate latency reversal more effectively and safely, or to prevent viral rebound following ART cessation. We studied HIV-1 reactivation in the female genital tract, a dynamic anatomical target for HIV-1 infection throughout all disease stages.

  February 12, 2020

  General

  Journal of Virology

• Acceptability of Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir (CAB LA) in HIV-Uninfected Individuals: HPTN 077

  We compared acceptability of product attributes, prevention preferences and future interest in injectable PrEP (FIIP) by region, sex-at-birth, arm and cohort and used multivariable analysis to identify FIIP determinants. Baseline injectable PrEP preferences were higher in non-US sites and increased in both regions over time. In multivariable models, FIIP was most strongly associated with acceptability of product attributes, was higher in non-U.S. sites and more altruistic participants. Treatment arm and report of pain were not associated with FIIP.

  February 12, 2020

  PrEP

  AIDS and Behavior

• CD8+ T Cells in HIV Control, Cure and Prevention

  In this Review, we discuss the increasing evidence derived from individuals who spontaneously control infection without antiretroviral therapy as well as preclinical immunization studies that provide a clear rationale for renewed efforts to develop a CD8+ T cell-based HIV vaccine in conjunction with B cell vaccine efforts. Further, we outline the remaining challenges in translating these findings into viable HIV prevention, treatment and cure strategies.

  February 12, 2020

  HIV Vaccine, Cure, Treatment

  Nature Review Immunology

• Dual Contraception Method Utilization and Associated Factors Among Sexually Active Women on Antiretroviral Therapy in Gondar City, Northwest, Ethiopia: A Cross Sectional Study

  In this study, the proportion of women who utilized dual contraceptive method was low. Age, place of residence, educational status and disclosure of HIV status were factors associated with dual contraceptive use. Therefore, providing education about the advantages of disclosing HIV status to sexual partners and strengthening of counseling about the advantages of dual contraceptive use will be helpful in enhancing the use of dual contraceptive method among sexually active women on antiretroviral therapy.

  February 12, 2020

  Treatment

  BMC Women's Health

• Comparison of Retention in Observational Cohorts and Nested Simulated HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trials in the Key Populations in Uganda

  The rate of dropout was lower in SiVET compared to non-SiVET cohort. Though the difference in dropout between SiVET and non-SiVET was generally similar, the actual dropout rates were higher in the FSW population. Conduct of SiVETs in these key populations could mean that designing HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trials will benefit from lower dropout rate shown in SiVET than non-SiVET observational cohort.

  February 12, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  BMC Medical Research Methodology

• Defining T Cell Tissue Residency in Humans: Implications for HIV Pathogenesis and Vaccine Design

  Exclusive reliance on blood sampling to gain an understanding of host immunity overlooks the contribution of TRM, which differ in significant ways from their counterparts in circulation. It is hoped that greater understanding of these cells will lead to novel approaches to prevent and/or eradicate HIV infection.

  February 12, 2020

  General

  Current HIV/AIDS Reports

• Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision and Sexual Practices Among Sexually Active Circumcised Men in Mzuzu, Malawi: A Cross-Sectional Study

  Risky sexual practices are evident among participants that have undergone VMMC. Messages on safer sexual practices and limitations of VMMC need to be emphasized to clients, especially unmarried or single and those residing in low density areas.

  February 11, 2020

  Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision

  BMC Public Health

• Understanding PrEP Persistence: Provider and Patient Perspectives

  Our findings suggest that drop-in visits, streamlined testing, standing orders for labs, and 90-day PrEP prescriptions are highly desirable for many PrEP users. Also important are the proactive provision of adherence support and counseling, and referrals for housing, substance use, and mental health services.

  February 11, 2020

  PrEP

  AIDS and Behavior

• Discovery of O-Linked Carbohydrate on HIV-1 Envelope and Its Role in Shielding against One Category of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies

  These findings uncover a structural modification to the HIV-1 Env and suggest a functional role in promoting viral escape from one category of broadly neutralizing antibodies.

  February 11, 2020

  General

  Cell Reports

• Technological Challenges in the Preclinical Development of an HIV Nanovaccine Candidate

  Despite a very active research in the field of nanomedicine, only a few nano-based drug delivery systems have reached the market. The “death valley” between research and commercialization has been partially attributed to the limited characterization and reproducibility of the nanoformulations. Our group has previously reported the potential of a peptide-based nanovaccine candidate for the prevention of SIV infection in macaques. This vaccine candidate is composed of chitosan/dextran sulfate nanoparticles containing twelve SIV peptide antigens.

  February 10, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  Drug Delivery and Translational Research

• HIV Infection Risk and Condom Use Among Sex Workers in Senegal: Evidence From the List Experiment Method

  Social desirability bias, which is the tendency to under-report socially undesirable health behaviours, significantly distorts information on sensitive behaviours that is gained from self-reports. As a result, self-reported condom use among high-risk populations is thought to be systematically over-reported, and it is impossible to identify the determinants of condom use.

  February 10, 2020

  Male and Female Condoms, PrEP

  Health Policy and Planning

• Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Mediated Expression of Broadlyneutralizing Antibodies Against HIV - Hitting a Fast-Moving Target

  Here, we provide an overview of HIV genetic diversity, AAV vectorology, and anti-HIV bnAbs and summarize the promises and challenges of the application of AAV in the delivery of bnAbs for HIV prevention and therapy.

  February 10, 2020

  Antibody Related Research

  Current HIV Research

• The Potential Impact of One-Time Routine HIV Screening on Prevention and Clinical Outcomes in the United States: A Model-Based Analysis

  While routine HIV screening may contribute meaningfully to increased case detection in persons not captured by targeted testing programs in some settings, this strategy will have a limited impact on population-level outcomes. Our findings highlight the importance of a multipronged testing strategy with continued investment in risk-based screening programs.

  February 10, 2020

  General

  Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• Limitations of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Metrics: A Simulation-Based Comparison of Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Metrics for the HIV Care Continuum

  The UNAIDS 90-90-90 care continuum may lead to incorrect inference when used to evaluate health systems performance. We recommend that evaluation of HIV care delivery include longitudinal care continuum metrics wherever possible.

  February 10, 2020

  General

  AIDS

• Vaginal Multipurpose Prevention Technologies: Promising Approaches for Enhancing Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health

  Vaginal MPTs present great potential to empower women with novel, efficient and safe products for protection against sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy. However, several technological issues and regulatory gaps still need to be addressed in order to meet real world needs.

  February 8, 2020

  Multipurpose Prevention Technologies

  Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery

• Deletion of Vaccinia Virus A40R Gene Improves the Immunogenicity of the HIV-1 Vaccine Candidate MVA-B

  MVA-B ΔA40R-rev significantly reduced mRNA levels of IFN-β and of several other innate immune-related genes in infected human macrophages. In immunized mice, MVA-B ΔA40R-rev reduced the magnitude of the HIV-1-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses compared to MVA-B ΔA40R. These results revealed an immunosuppressive role of the A40 protein, findings relevant for the optimization of poxvirus vectors as vaccines.

  February 6, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  Vaccines

• Innovations in HIV-1 Vaccine Design

  The HIV vaccinology field has undergone periods of significant growth during the last 3 decades. Findings elucidated in preclinical studies have revealed the importance of the interaction between the cellular and humoral immune system. As a result, several new rationally designed vaccine strategies have been developed and explored in the last 6 years, including native-like envelope trimers, nanoparticle, and mRNA vaccine design strategies among others. Several of these strategies have shown enough promise in animal models to progress toward first-in-human Phase I clinical trials.

  February 5, 2020

  HIV Vaccine

  Clinical Therapeutics

Announcements