Current HIV Research - Volume 22, Issue 6, 2024

Behavioral risk factors in adolescents make them vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although it is dissimilar to adults, adolescent HIV is less studied. This study aimed to determine various socio-demographic attributes and transmission dynamics associated with adolescent HIV in order to comment on how they differ from the overall epidemiology of HIV.

A record-based, comparative study was conducted using data from adolescents (AL-HIV) and adults registered in all HIV centers across the Indian state of West Bengal over four years. The socio-demographic profile and modes of HIV transmission were studied. Transmission dynamics were compared between adolescent and non-adolescent beneficiaries, as well as male and female HIV-positive adolescents. The association of adolescent HIV burden with child marriage and adolescent pregnancy rates was also tested.

More than 50% of AL-HIVs were students. While heterosexuality (87.17%) was the commonest route of HIV transmission in adults, parent-to-child transmission (PTCT) (51.69%) and blood transfusions (12.86%) were major routes in AL-HIVs; also, they were significantly more prone to get infected through these routes. PTCT was significantly lower, and transmission by needle syringes was higher in male adolescents than in their female counterparts. Districts with a higher prevalence of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy had a significantly higher burden of AL-HIV.

The transmission dynamics of adolescent HIV are largely different from those of adults, with PTCT and sociocultural issues playing significant roles. It is, therefore, essential to design targeted interventions to tackle the unique challenges of HIV in adolescents for more effective and comprehensive campaigns against the pandemic.

The C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is a major co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Some individuals carry the CCR5 delta-32 genetic polymorphism. People with homozygous CCR5 delta-32 gene are nearly completely resistant to HIV-1 infection. High-resolution melting curve (HRM) analysis is a post-PCR technique utilized for identifying genetic variations in a quick, affordable, and closed-tube assay. The objective of this study was to develop an HRM assay for easy detection of delta-32 mutations.

DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. HRM was performed to detect delta-32 mutation. The study investigated the impact of various factors, including annealing temperature, template concentration, touchdown PCR, additives, amplicon size, and program settings, on HRM Tm differentiation.

It was expected that there would be a 4°C Tm difference between amplicons with and without delta-32 mutation, but the test showed a difference of only 2.3°C. In attempts to identify heterozygote delta-32 variants, a Tm difference of only 0.4°C could be achieved. Various modifications were applied, such as adjusting the template concentration, using touchdown PCR, and adding DMSO and glycerol. However, none of these changes helped to differentiate the Tm effectively, especially in delta-32 heterozygote samples.

The HRM test identified four samples with heterozygote mutations in each HIV-infected (8.89%) and control (5.72%) groups. More importantly, this study showed that identifying the delta-32 mutation of the CCR5 gene using HRM assay is not as straightforward as previously suggested in some literature, and it requires special setup conditions.

The incorporation of anti-HIV drugs into polymer to form polymer-drug conjugates has been reported to result in improved therapeutic activity. Zidovudine, an anti-HIV drug, was explored alone and in combination with known drug molecules using polyamidoamine-based carriers.

Polymer-drug conjugates incorporated with zidovudine, cinnamic acid, and 4-aminosalicylic acid were prepared and evaluated for their potential efficacy in vitro against pseudo-HIV-1.

Aqueous Michael addition polymerization reaction was employed to prepare the conjugates. The conjugates were incorporated with zidovudine, cinnamic acid, and 4-aminosalicylic acid. They were characterized by SEM/EDX, XRD, FTIR, NMR, LC-MS, particle size analysis, in vitro analysis, computational studies, and in silico toxicity predictions.

The conjugates displayed spherically shaped morphology. The in vitro findings showed that polymer-drug conjugates, T15 and T16, with a single drug were effective against pseudo-HIV-1 at high concentrations of 111.11 and 333.33 µg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking studies supported the in vitro results. Additionally, SwissADME, ProTox-II, and GUSAR (General Unrestricted Structure-Activity Relationships) analyses revealed that these compounds have promising antiviral potential.

The prepared polymer-drug conjugates with a single drug showed promising effects against the Pseudo-HIV-1, and the conjugates displayed features that make them potential anti-HIV therapeutics that require further studies.

The aim of the study was to assess the clinical features of women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using Holter monitoring.

Thirty-five female patients infected with HIV using a Holter monitor at the Ditan Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

In terms of basic rhythms, there were 30 cases of sinus rhythm, 27 cases of ventricular premature beat, 26 cases of supraventricular premature beat, 12 cases of mild reduction of HRV, 9 cases of normal heart rate variability (HRV), 8 cases of supraventricular tachycardia, 5 cases of abnormal ST-segment changes and 2 cases of sinus bradycardia 2 cases of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation 2 cases of junctional escape rhythm. There was only one case in each of the following ECG changes: persistent atrial fibrillation, sinus tachycardia, couplet supraventricular premature beats, accelerated idioventricular rhythm, sinoatrial block, second-degree Mobitz type I atrioventricular block, second-degree Mobitz type II atrioventricular block, complete right bundle branch block, T-wave abnormality, and significant reduction of HRV.

The Holter monitor can show more changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG) of HIV-positive patients, particularly significant ECG abnormalities, such as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and can direct early clinical treatment to serious adverse results.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to significant changes in the lives, habits, and frequency of hospital admissions of People Living with HIV (PLWH). However, information is limited on the changes in the sexual behavior of these individuals and the resulting Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). This study aimed to determine the trends in syphilis among the Ege University HIV cohort before and during the pandemic.

All PLWH who presented to the HIV outpatient clinic of Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, for HIV care for the first time between January 1^st, 2008 and October 1^st, 2022, and whose laboratory results for syphilis were available, were reviewed. Those presenting between January 1^st, 2008, and March 11^th, 2020, were defined as the pre-pandemic (group A) cases, and those presenting between March 12^th, 2020, and October 1^st, 2022, were defined as the pandemic period (group B) cases. Clinical and laboratory information about the cases was obtained retrospectively from medical records.

The number of PLWH who presented to the clinic for a first visit with a new HIV diagnosis or follow-up between the specified dates was 1283 (956 group A, 327 group B). Overall, 155 (12.1%) PLWH were diagnosed with syphilis. A total of 204 syphilis episodes occurred during 6,173 Person-years of Follow-up (PYFU). Of these episodes, 86 (42.1%) were diagnosed in the pre-pandemic period, and 118 (57.8%) during the pandemic. The number of episodes during the pandemic was significantly higher in group A than in the pre-pandemic period (3.47 per 100 PYFU and 2.57 per 100 PYFU, respectively; p=0.0434). When comparing the number of episodes during the pandemic period, compared to group A, group B members had a significantly higher number of syphilis episodes during the pandemic (3.47 and 7.81 per 100 PYFU, respectively; p<.001).

This study shows that syphilis rates remained high during the pandemic. Healthcare providers are recommended to prepare PLWH for potential emergencies to be encountered in the future and repeatedly remind them to use prevention in all high-risk circumstances.

HIV is a globally prevalent infection for which there is currently no cure or vaccine. As the number of individuals with HIV infection increases, so does the number of individuals wishing to have children despite being infected. This situation has highlighted issues related to couples where one partner is infected while the other is not (serodiscordant couples) and couples where both partners are positive. Major issues include pregnancy complications, transmission to the child, and potential side effects of the ART treatment on the health of the child. Women living with HIV who become pregnant or contract the virus during pregnancy are at risk for both maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, especially if the virus is not adequately controlled. Additionally, there is a risk of vertical transmission through breastfeeding during pregnancy and postpartum. To mitigate the consequences of HIV during pregnancy, it is ideal to start with pre-pregnancy counseling and plan pregnancies during periods of minimal viral load using appropriate methods.

There are limited studies and shared experiences regarding fertility status and issues of HIV/AIDS patients, especially in Turkey. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the fertility status of HIV/AIDS patients and their partners followed up in our clinic, shed light on the encountered issues, and share our experiences.

This retrospective, observational, single-center cross-sectional study included HIV/AIDS patients and their partners followed at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University (MKÜ) Medical Faculty Hospital from January 2018 to December 2023. Demographic data of the patients, their sexual orientations, HIV/AIDS status of their partners and children, treatments received, CD4 cell counts, and viral load data were retrospectively obtained from the automation system of our hospital and patient files.

Among the couples, there were 21 pairs where both partners were HIV positive, 10 pairs where the woman was HIV positive and the man was seronegative (serodiscordant), and 5 pairs where the man was HIV positive and the woman was seronegative. In our study, eight couples with both partners HIV positive had nine children, and six couples with women who were HIV positive (serodiscordant) had ten children. The five couples with men who were HIV positive (serodiscordant) had six children. No vertical transmission was observed in our study, but three patients did not attend regular follow-ups. During the follow-up period, no seroconversion was detected in the partners of serodiscordant patients. The average gestational age was 38 weeks, and the average birth weight was 2873 ± 349 grams.

Our study found no vertical transmission and no seroconversion in partners of serodiscordant couples. Issues related to pregnancy in HIV-positive couples can be managed with pre-pregnancy counseling by specialists, protective methods, appropriate ART, and perinatal follow-up.

The envelope glycoprotein (Env) on the surface of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) is a crucial protein that mediates binding to host cell receptors and subsequent membrane fusion. Env, as the sole target for neutralizing antibodies, holds unique importance in vaccine design. Therefore, analyzing the genetic characteristics of the Env region offers reference data for vaccine and drug design.

From December 2021 to December 2022, 145 newly diagnosed, HIV-1-infected individuals in Baoding City were recruited into this study. The HIV-1 env gene sequence was successfully obtained from 142 of the 145 blood specimens, and the sequences were submitted to the Quality Control Tool (http//:HIV-DB Sequence Quality Control Tool (lanl.gov)) to analyze the viral subtype. The coreceptor tropism was predicted using the Geno2pheno web tool with false-positive rate (FPR) values of 5%–15%, and the net charges of the third variable (V3) loop were calculated by Variable Region Characteristics (lanl.gov).

The results showed that half of the patients were infected with the CCR5-tropic virus (50.0%, 71/142). In HIV-1 subtype CRF01_AE infection, the use of CXCR4 is expected to predominate, while in HIV-1 subtype CRF07_BC infection, CCR5 coreceptors are expected to be used predominantly. Sequence analysis of the V3 loop region revealed that subtypes CRF01_AE and CRF07_BC have similar median net charges (~3.0). Furthermore, GPGQ was found to be the major terminal tetrapeptide of the CRF07_ BC and CRF01_AE strains in this study.

These findings enhance our understanding of the characteristics of the HIV-1 epidemic and provide important implications for HIV-1 vaccine design and clinical treatment.

People living with HIV (PLHIV) suffer from a range of consequences related to infection, including hyperlipidemia and neurologic and sleep disorders. Supplements containing phenolic compounds with high antioxidant properties can reduce these side effects. Resveratrol is a phenolic compound that improves the symptoms of diabetes, cancer, and viral infections. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of resveratrol on hyperlipidemia and neurological problems in PLHIV in Iran.

In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 41 PLHIV were randomly assigned to two groups: a placebo group (n=21) and a resveratrol group (n=20). Triglyceride and cholesterol levels were determined for all the subjects before and one month after they used the medication. Additionally, standard questionnaires were used to evaluate the quality of sleep, stress, depression, and quality of life of the participants. The data were analyzed via analysis of covariance in Stata 17.0.

The study population did not significantly differ in terms of age (p=0.49), sex (p=0.09), marital status (p=0.90), level of education (p=0.90), duration of HIV infection (p=0.54), or mode of HIV transmission (p=0.51). The administration of resveratrol did not affect psychological parameters or blood cholesterol (p=0.091) or triglyceride (p=0.932) levels.

The administration of resveratrol did not affect cholesterol or triglyceride levels or the rates of depression, anxiety, sleep quality, or quality of life in PLHIV. The resveratrol supplementation in a large-scale clinical study involving more patients for a longer course of treatment may have had more significant effects on the serum levels of lipids and psychological factors.