21 JUNE 2019 VOLUME 20 ISSUE 24

Media Coverage

• Barber-Backed Sex Talks to Curb HIV

  In a study out this week, researchers in New York City detail how getting heterosexual black men in Brooklyn barber shops to attend a safe-sex focused educational session helped curbed risky sexual behavior by many of those men in the months that followed.

  June 21, 2019

  General

  US News & World Report

• Vaginal Ring Can Substantially Impact HIV Prevention, Reveals Mathematical Model

  A vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral drug dapivirine (DPV) could prevent up to 11 percent of new HIV infections among South African women at a high risk of infection, when compared to a scenario where this form of prevention is not available.

  June 21, 2019

  Microbicides

  Avert

• 69,000 Newborns at Risk Due to ARVs Shortage

  About 69,000 children born to HIV-positive mothers risk getting infected due to a shortage of some antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). The drugs are given as prophylaxis in syrup form to such newborns to prevent them from contracting the virus. They also reduce the amount of virus in the body.

  June 21, 2019

  PrEP

  Daily Nation

• Bill Proposes Fully Covering HIV-Prevention Drug PrEP

  US Sen. Kamala Harris is introducing a bill to reduce the transmission of HIV by encouraging the use of PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, a drug that's more than 92 percent effective in preventing new infections. If it becomes law, PrEP would be free to most patients.

  June 20, 2019

  PrEP

  CNN

• Vaccines: Low Trust in Vaccination ‘A Global Crisis’

  Public mistrust of vaccines means the world is taking a step backwards in the fight against deadly yet preventable infectious diseases, warn experts.

  June 19, 2019

  General

  BBC

• HIV Vaccine Trial Good News

  Kenyan scientists’ excellent work in the global fight against HIV goes a notch higher with the planned start of the trial of a new vaccine that stops the vaccine from infecting cells. This is the culmination of the pivotal work being done by a group of researchers led by Prof Omu Anzala, the director of the Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative, which is the site of the planned clinical trial.

  June 17, 2019

  HIV Vaccine

  Daily Nation

• New PrEP Recommendation Likely to Broaden Access to HIV-Protection Drug

  While the task force’s recommendation is expected to improve insurance coverage of PrEP, doctors and HIV-prevention advocates caution that it may not make a difference for patients without insurance or with inadequate insurance, potentially deepening health disparities that already exist.

  June 17, 2019

  PrEP

  Rewire.News

• Nurses More Likely To Test For HIV When Practice Setting Supports Routine Screening

  Nurse practitioners are more likely to conduct HIV screenings if they feel that their colleagues support routine screenings, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. This comes in advance of National HIV Testing Day, taking place June 27.

  June 17, 2019

  General

  Science Magazine

• Kenya Can Overcome All Health Challenges Facing Us, Here’s How

  This week, the UN commended our country’s leadership for being on course to meet the “90-90-90 targets” by 2020. This means diagnosing 90 per cent of all HIV-positive persons, delivering treatment to 90 percent of those diagnosed, and suppressing the virus in 90 percent of people receiving anti-AIDS medication. This is some achievement.

  June 16, 2019

  General

  Standard Digital

• NAC Targets Sex Workers, Artisanal Miners

  The National Aids Council (NAC) has targeted sex workers and artisanal miners in the gold-rich Shurugwi district in order to prevent new HIV infections and tame sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Shurugwi has one of the country’s highest HIV prevalence rate which is pegged at 17 percent at a time when the national average stands at 13 percent. On the other hand, about 300 cases of STIs are recorded every month.

  June 16, 2019

  General

  The Standard

• Ten Things You Have to Know From the AIDS Conference

  The 9th SA AIDS Conference in Durban ended on Friday with the eThekwini Declaration: "A Radical Call to Action - Reinvigorating and Revolutionising the HIV Response".

  June 14, 2019

  General

  Times Live

• HIV Prevention Programme to Be Rolled Out by End of Year

  A programme for preventing HIV infection through the administration of pre-emptive anti-retroviral drugs is to be introduced later this year. The PrEP HIV prevention programme is being implemented by the Government following advice from the State’s health watchdog that it would be safe and cost-effective.

  June 14, 2019

  PrEP

  Irish Times

Published Research

• First Year of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation in France With Daily or On-Demand Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine

  In January 2016, the French Medicine Agency initiated a Temporary Recommendation for Use (TRU) to allow the use of oral intake of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adults at high risk of HIV. In a real-life setting in France, PrEP was used, either daily or on-demand, mostly by MSM, with breakthrough infections being rare.

  June 20, 2019

  PrEP

  Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

• Gene and Protein Delivery Using Four Cell Penetrating Peptides for HIV-1 Vaccine Development

  These findings demonstrated that the simultaneous use of M918 and MPG CPPs as protein and gene carriers improves HIV-1 Nef-specific B- and T-cell immune responses as a promising approach for development of HIV-1 monovalent vaccine.

  June 20, 2019

  HIV Vaccine

  IUBMB Life

• HIV Prevention for Black Heterosexual Men: The Barbershop Talk with Brothers Cluster Randomized Trial

  Barbershops in Brooklyn, New York, neighborhoods with high rates of heterosexually transmitted HIV were randomized to the intervention or an attention control program. Men were recruited from barbershops between 2012 and 2016 and participated in a single small group, peer-led session focused on HIV risk reduction skills and motivation, community health empowerment, and identification of personal strengths and communication skills. Program exposure resulted in reduced sexual risk behaviors, and the program was acceptable for administration in partnership with barbershops.

  June 20, 2019

  General

  AJPH

• Combination Prevention and HIV: A Cross-Sectional Community Survey of Gay and Bisexual Men in London, October to December 2016

  This study suggests that uptake of combination HIV prevention appears to be higher than in previous reports among MSM in London. Higher rates of repeat HIV testing, some evidence of decreased prevalence of undiagnosed HIV infection and the use of PrEP by some MSM engaging in higher risk behaviours are all likely to be linked to fewer HIV diagnoses. The IMPACT trial will increase the number of MSM using PrEP which should reduce HIV transmission further.

  June 20, 2019

  Combination Prevention, Male and Female Condoms, PrEP

  Eurosurveillance

• Vaccines and Global Health: In Search of a Sustainable Model for Vaccine Development and Delivery

  Most vaccines for diseases in low- and middle-income countries fail to be developed because of weak or absent market incentives. Conquering diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, and Ebola, as well as illnesses caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens, requires considerable investment and a new sustainable model of vaccine development involving close collaborations between public and private sectors.

  June 19, 2019

  HIV Vaccine, Therapeutic Vaccines

  Science Translational Medicine

• Monoclonal Antibody 2C6 Targets Cross-Clade Conformational Epitope in gp41 With Highly Active Antibody Dependent Cell Cytotoxicity

  This paper further defines the function and area of the HIV trimeric envelope protein targeted by the monoclonal antibody 2C6. 2C6 binding is influenced by amino acid mutations across two separate gp41 sections of the envelope trimer. This epitope is recognized on multiple clades (variant groups of circulating viruses) of gp41, gp140 trimers, and SOSIP trimers. For the clades tested, 2C6 has robust antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC).

  June 19, 2019

  Antibody Related Research, HIV Vaccine

  Journal of Virology

• SHIV.CH505 Infection of Rhesus Macaques Results in Persistent Viral Replication and Induces Intestinal Immunopathology

  Here, we utilize rhesus macaques to define the immunopathogenesis of the recently developed SHIV.CH505, which was designed without many of the limitations of previous SHIVs. We observed that infection with SHIV.CH505 leads to peripheral viral kinetics and mucosal immunopathogenesis comparable with that caused by pathogenic SIV and HIV. Overall, these data provide evidence of the value of SHIV.CH505 as an effective model of SIV/HIV infection and an important tool that can be used in future studies, including preclinical testing of new therapies or prevention strategies.

  June 19, 2019

  General

  Journal of Virology

• HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and the ‘Problems’ of Reduced Condom Use and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Australia: A Critical Analysis From an Evidence-Making Intervention Perspective

  Using poststructural policy analysis, three main stances were identified: (1) Concerned/alarmed. PrEP was seen as causing reduced condom use, STIs and antibiotic resistance, posing threats to the general population; (2) Neutral/normalising. Stakeholders emphasised that condom use was declining and STIs increasing independently of PrEP, and that PrEP was simply a new tool to be accommodated; (3) Optimistic/critical. PrEP was seen as diminishing fear of HIV and engaging users in more frequent testing and treatment that could lead to declining STI rates.

  June 18, 2019

  PrEP

  Sociology of Health & Illness

• Strategies for Engaging Transgender Populations in HIV Prevention and Care

  Intersectional stigma and discrimination at structural, community, individual levels present substantial impediments to HIV prevention and optimal care. Access to gender-affirming health care is a priority for trans communities. Where trans communities are highly networked, these networks may provide a strong infrastructure for disseminating HIV innovations and reaching individuals who are not engaged in HIV services.

  June 18, 2019

  General

  Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS

• The HIV Epidemic in Latin America: Accomplishments and Challenges on Treatment and Prevention

  The HIV epidemic in the region continues largely concentrated in vulnerable populations with MSM and transgender women (TGW) suffering the highest burden. On treatment, the challenges of late initiation as well as suboptimal adherence persist. On prevention, recent studies on PrEP willingness in key populations show promising results, meanwhile PrEP implementation projects as well as actual PrEP adoption by national health systems is expanding.

  June 18, 2019

  PrEP

  Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS

• Strategies to Promote the Meaningful Involvement of Sex Workers in HIV Prevention and Care

  Comprehensive, community-driven approaches where sex workers mobilize to address their structural, behavioral and biomedical priorities work across HIV prevention and treatment cascades to increase uptake of and engagement with prevention and care technologies and promote broader health and human rights. These interventions need to be adequately supported and taken to scale.

  June 18, 2019

  General

  Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS

• Updated Studies on Development of HIV Therapeutic Vaccine

  Among several methods applying in studied clinical trials which are mainly divided to DNA, Protein, Peptide, Viral vectors and Dendritic cell based vaccines, protein vaccine strategy which is based on Tat protein induced anti-Tat Abs in 79 percent HIV patients. However, the studies need to be continued to achieve a durable efficient immune response against HIV-1.

  June 18, 2019

  HIV Vaccine, Therapeutic Vaccines

  Current HIV Research

• Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision to Prevent HIV: Modelling Age Prioritization in Namibia

  This analysis uses the Decision Makers Program Planning Tool to understand the impact of age prioritization on circumcision in Namibia. Results indicate that circumcising males aged 20–29 reduced HIV incidence most rapidly, while focusing on ages 15–24 was more cost effective and produced greater magnitude of impact. Providing services to those under 15 could increase VMMC volume 67 percent while introducing Early Infant Medical Circumcision could expand coverage.

  June 18, 2019

  Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision

  AIDS and Behavior

• Ethical Considerations for New HIV Prevention Trials

  Several safe and highly effective, evidence-based biomedical approaches exist to prevent HIV infection, but more HIV prevention options are needed. High drop-off in oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use observed in some populations could be addressed by long-lasting products or other alternatives that address existing problems with adherence, tolerance, or long-term use.

  June 17, 2019

  General

  Lancet HIV

• Factors Associated With Willingness to Use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru: Web-Based Survey Among Men Who Have Sex With Men

  In this first cross-country, Web-based survey in Latin America, willingness to use PrEP was found to be high and directly related to PrEP awareness. Interventions to increase awareness and PrEP knowledge about safety and efficacy are crucial to increase PrEP demand. This study provides important information to support the implementation of PrEP in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru.

  June 17, 2019

  PrEP

  JMIR Public Health Surveillance

• Using HIV Risk Prediction Tools to Identify Candidates for Pre-exposure Prophylaxis: Perspectives from Patients and Primary Care Providers

  Our findings suggest that PCPs' views of HIV risk prediction tools are generally positive, whereas MSM participants' are more mixed. Given that both groups emphasized the value of contextualizing risk, shared decision making may be needed to implement HIV risk prediction tools effectively.

  June 17, 2019

  PrEP

  AIDS Patient Care and STDs

• Star Nanoparticles Delivering HIV-1 Peptide Minimal Immunogens Elicit Near-Native Envelope Antibody Responses in Nonhuman Primates

  In conclusion, we evaluated a fully synthetic nanoparticle platform that allows for the correlation of biophysical parameters with vaccine immunogenicity. The data show that a dense array of V3 glycopeptide and PADRE minimal immunogens on the nanoparticle surface effectively engages B cells and other APCs and elicits high-titer antibodies in mice and NHPs, using a TLR7/8 agonist or other adjuvants. This approach can be used to focus antibody responses to a particular site of vulnerability on the HIV trimer.

  June 17, 2019

  Antibody Related Research, HIV Vaccine

  PLoS Biology

• Interventions to Improve Linkage to HIV Care in the Era of “Treat All” in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

  Given the lag time between adoption and implementation, only two of the studies were conducted in a Treat All setting. None of the interventions specifically focused on re-linking PLHIV who had disengaged from care. Future studies must design interventions that target not only newly diagnosed or treatment naïve PLHIV, but should explicitly focus on PLHIV who have disengaged from care.

  June 15, 2019

  Treatment

  Current HIV/AIDS Reports

• Use of a Novel Enhanced DNA Vaccine Vector for Preclinical Virus Vaccine Investigation

  This review describes the creation and use of a DNA vaccine vector containing a porcine circovirus (PCV-1) enhancer element that significantly increases recombinant antigen expression and immunogenicity and allows for dose sparing. A 172 bp region containing the PCV-1 capsid protein promoter (Pcap) and a smaller element (PC; 70 bp) within this were found to be equally effective.

  June 13, 2019

  HIV Vaccine

  Vaccines

• PrEP Interest and HIV-1 Incidence Among MSM and Transgender Women in Coastal Kenya

  TGW had a very high HIV‐1 incidence compared with MSME and MSMW. Subcategories of MSM anticipated different PrEP needs and post‐PrEP risk behaviour. Further studies should assess if TGW may have been wrongly categorized as MSM in other HIV‐1 incidence studies in the region.

  June 13, 2019

  PrEP

  JIAS

• Scaling Up Testing for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Among Contacts of Index Patients — 20 Countries, 2016–2018

  Index testing identifies the exposed partners and biologic children of persons with diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and offers these contacts HIV testing services. Expanding index testing services could help increase the number of HIV-positive persons who know their HIV infection status, increase the number who receive antiretroviral treatment, and, as a result, reduce the number of persons who can transmit the virus.

  May 31, 2019

  General

  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)

• The Role of Rilpivirine in Southern Africa

  In this article, we explore the utility of rilpivirine as an option in ART in South Africa and the region in the context of current public-sector regimens. We consider what role rilpivirine might play if first-line therapy moves to a dolutegravir-based regimen, as has already happened in some lower- and middle-income countries, including Botswana, Kenya and Brazil. Finally, we describe emerging evidence for rilpivirine in the prevention of HIV transmission.

  May 29, 2019

  PrEP, Treatment

  Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine

• Sexual Behaviours, Awareness and Perceptions Towards Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Among Students in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, South Africa

  The findings suggest that there is a high level of awareness on VMMC among college students in relation to its positive role towards reducing STIs and the enhancement of penile hygiene.

  May 22, 2019

  Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision

  Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine

Announcements