20 AUGUST 2021 VOLUME 23 ISSUE 33

Media Coverage

• PrEP: Free State Govt Spreads Message in Bid To Curb HIV

  The Free State government is holding roadshows to educate people about PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) as a means to prevent HIV infection from sexual contact, especially HIV negative people at risk of contracting the virus from their partners.

  August 20, 2021

  PrEP

  Health-E News

• Why the War Against HIV Rages in the South

  Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (SHAAD) is a national awareness day to rewrite the narratives of those living with HIV in the South. For me, SHAAD is a day that I recognize all the intersections I live within, being a Black, same-gender-loving, cisgender man living with HIV in the south in Texas. To navigate my life through those intersections, I have to first recognize the targeted stereotypes from one another while dismantling the systems that created them.

  August 20, 2021

  General

  The Advocate

• Conclusive PrEP Study in China Paves the Way for National Provision for Gay Men

  A Chinese study comparing HIV incidence in 1222 gay and bisexual men who took HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with 507 men who chose not to take it found five HIV infections amongst the PrEP users and 28 in the non-users. The study was presented at last month’s International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2021).

  August 19, 2021

  PrEP

  aidsmap

• Federal Government Commits Hundreds of Millions for HIV Cure

  Over the next five years, 10 research organizations looking to end HIV will receive a split of $53 million dollars annually from the National Institutes of Health. Part of that funding will go toward the Martin Delaney Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE). The group will receive $5.2 million for each of the five years. It’s led by University of North Carolina School of Medicine professor and director of the UNC HIV Cure Center, Dr. David Margolis.

  August 18, 2021

  Cure

  HIV Plus Mag

• Gilead Warns That Counterfeit Versions of Its HIV Meds Are Being Found in US Pharmacies

  US pharmacies are selling counterfeit versions of HIV medication, according to the biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. Specifically, Gilead warned that knock-off versions of its Biktarvy and Descovy medications have circulated through pharmacies due to unauthorized distributors. Both medications are used to treat people living with HIV. Descovy is also used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV-negative people from contracting the virus.

  August 17, 2021

  PrEP, Treatment

  LGBTQ Nation

• Tori Cooper Becomes the First Black Trans Woman on Presidential HIV Council

  We all know the Biden administration prides itself on its many firsts since the 2020 election, and Tori Cooper is the latest addition to the most diverse government in history. According to NBC, Cooper is the director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice Initiative with 30 years of experience in elevating the needs of her community. She began her work as an advocate in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program called Sister to Sister.

  August 16, 2021

  General

  The Root

• Fears Over HIV Surge As Circumcision Drops in Nyanza

  Experts have warned of a possible surge in HIV infection in Nyanza following reduced male circumcisions. The COVID-19 pandemic and withdrawal of funding have been blamed for the dip in circumcision numbers.

  August 16, 2021

  Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision

  The Standard

• Approaching HIV Through Health Equity

  Despite responding to the HIV/AIDS for decades, we are still struggling to combat this viral pandemic. In the United States, 1.2 million people have HIV and it is estimated that in 2019, 34,800 new HIV infections occurred. More worrisome, of the 1.2 million living with HIV, 13 percent don’t know they are infected and need testing. Like so many health issues, there is a disproportionate impact on various populations already experiencing social and health disparities.

  August 16, 2021

  General

  Contagion Live

• Moderna's HIV Vaccine to Start Human Trials Early As Wednesday, Uses mRNA Like COVID Shot

  Biotechnology company Moderna is preparing to begin human trials on HIV vaccines as early as Wednesday, using the same mRNA platform as the firm's COVID-19 vaccine.

  August 13, 2021

  HIV Vaccine

  Newsweek

• Study: Bimonthly, Injected PrEP Better Than Daily Pill at Preventing HIV

  When the antiretroviral regimen known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, was launched nearly a decade ago, patients were suddenly able to achieve near-complete protection against contracting HIV by taking just one pill a day.

  August 13, 2021

  PrEP

  UPI

• Can These Three Gene Therapies Get Us Closer to an HIV Cure?

  Three research teams investigating HIV cures received a total of nearly $600,000 in grants from amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. All three groups are exploring cutting-edge gene therapies as a possible way to eradicate the HIV reservoir and cure HIV.

  August 13, 2021

  Cure

  POZ

• Two Thai Clinics Provide Exemplary Models of Trans-Centred Care, Researchers Say

  The success of two Thai clinics can be attributed to the active participation of trans women, integrating sexual health and gender-affirming services and a focus on offering destigmatising services in a culturally appropriate manner, a recent qualitative study found.

  August 13, 2021

  General

  aidsmap

Published Research

• Evaluation of Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Sensitivity by Genotyping and Phenotyping for Qualifying Participants to HIV Clinical Trials

  The genotypic assessment was found to be as predictive as the direct measurement of bNAb sensitivity by phenotyping and may, therefore, be preferred because of more rapid turnaround time and assay simplicity. A significant number of the participants were predicted to have virus sensitive to EVM and 3BNC117 and could, thus, be potential participants for clinical trials involving these bNAbs.

  September 1, 2021

  Antibody Related Research

  JAIDS

• Brief Report: “I Didn't Really Have a Primary Care Provider Until I Got PrEP”: Patients' Perspectives on HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis as a Gateway to Health Care

  The benefits of PrEP extend beyond HIV prevention to broader engagement in health care, including new relationships with primary care providers and use of other preventive health care services. To maximize those benefits, efforts are needed to ensure that providers are aware, nonjudgmental, and supportive of PrEP use.

  September 1, 2021

  PrEP

  JAIDS

• Perceived HIV Acquisition Risk and Low Uptake of PrEP Among a Cohort of Transgender Women With PrEP Indication in the Eastern and Southern United States

  These findings suggest that further guidance is needed for health care providers in prescribing PrEP to transgender women. Greater uptake and adherence are also needed for optimal effectiveness.

  September 1, 2021

  PrEP

  JAIDS

• Patient Costs for Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission and Antiretroviral Therapy Services in Public Health Facilities in Zimbabwe

  Zimbabwe has made large strides in addressing HIV. To ensure a continued robust response, a clear understanding of costs associated with its HIV program is critical. The mean annual patient costs per person for PMTCT and ART in this evaluation will impact household income since PMTCT and ART services in Zimbabwe are supposed to be free.

  August 18, 2021

  PLOS One

• Blocking α4β7 Integrin Delays Viral Rebound in SHIVSF162P3-Infected Macaques Treated With Anti-HIV Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies

  In a new study, Frank et al. investigated how blocking integrin α4β7 in macaques infected with a simian-human immunodeficiency virus and treated with anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) could modulate viral load. Their results suggested that the combination of α4β7 blockade and bNAbs may have controlled the virus better and longer than treatment with bNAbs alone. These findings need to be recapitulated in larger studies with a focus on determining the mechanisms and the duration of virologic control, before they can be translated into clinical settings.

  August 18, 2021

  Antibody Related Research

  Science Translational Medicine

• Rapid Selection of HIV Envelopes That Bind to Neutralizing Antibody B Cell Lineage Members With Functional Improbable Mutations

  In this study, we identify a minimal subset of mutations sufficient for the function of the naturally occurring V3-glycan bnAb DH270.6. Using antibody library screening, candidate envelope immunogens that interact with DH270.6-like antibodies containing this set of key mutations are identified and selected in vitro. Our results demonstrate that less complex B cell evolutionary pathways than those naturally observed exist for the induction of HIV bnAbs by vaccination, and they establish rational approaches to identify boosting candidate immunogens.

  August 17, 2021

  Antibody Related Research, HIV Vaccine

  Cell Reports

• Description of Adverse Events Among Adult Men Following Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision: Findings From a Circumcision Programme in Two Provinces of South Africa

  The VMMC programme was able to reach adult men at high risk of HIV acquisition. Reported AEs in the programme were minimal, with the observed safety profile comparable to clinical trial settings, suggesting that VMMC can be safely administered in a programmatic setting.

  August 17, 2021

  Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision

  PLOS One

• Rate of Condom Use Among Sexually Active Adolescents: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Taiwan From 2012 to 2016

  This study highlights an urgent need to instil a proper understanding of protected sex while adolescents are still in their formative years. Despite the low sexual intercourse rate (4.95 percent), there is lower condom use at last sex than at first sex, which indicates that many sexually active adolescents are not practising protected sex, especially among junior high school students.

  August 17, 2021

  Male and Female Condoms

  BMJ Open

• Uptake of Oral Fluid-Based HIV Self-Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men and Transgender Women in Thailand

  This study demonstrated a high uptake of oral fluid-based HIVST among MSM and TGW populations in Thailand and that HIVST could be scaled up through the national epidemic control program. However, a better understanding of HIV testing-seeking behavior and innovative follow-up solutions are needed to improve and monitor linkages to services for people who undertake HIVST.

  August 16, 2021

  General

  PLOS One

• Interactions Between Etonogestrel-Releasing Contraceptive Implant and Three Antiretroviral Regimens

  The findings demonstrate no interactions between etonogestrel and ritonavir-boosted-lopinavir or ritonavir-boosted-atazanavir, but confirm the decreased efficacy of etonogestrel with efavirenz-based antiretrovirals. This information should be used to counsel women with HIV who desire long-acting reversible contraceptives.

  August 15, 2021

  Hormonal Contraceptives and HIV

  Contraception

• New Insights Into Pathogenesis Point to HIV-1 Tat as a Key Vaccine Target

  Here, we briefly summarize the vaccine strategies and vaccine candidates that in recent years advanced to efficacy trials with mostly unsatisfactory results. Next, we discuss a novel and somewhat contrarian approach based on biological and epidemiological evidence, which led us to choose the HIV protein Tat for the development of preventive and therapeutic HIV vaccines. Toward this goal, we review here the role of Tat in the virus life cycle as well as experimental and epidemiological evidence supporting its key role in the natural history of HIV infection and comorbidities.

  August 14, 2021

  HIV Vaccine

  Archives of Virology

• Improved PrEP Awareness and Use among Trans Women in San Francisco, California

  Knowledge and use of PrEP among trans women in San Francisco increased in recent years; almost all had heard about PrEP, 64.7 percent had discussed PrEP with a healthcare provider, and 44.8 percent had taken PrEP in the past 12 months. PrEP use was associated with participation in a PrEP demonstration project and condomless receptive anal intercourse. Injection drug use was negatively associated. Efforts are needed to combat the gender-based stigma and discrimination faced by trans women, which can result in avoidance and mistrust of the medical system.

  August 14, 2021

  Male and Female Condoms, PrEP

  AIDS and Behavior

• Are Men Who Have Sex With Men at Higher Risk for HIV in Latin America More Aware of PrEP?

  Higher risk of HIV infection was associated with increased PrEP awareness in Brazil. However, this association was weak indicating that PrEP awareness could be strengthened with further prevention efforts. In the remaining countries, results were non-conclusive between risk and awareness. Interventions to increase PrEP awareness are paramount to increase PrEP willingness and uptake and in turn prevent new HIV infections. Social media platforms could play an important role to achieve this goal.

  August 13, 2021

  PrEP

  PLOS One

• Cooperation Between Systemic IgG1 and Mucosal Dimeric IgA2 Monoclonal Anti-HIV Env Antibodies: Passive Immunization Protects Indian Rhesus Macaques Against Mucosal SHIV Challenges

  Here we sought to confirm the unexpected synergy between systemically administered IgG1 and mucosally applied dIgA HGN194 forms using six groups of naïve macaques (n=6/group). All controls became viremic. Among passively immunized animals, the combination of IgG1+dIgA2 again protected 100 percent of the animals. We conclude that combining suboptimal antibody defenses at systemic and mucosal levels can yield synergy and completely prevent virus acquisition.

  August 3, 2021

  Antibody Related Research

  Frontiers in Immunology

• Implementation of HIV Self-Testing to Reach Men in Rural uMkhanyakude, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A DO-ART Trial Sub Study

  Large scale distribution of HIVST kits targeting men in rural KwaZulu-Natal is feasible and highly effective in reaching men, including those who had not previously tested for HIV. While two-thirds of persons who tested HIV positive initiated ART, additional linkage strategies are needed for those who do not link after HIVST. HIVST should be used as a tool to reach men in order to achieve 95% coverage in the UNAIDS testing and care cascade in KwaZulu-Natal.

  August 3, 2021

  General

  Frontiers in Public Health

• Evaluating for Health Equity Among a Cluster of Health Departments Implementing PrEP Services

  Findings suggest that integrating health equity strategies such as storytelling and healthcare worker (HCW) trainings can help reduce HIV-related disparities. Storytelling improved HCW’s understanding of clients’ experiences of stigma due to racial, gender, and sexual identities. Provider training increased competencies on culturally appropriate care and the use of clinic services by Black and Hispanic MSM and transgender persons. Good practices included community engagement, seeking leadership buy-in, and integration of programmatic staff in health equity and evaluation activities.

  July 27, 2021

  PrEP

  Evaluation and Program Planning

Announcements