Review
Hematology
Antonino Carbone, Emanuela Vaccher, Annunziata Gloghini
Summary: HIV infection increases the risk of cancer, especially lymphomas. The treatment for HIV-associated lymphomas has improved with the introduction of modern therapies, but there is still a need for the development of new treatment strategies.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Victoria Cairoli, Daniel Valle-Millares, Maria C. Terron-Orellano, Daniel Luque, Pablo Ryan, Lourdes Dominguez, Luz Martin-Carbonero, Ignacio De los Santos, Elena De Matteo, Beatriz Ameigeiras, Veronica Briz, Paola Casciato, Maria Victoria Preciado, Pamela Valva, Amanda Fernandez-Rodriguez
Summary: This study characterizes the plasma-derived extracellular vesicles miRNA signature of chronic HCV infected and HIV coinfected patients, revealing potential molecular mechanisms of coinfection. The study identifies differentially expressed miRNAs that regulate biological pathways related to HCV and HIV pathogenesis, which may assist in the development of new biomarkers and treatment strategies.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE-JMM
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Meghan Elizabeth Sise, David Seth Goldberg, Douglas Earl Schaubel, Robert J. Fontana, Jens J. Kort, Rita R. Alloway, Christine M. Durand, Emily A. Blumberg, E. Steve Woodle, Kenneth E. Sherman, Robert S. Brown, John J. Friedewald, Niraj M. Desai, Samuel T. Sultan, Josh Levitsky, Meghan D. Lee, Ian A. Strohbehn, J. Richard Landis, Melissa Fernando, Jenna L. Gustafson, Raymond T. Chung, Peter Philip Reese
Summary: This multicenter study suggests that opting-in for kidney transplantation from HCV-viremic donors can increase the probability of transplantation and have excellent 1-year outcomes.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paddy Ssentongo, Emily S. Heilbrunn, Anna E. Ssentongo, Shailesh Advani, Vernon M. Chinchilli, Jonathan J. Nunez, Ping Du
Summary: Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and mortality risk are higher among people living with HIV/AIDS compared to HIV-negative individuals. The beneficial effects of antiretroviral therapy in reducing infection and mortality risks for COVID-19 in PLWHA remain inconclusive. Prioritizing SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for persons with HIV is recommended to mitigate the increased risk associated with HIV infection.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Prince Kofi Parbie, Taketoshi Mizutani, Aya Ishizaka, Ai Kawana-Tachikawa, Lucky Ronald Runtuwene, Sayuri Seki, Christopher Zaab-Yen Abana, Dennis Kushitor, Evelyn Yayra Bonney, Sampson Badu Ofori, Satoshi Uematsu, Seiya Imoto, Yasumasa Kimura, Hiroshi Kiyono, Koichi Ishikawa, William Kwabena Ampofo, Tetsuro Matano
Summary: HIV-1 infected individuals under antiretroviral therapy can control viremia but are at risk of developing non-AIDS diseases, with gut microbiome dysbiosis playing a role in disease progression. A study in Ghana found differences in fecal microbiome composition between HIV-1 infected adults and healthy individuals, with reduced alpha diversity and changes in bacterial taxa observed in the infected group. This study provided insights into dysbiotic fecal microbiome characteristics in HIV-1 infected adults in Ghana, representing West African populations.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zain Ali, Iram Shahzadi, Aqsa Majeed, Hafiz Muhammad Talha Malik, Shahid Waseem, Ibrar Ahmed, Riffat Aysha Anis, Sadia Saeed, Mariam Anees
Summary: The study revealed that treated HIV infection group had the highest abundance of Firmicutes, significantly higher than the untreated HIV infection group and the control group. The untreated HIV infection group showed significantly higher species richness compared to the treated and control groups. An altered serum microbiome was observed in treated HIV infection and higher microbial abundance in the serum of untreated HIV infection.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Xiu-Cheng Yang, Zhang-Ping Hong, Yi Wang, Nan Meng, Yong Hu, Qian-Yu Xiong, Da-Wen Qin, Du Shen, Xing-Lin Yang
Summary: This study investigated the molecular epidemiology and evolutionary dynamics of HCV among HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Guizhou Province, China. The major HCV subtypes in this region were identified as 1b, 3a, 3b, and 6a, with 6a being the most dominant subtype. Phylogeographic analysis revealed that 6a originated from Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, while 3b emerged from the IDU network in Yunnan. Subtype 6a has shown a rapid population growth in Guizhou since 2004, with a slower growth rate in recent years.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
N. Legrand, G. David, A. Rodallec, A. Gaultier, D. Salmon, A. Cesbron, L. Wittkop, F. Raffi, K. Gendzekhadze, C. Retiere, C. Allavena, K. Gagne
Summary: The genetic combinations of KIR/HLA affect the clearance and chronic infection conditions of NK and T cells in HIV-HCV co-infected individuals, with European subjects with spontaneous clearance characterized by specific KIR/HLA genetic features.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Lesley R. de Armas, Suresh Pallikkuth, Li Pan, Stefano Rinaldi, Rajendra Pahwa, Savita Pahwa
Summary: The study found that people living with HIV who received anti-retroviral therapy experienced accelerated immune aging compared to healthy controls, and immune biomarkers in blood samples could be used as an indicator of "immunological age" during HIV infection treated with ART.
Article
Immunology
Vera Portillo, Chiara Fedeli, Pilar Ustero Alonso, Ianis Petignat, Ellen Cristina Mereles Costa, Adi Sulstarova, Cyril Jaksic, Sabine Yerly, Alexandra Calmy
Summary: This study assesses the immunological response and virological control of mRNA vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 in people living with HIV. The study found that all participants developed antibodies after the first and second doses, with minor impact on HIV-1 RNA levels over a 6-month period.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Eric Zhang, Jin Choul Chai, Amy A. Deik, Simin Hua, Anjali Sharma, Michael F. Schneider, Deborah Gustafson, David B. Hanna, Jordan E. Lake, Leah H. Rubin, Wendy S. Post, Kathryn Anastos, Todd Brown, Clary B. Clish, Robert C. Kaplan, Qibin Qi
Summary: This study identified multiple plasma lipid species associated with incident diabetes, most of which were elevated in ART-treated individuals with HIV infection, suggesting a complex role of lipids in the link between ART and diabetes in HIV infection.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Biology
You-Yuan Wang, Cheng Zhen, Wei Hu, Hui-Huang Huang, Yan-Jun Li, Ming-Ju Zhou, Jing Li, Yu-Long Fu, Peng Zhang, Xiao-Yu Li, Tao Yang, Jin-Wen Song, Xing Fan, Jun Zou, Si-Run Meng, Ya-Qin Qin, Yan-Mei Jiao, Ruonan Xu, Ji-Yuan Zhang, Chun-Bao Zhou, Jin-Hong Yuan, Lei Huang, Ming Shi, Liang Cheng, Fu-Sheng Wang, Chao Zhang
Summary: Plasma glutamate levels are increased in PLWH and negatively correlate with the anti-HIV function of CD8+ T cells. Metabolic modeling shows that glutamate metabolism is robust in TVM cells. Glutamate inhibits TVM cell function via the mTORC1 pathway. There is an association between metabolic plasticity and CD8+ T cell-mediated HIV control.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Tosi Mwakyandile, Grace Shayo, Sabina Mugusi, Bruno Sunguya, Philip Sasi, Candida Moshiro, Ferdinand Mugusi, Eligius Lyamuya
Summary: This study is a phase IIA double-blind, parallel-group randomised controlled trial aiming to investigate the effect of adding ASA to ARV drugs on HIV disease progression. The study will include 454 participants, with primary outcomes focusing on the proportion of participants attaining HVL <50 copies/mL and intention-to-treat analysis will be conducted.
Article
Immunology
Thomas C. S. Martin, Matthew Abrams, Christy Anderson, Susan J. Little
Summary: The study suggests that rapid antiretroviral therapy for acute HIV is feasible and effective, with the majority of patients starting treatment immediately after diagnosis and over 88% achieving viral suppression within 48 weeks.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Hiroo Katsuya, Lucy B. M. Cook, Aileen G. Rowan, Anat Melamed, Jocelyn Turpin, Jumpei Ito, Saiful Islam, Paola Miyazato, Benjy Jek Yang Tan, Misaki Matsuo, Toshikazu Miyakawa, Hirotomo Nakata, Shuzo Matsushita, Graham P. Taylor, Charles R. M. Bangham, Shinya Kimura, Yorifumi Satou
Summary: Coinfection with HIV-1 and HTLV-1 alters the distribution of viral integration sites and clonality of virus-infected cells, potentially impacting the risks associated with both HTLV-1 and HIV-1-related diseases.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Joanne M. Carson, Sebastiano Barbieri, Gail V. Matthews, Gregory J. Dore, Behzad Hajarizadeh
Summary: This study developed a machine learning model to classify retreatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and found that 51.8% of retreatments were due to reinfection and 48.2% were due to treatment failure. The proportion of retreatments for reinfection increased over the study period, while the proportion of retreatments for treatment failure peaked in 2019 and then declined. This study is important for understanding treatment outcomes and reinfection patterns in HCV.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Julia L. Casey, Gregory J. Dore, Jason Grebely, Gail V. Matthews, Vera Cherepanov, Marianne Martinello, Philippa Marks, Harry L. A. Janssen, Bettina E. Hansen, Rupert Kaul, Sonya A. MacParland, Adam J. Gehring, Jordan J. Feld
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether treatment of acute HCV infection with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) prevents or reverses T-cell exhaustion and leads to stronger immune responses. The results showed that after DAA treatment, the magnitude of HCV-specific responses was greater, similar to spontaneous clearers, but the breadth of responses was greater in spontaneous clearers.
JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jack Stone, Aaron G. Lim, Gregory J. Dore, Annick Borquez, Louise Geddes, Richard Gray, Jason Grebely, Bezhad Hajarizadeh, Jenny Iversen, Lisa Maher, Heather Valerio, Natasha K. Martin, Matthew Hickman, Andrew R. Lloyd, Peter Vickerman
Summary: This study assessed the importance of prison-based interventions for achieving hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination targets among people who inject drugs (PWID) in New South Wales, Australia. The results showed that incarceration significantly contributes to HCV transmission, and prison-based interventions are critical for reducing HCV incidence among PWID.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Substance Abuse
Jenny Iversen, Handan Wand, Hamish McManus, Gregory J. Dore, Lisa Maher
Summary: This study aimed to assess the primary HCV infection rate among people who inject drugs in Australia after the implementation of HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy in 2016. The results showed a 53% reduction in HCV incidence, indicating that Australia may have achieved the 30% decline in infections subtarget of the 2020 Global Health Sector Strategy.
Review
Rehabilitation
Sally Casson, Matthew D. Jones, Joanne Cassar, Natalie Kwai, Andrew R. Lloyd, Benjamin K. Barry, Carolina X. Sandler
Summary: Activity pacing interventions are effective in reducing fatigue and psychological distress and improving physical function in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), particularly when individuals are encouraged to gradually increase activities.
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hudson-Buhagiar Jessica, Joanne Carson, Monaghan Scott, Collie Patricia, Renjy Nelson, Van Gessel Helen, Read Phillip, Josh Hanson, Monaghan Robert, Gail Matthews, Gregory J. Dore, Marianne Martinello, REACH C Study Grp
Summary: DAA therapy is highly effective in treating hepatitis C among Aboriginal peoples in Australia, with a success rate of 74%. However, older age, cirrhosis, and prior DAA treatment are associated with lower treatment success rates.
JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Mohammad T. T. Yousafzai, Maryam Alavi, Heather Valerio, Behzad Hajarizadeh, Jason Grebely, Gregory J. J. Dore
Summary: This study evaluated the HCV care cascade and factors associated with treatment in different eras in NSW, Australia. The treatment-eligible population increased over time, with the highest proportion during the DAA era.
JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yumi Sheehan, Evan B. Cunningham, Amanda Cochrane, Marianne Byrne, Tracey Brown, Colette Mcgrath, Lise Lafferty, Nicodemus Tedla, Gregory J. Dore, Andrew R. Lloyd, Jason Grebely
Summary: In an Australian prison setting, a "one-stop-shop" HCV RNA testing intervention improved treatment uptake among recently incarcerated individuals and reduced the time to treatment initiation, overcoming key barriers to treatment scale-up in the prison sector.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Syed Hassan Bin Usman Shah, Maryam Alavi, Behzad Hajarizadeh, Gail Matthews, Heather Valerio, Gregory J. Dore
Summary: Routinely collected and linked healthcare administrative datasets can be used to monitor mortality among people with hepatitis B and C. This study found limitations in estimating and tracking liver disease mortality in HBV and HCV patients using death certificate-based data only. The optimal data source for this purpose is a combination of hospitalizations for end-stage liver disease and cause-specific death certificate data.
JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rebecca J. Winter, Yumi Sheehan, Timothy Papaluca, Graeme A. Macdonald, Joy Rowland, Anton Colman, Mark Stoove, Andrew R. Lloyd, Alexander J. Thompson
Summary: Prisons in Australia have a high concentration of hepatitis C cases due to the high rates of incarceration among people who inject drugs. While highly effective therapies for hepatitis C are available in Australian prisons, implementation of healthcare in the prison sector faces challenges in terms of testing, treatment, and prevention accessibility for inmates. The main recommendations include increasing testing coverage, improving access to streamlined treatment pathways, expanding opioid agonist therapy coverage, and implementing prison needle and syringe programs. This consensus statement sets best practice standards in HCV management and aims to optimize hepatitis C care in prisons, contributing to Australia's elimination efforts by 2030.
MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA
(2023)
Review
Virology
Roy Wu, Mohsin Mumtaz, Anna J. J. Maxwell, Sonia R. R. Isaacs, Jutta E. E. Laiho, William D. D. Rawlinson, Heikki Hyoty, Maria E. E. Craig, Ki Wook Kim
Summary: Among environmental factors associated with T1D, enterovirus infections have been identified as the main trigger for T1D development. However, the association between respiratory tract infections and T1D is not well understood. There is a lack of molecular-level data characterizing infectious agents, preventing the identification of specific agents driving the association between respiratory infections and T1D. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections on IA/T1D development remains unclear.
REVIEWS IN MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Charles S. P. Foster, Rowena A. Bull, Nicodemus Tedla, Fernando Santiago, David Agapiou, Anurag Adhikari, Gregory J. Walker, Lok Bahadur Shrestha, Sebastiaan J. Van Hal, Ki Wook Kim, William D. Rawlinson
Summary: Australia experienced widespread COVID-19 outbreaks caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. A deletion mutation (Delta-ORF7a(Delta 17del)) in the ORF7a gene was found in most Australian outbreak cases. Previous studies suggested that ORF7a deletion mutations do not persist in the population, but this study found that Delta-ORF7a(Delta 17del) genomes persisted in the Australian outbreak.
Article
Substance Abuse
Anna Conway, Carla Treloar, Sione Crawford, Louisa Degenhardt, Gregory J. Dore, Michael Farrell, Jeremy Hayllar, Jason Grebely, Alison D. Marshall
Summary: This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 40 people receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT) and 29 people providing OAT in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings showed that the complex system of OAT provision demonstrated responsive adaptation to the risk environments of people receiving OAT during the pandemic.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ellen Bowden-Reid, Scott Ledger, Yuan Zhang, Francesca Di Giallonardo, Anupriya Aggarwal, Alberto Ospina Stella, Anouschka Akerman, Vanessa Milogiannakis, Gregory Walker, William Rawlinson, Stuart Turville, Anthony D. Kelleher, Chantelle Ahlenstiel
Summary: This article describes a broad-spectrum antiviral treatment for SARS-CoV-2 using siRNAs that target highly conserved regions of the virus genome. The siRNAs demonstrate potent antiviral effects against multiple variants and are more effective than current antiviral drugs.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Marilou H. Barrios, Suellen Nicholson, Rowena A. Bull, Marianne Martinello, William Rawlinson, Michael Mina, Jeffrey J. Post, Bernard Hudson, Nicole Gilroy, Andrew R. Lloyd, Pamela Konecny, Francesca Mordant, Mike Catton, Kanta Subbarao, Leon Caly, Julian Druce, Hans J. Netter
Summary: Serological diagnostic assays are crucial for understanding an individual's immunity to SARS-CoV-2, tracking the virus spread, and evaluating population immunity. Through a dot blot assay, researchers compared the antibody profiles of individuals with different severities of COVID-19 and found patient-specific differences in the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses. These findings highlight the variability in the antibody response and the importance of considering individual differences when assessing protective antibody status.