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New Advances in Pathogenesis and Treatment of HIV Infection: Molecular Insight and Preclinic Research

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A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular and Translational Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 May 2022) | Viewed by 9197

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Russo

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Guest Editor

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Infectious and Tropical Disease Unit, “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: infection; MDR pathogens; bacteria; fungal infection; aepsis; antimicrobials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Gabriella D’Ettorre

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
2. Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: HIV; nutrition; probiotics; microbiota; immune response; gender; quality of life; NCCD
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Giancarlo Ceccarelli

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Guest Editor

Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Interests: hospital acquired infections; MDR infections; STD; special populations and migrants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains one of the most important challenges for researchers and requires the development of strategies and effective cures.

The spectrum of diseases associated with HIV ranges from opportunistic infections and cancers to systemic physiological disorders such as encephalopathy and neurocognitive impairment. Over the last few years, much progress in controlling HIV infection has been made by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, HAART neither eliminates the virus reservoirs in the form of latently infected cells nor completely reconstitutes the immune reactivity and physiological status. Furthermore, the causal relationships between the complex sets of viral and immunological processes that contribute to protection or disease pathogenesis remain poorly understood.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality research on the pathogenesis and treatment of HIV. This research will contribute to the development of new methodologies for analysis and therapy, and to the prediction of the functional restoration of the immune system and the health of the infected host.

Scope:

Immune response in HIV infection;

Cellular mechanism of HIV infection;

Animal model;

Preclinical therapeutic data.

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Russo
Dr. Gabriella d'Ettorre
Dr. Giancarlo Ceccarelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

HIV
pathogenesis
new treatments
cure
immune reactivity

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1445 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reversal of CSF HIV-1 Escape during Treatment of HIV-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis in Botswana

by Nametso Kelentse, Sikhulile Moyo, Kesaobaka Molebatsi, Olorato Morerinyane, Shatho Bitsang, Ontlametse T. Bareng, Kwana Lechiile, Tshepo B. Leeme, David S. Lawrence, Ishmael Kasvosve, Rosemary Musonda, Mosepele Mosepele, Thomas S. Harrison, Joseph N. Jarvis and Simani Gaseitsiwe

Biomedicines 2022, 10(6), 1399; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10061399 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1589

Abstract

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral escape has been poorly described among people with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. We determined the prevalence of CSF viral escape and HIV-1 viral load (VL) trajectories in individuals treated for HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis. A retrospective longitudinal study was performed using paired CSF and plasma collected prior to and during the antifungal treatment of 83 participants recruited at the Botswana site of the phase-3 AMBITION-cm trial (2018–2021). HIV-1 RNA levels were quantified then CSF viral escape (CSF HIV-1 RNA ≥ 0.5 log₁₀ higher than plasma) and HIV-1 VL trajectories were assessed. CSF viral escape occurred in 20/62 (32.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.9–44.6%), 13/52 (25.0%; 95% CI: 15.2–38.2%) and 1/33 (3.0%; 95% CI: 0.16–15.3%) participants at days 1, 7 and 14 respectively. CSF viral escape was significantly lower on day 14 compared to days 1 and 7, p = 0.003 and p = 0.02, respectively. HIV-1 VL decreased significantly from day 1 to day 14 post antifungal therapy in the CSF but not in the plasma (β = −0.47; 95% CI: −0.69 to −0.25; p < 0.001). CSF viral escape is high among individuals presenting with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis; however, antifungal therapy may reverse this, highlighting the importance of rapid initiation of antifungal therapy in these patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Pathogenesis and Treatment of HIV Infection: Molecular Insight and Preclinic Research)

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10 pages, 807 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical Effects of Oral Bacteriotherapy on Anal HPV Infection and Related Dysplasia in HIV-Positive MSM: Results from the “HPVinHIV” Trial

by Eugenio Nelson Cavallari, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Letizia Santinelli, Giuseppe Pietro Innocenti, Gabriella De Girolamo, Cristian Borrazzo, Ornella Spagnolello, Carolina Scagnolari, Stefano Arcieri, Antonio Ciardi, Alessandra Pierangeli, Claudio Maria Mastroianni and Gabriella d’Ettorre

Biomedicines 2021, 9(11), 1738; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9111738 - 22 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1875

Abstract

Background. Anal HPV infection, anal dysplasia and, ultimately, anal cancer are particularly common in HIV-infected men who have sex with men. Treatment of anal dysplasia, aiming to prevent evolution to squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, is currently limited to direct ablation and/or application of topical therapy. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of oral bacteriotherapy (Vivomixx® in EU, Visbiome® in USA) on anal HPV infection and HPV-related dysplasia of the anal canal in HIV-infected men who have sex with men. Methods. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, quadruple-blinded trial (NCT04099433), HIV-positive men who have sex with men with anal HPV infection and HPV-related dysplasia were randomized to receive oral bacteriotherapy or placebo for 6 months. Anal HPV test, anal cytology and high resolution anoscopy with biopsies of anal lesions were performed at baseline and at the end of the study. Safety and tolerability of oral bacteriotherapy were also evaluated. Interim analysis results were presented. Results. 20 participants concluded the study procedures to date. No serious adverse events were reported. In respect to participants randomized to placebo, individuals in the experimental arm showed higher rate of anal dysplasia regression (p = 0.002), lower rate of onset of new anal dysplasia (p = 0.023) and lower rates of worsening of persistent lesions (p = 0.004). Clearance of anal HPV infection was more frequently observed in the bacteriotherapy group (p = 0.067). Conclusion. Being an interim analysis, we limit ourselves to report the preliminary results of the current study. We refer the conclusions relating to the possible effectiveness of the intervention to the analysis of the definitive data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Pathogenesis and Treatment of HIV Infection: Molecular Insight and Preclinic Research)

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Review

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35 pages, 3168 KiB

Open AccessReview

Management of Antiretroviral Therapy with Boosted Protease Inhibitors—Darunavir/Ritonavir or Darunavir/Cobicistat

by Ruxandra-Cristina Marin, Tapan Behl, Nicoleta Negrut and Simona Bungau

Biomedicines 2021, 9(3), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9030313 - 18 Mar 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4566

Abstract

A major challenge in the management of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is to improve the patient’s adherence, reducing the burden caused by the high number of drugs that compose the treatment regimens for human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) patients. Selection of the most appropriate treatment regimen is responsible for therapeutic success and aims to reduce viremia, increase the immune system response capacity, and reduce the incidence rate and intensity of adverse reactions. In general, protease inhibitor (PI) is one of the pillars of regimens, and darunavir (DRV), in particular, is frequently recommended, along with low doses of enzyme inhibitors as cobicistat (COBI) or ritonavir (RTV), by the international guidelines. The potential of clinically significant drug interactions in patients taking COBI or RTV is high due to the potent inhibitory effect on cytochrome CYP 450, which attracts significant changes in the pharmacokinetics of PIs. Regardless of the patient or type of virus, the combined regimens of DRV/COBI or DRV/RTV are available to clinicians, proving their effectiveness, with a major impact on HIV mortality/morbidity. This study presents current information on the pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, drug interactions, and adverse reactions of DRV; it not only compares the bioavailability, pharmacokinetic parameters, immunological and virological responses, but also the efficacy, advantages, and therapeutic disadvantages of DRV/COBI or DRV/RTV combinations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Pathogenesis and Treatment of HIV Infection: Molecular Insight and Preclinic Research)

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