7 MAY 2021 VOLUME 23 ISSUE 18

Media Coverage

• Sexual Risk-Taking Common Among Young People in Ugandan Fishing Communities

  An investigation into the link between alcohol use, intimate partner violence (IPV), and HIV-related sexual risks among young people in Ugandan fishing communities suggests that nearly all are engaged in behaviours that make them vulnerable to HIV.

  May 7, 2021

  Male and Female Condoms, General

  Avert

• The Four-decade Quest for an HIV Vaccine Yields New Hope

  When virologist José Esparza began working with the World Health Organization to combat the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, he and many of his colleagues were convinced that a vaccine would be the solution—and that it would come quickly.

  May 7, 2021

  HIV Vaccine

  National Geographic

• Years Ago, a Syringe Exchange Helped End a Devastating HIV Outbreak. Now It Might Be Forced To Close

  The Indiana county at the center of a devastating HIV crisis in 2015 may soon close the syringe exchange program widely credited with helping to end its outbreak.

  May 6, 2021

  General

  STAT

• Uganda Passes Bill Criminalising Same-Sex Relationships and Sex Work

  The Ugandan parliament has passed a controversial sexual offences bill which further criminalises same-sex relationships and sex work. The laws were passed by MPs this week, reiterating sections of legislation first enforced in the country by British colonial rule. They condemn same-sex couples who perform acts deemed against the “order of nature” to 10 years’ imprisonment.

  May 5, 2021

  General

  The Guardian

• USAID Yet to Release Consignment of ARV Drugs to the Government

  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is yet to release a large consignment of ARV medication to the government of Kenya, despite the clearance of the shipment from the port of Mombasa. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has disclosed that there are still 13 containers of the consignment yet to be cleared at the port due to a lack of permits from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).

  May 5, 2021

  Treatment

  Citizen Digital

• HIV Status Does Not Affect Immune Responses to Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine, Two Studies Show

  Two studies of immune responses to the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine show that the vaccine produced similar immune responses in people with or without HIV. People with HIV did not experience more side effects from the vaccine.

  May 5, 2021

  General

  aidsmap

• Rethinking Power and Who Holds It: An Interview With Positive Women’s Network Co-Director Venita Ray

  No longer tied to the traditional single-executive-director model, nonprofit organizations are starting to rethink the idea that one person has to lead. For many, that means questioning whether their single leader–led organization is upholding some outdated practices that participate in and reinforce oppression.

  May 5, 2021

  General

  The BodyPro

• ‘Gamechanger’: Uganda Launches Drone Delivering HIV Drugs to Remote Islands

  As the bottles of medication are carefully loaded into the body of the drone, a small crowd gathers to watch on the other side of the yellow tape marking out the grassy landing strip.

  May 4, 2021

  Treatment

  The Guardian

• UN Chief on Why the World Failed Its HIV Targets for 2020

  Five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly set goals for HIV infections and deaths in 2020 — and the world failed both targets. Now, UN officials are working to explain last year's failures and set targets for the future.

  May 3, 2021

  General

  HIV Plus Mag

• What’s Happening With New HIV Treatments? Three Big Areas to Watch

  The present-day HIV treatment toolbox is well stocked. More than 30 antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) available in an ever-growing array of drug classes means people living with HIV (PLWH) can manage the virus with just one pill once a day. Treatments are not only safe and effective, but tolerable and convenient, with minimal side effects or dietary requirements.

  May 3, 2021

  Treatment

  The Body

• NGO Cries Out Over 100,000 Daily HIV Infection Rate

  A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Heartland Alliance, has expressed worry about the alarming HIV infections in Nigeria, currently at 100,000 per day. Mr. Michael Akanji, a resource person, speaking at a media roundtable organised by the NGO and the AVAC 2020/2021 Fellowship Programme at the weekend in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, decried the continued high rating of Akwa Ibom in HIV Prevalence Rating in the country.

  May 3, 2021

  PrEP

  The Nation

• ‘The Last Brave Thing That Happened’: How the Injecting Room Led the Way on Drug Reform

  The Kings Cross injecting room’s first medical director said she doubts the centre would have opened in today’s political environment as it was “the last brave thing that happened” in drug reform.

  May 2, 2021

  General

  The Sydney Morning Herald

• Op-Ed: Global COVID-19 Vaccine Race Shows Why South Africa Must Prioritise Our Own Research and Development

  Faced with inadequate access to essential treatments, South Africa must prioritise health research and development. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how poor and marginalised South Africans are affected by international factors, and so it is essential to include communities in advocating for better homegrown research and development.

  April 30, 2021

  General

  Health-E News

Published Research

• Financial Incentives and Deposit Contracts To Promote HIV Retesting in Uganda: A Randomized Trial

  Offering financial incentives to high-risk adults in Uganda resulted in significantly higher HIV retesting. Deposit contracts had low uptake and overall did not increase retesting. As part of efforts to increase early diagnosis of HIV among high-risk populations, strategic use of incentives to promote retesting should receive greater consideration by HIV programs.

  May 7, 2021

  General

  PLOS Medicine

• The Future of Antibody-based HIV Prevention

  The highly anticipated results from recent HIV prevention trials, and how the field acts on them, may have important implications for future research. This special report identifies the main issues researchers are contemplating in the aftermath of the first trials to test whether a broadly neutralizing antibody could protect people from HIV infection. Read more to find out what 21 leading experts in the field have to say about the future of antibody-based HIV prevention.

  May 6, 2021

  Antibody Related Research

  IAVI Report

• Exploring Perceived Barriers and Facilitators of PrEP Uptake among Young People in Uganda, Zimbabwe, and South Africa

  The findings indicated that PrEP is an acceptable HIV prevention method. PrEP uptake is linked to personal and environmental factors that need to be considered for successful PrEP roll-out. Multi-level interventions needed to promote PrEP uptake should consider the social and structural drivers and focus on ways that can inspire PrEP uptake and limit the barriers.

  May 5, 2021

  PrEP

  Archives of Sexual Behavior

• Considerations for Increasing Racial, Ethnic, Gender and Sexual Diversity in HIV Cure-Related Research with Analytical Treatment Interruptions: A Qualitative Inquiry

  Our study generated actionable considerations that could be implemented in ATI trials to promote their acceptability to communities that have been under-represented in HIV cure research to date. Research teams must invest in robust community and stakeholder engagement to define best practices. Paying attention to representation and equity will also promote better and more equitable implementation of HIV cure strategies once these become ready for roll-out.

  May 5, 2021

  Cure

  AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses

• Exploring the Heterogeneity of Factors That May Influence Implementation of PrEP in Family Planning Clinics: A Latent Profile Analysis

  Latent profile analyses can help researchers understand how implementation readiness varies across healthcare settings, promoting tailoring of implementation strategies to unique contexts.

  May 4, 2021

  PrEP

  Implementation Science Communications

• Development of a VRC01-Class Germline Targeting Immunogen Derived From Anti-Idiotypic Antibodies

  An effective HIV-1 vaccine will likely need to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). Broad and potent VRC01-class bNAbs have been isolated from multiple infected individuals, suggesting that they could be reproducibly elicited by vaccination. Several HIV-1 envelope-derived germline-targeting immunogens have been designed to engage naive VRC01-class precursor B cells. However, they also present off-target epitopes that could hinder development of VRC01-class bNAbs.

  May 4, 2021

  Antibody Related Research

  Cell Reports

• Acceptability of Daily Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Adolescent Men Who Have Sex With Men, Travestis and Transgender Women in Brazil: A Qualitative Study

  Participants’ low knowledge and acceptability of PrEP are circumscribed by a rigid perception of condom as the ideal prevention method and the context of their sexual relations. Prospective acceptability highlights that the successful uptake of PrEP depends on overcoming barriers of access to health services and confronting transphobia and homophobia as part of care.

  May 4, 2021

  PrEP

  PLOS One

• The Influence of Perceived Dapivirine Vaginal Ring Effectiveness on Social Disclosure and Ring Adherence

  We analyzed data from 1428 users of the dapivirine vaginal ring, who participated in the MTN-020/ASPIRE phase III trial and subsequent open-label extension MTN-025/HOPE trial, to examine relationships between perceived ring protection, social disclosures, and self-reported ring adherence. In HOPE, 77 percent perceived the ring to be highly effective, and this view was associated with speaking: (a) to a greater number of people about the study, (b) with other participants, (c) to more people who were in favor of the ring, and (d) to more people whose opinions were valued. These findings suggest the importance of women’s internalized ideas about the protective benefits of the DVR in sharing information about the ring and the importance of social support on adherence.

  May 3, 2021

  Microbicides

  AIDS and Behavior

• PrEP Willingness and Adherence Self-Efficacy Among Men Who have Sex with Men with Recent Condomless Anal Sex in Urban China

  Results suggest a two-step approach to (1) promote PrEP acceptance among Chinese MSM and (2) enhance adherence and risk monitoring among PrEP-willing MSM. Efforts to reduce stigma, incorporate PrEP in the HIV prevention continuum, and increase PrEP knowledge will be crucial to optimize PrEP implementation.

  May 1, 2021

  Male and Female Condoms, PrEP

  AIDS and Behavior

• A State of the Science on HIV Prevention Over 40 Years Among Black and Hispanic/Latinx Communities

  To address HIV prevention, multilevel interventions that address individual, structural, and social level components have demonstrated more sustainable outcomes. Implications for research and clinical practice include (a) updating antiquated curricula in nursing, medicine, and public health that perpetuate racial, structural-level inequities and (b) increasing the pipeline for Black and Hispanic/Latinx persons to pursue research or clinical-focused doctorate degrees.

  May 1, 2021

  General

  JANAC

• Association Between Medical Male Circumcision and HIV Risk Compensation Among Heterosexual Men: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

  The promotion of circumcision as an HIV preventive measure does not appear to increase higher-risk sexual behaviours in heterosexual men. Ongoing sexual health education should be maintained as a vital component of effective MMC programmes.

  April 30, 2021

  Male and Female Condoms, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision

  Lancet Global Health

• High Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake but Low Completion Rates and HIV Testing Follow-Up in Health Workers, Harare, Zimbabwe

  While uptake of PEP was timely and high, the majority of HCWs failed to complete the 28-day treatment course and even fewer attended for follow-up HIV-tests. Various changes are recommended to promote awareness of PEP and improve adherence to guidelines.

  April 30, 2021

  General

  JIDC

• Transitioning From HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Men Who Have Sex With Men

  Increasing efforts are required to ensure MSM and other high‐risk populations have access to PrEP, particularly people who access PEPSE. Where indicated, all MSM who access PEPSE should have a documented discussion and ideally transition immediately onto PrEP following completion of PEPSE.

  April 30, 2021

  PrEP

  HIV Medicine

• Production and Characterization of Anti-CCR5 siRNA-Loaded Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles for Topical Pre-exposure Prophylaxis

  Here we describe the production protocol of anti-CCR5 siRNA-loaded polycaprolactone-based nanoparticles (≈100 nm). Furthermore, we present data regarding the physicochemical and in vitro biological characterization of obtained nanosystems, which support their potential as microbicide candidates for topical pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV-1 infection.

  April 30, 2021

  Microbicides

  Design and Delivery of SiRNA Therapeutics

• Smart Vaginal Bilayer Films of Tenofovir Based on Eudragit® L100/Natural Polymer for the Prevention of the Sexual Transmission of HIV

  The controlled release of Tenofovir in simulated vaginal fluid was faster in the presence of simulated seminal fluid due to the dissolution of EL100. Films containing 400mg of EL100 and tragacanth gum are promising candidates for future studies, as they could sexually safeguard women from HIV for at least one week and ensure greater protection during intercourse.

  April 29, 2021

  Microbicides

  International Journal of Pharmaceutics

Announcements