Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.7
3.5
Journals
Viruses
Special Issues
Early ART Initiation: Impacts on Viral Dynamics and Clinical Outcomes
share announcement

Early ART Initiation: Impacts on Viral Dynamics and Clinical Outcomes

A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Immunology, Vaccines, and Antivirals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1587

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alessandra Vergori

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, S.C. Malattie Infettive–A.O.U. Policlinico di Foggia, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, FG, Italy
Interests: HIV; antiretroviral therapy; virology; COVID-19; STIs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Andrea De Vito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Interests: HIV; AI; antiretroviral treatment; resistance; STIs; prevention
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Vincenzo Malagnino

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Medicina dei Sistemi, Università Tor Vergata di Roma, 00133 Rome, RM, Italy
Interests: HIV/AIDS; coinfections; HIV/HBV; immunocompromised patients
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Scope and Rationale:
The early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) represents one of the most transformative advances in HIV management. Initiating ART during acute or early infection profoundly influences viral dynamics, reservoir size, and immune recovery, while reducing inflammation and the risk of AIDS and non-AIDS events. Despite these benefits, delayed HIV diagnosis remains a major barrier to timely treatment initiation. Late presenters—those diagnosed when immunosuppression or comorbidities are already present—continue to represent a substantial proportion of new HIV cases worldwide. This diagnostic delay limits the potential for early viral containment, hampers immune restoration, and contributes to ongoing transmission.

This Special Issue will explore the multifaceted impact of early ART initiation—from molecular mechanisms to real-world clinical and public health outcomes—while also addressing the consequences of late diagnosis and delayed treatment. We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives focusing on the following topics:

  • Viral reservoir dynamics and immune activation under early versus delayed ART;
  • Long-term virological and clinical outcomes based on the timing of ART initiation;
  • Determinants and prevention in late HIV diagnosis;
  • Immune restoration and inflammation control after early therapy;
  • Implementation science and health-system strategies to expand early testing and ART access.

Article types: Original research, systematic or narrative reviews, brief reports, perspectives, and commentaries are welcome.

Dr. Alessandra Vergori
Dr. Andrea De Vito
Dr. Vincenzo Malagnino
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Viruses 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

  • early antiretroviral therapy
  • HIV viral dynamics
  • immune recovery
  • viral reservoir
  • clinical outcomes
  • HIV transmission

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 652 KB  
Article
The Forgotten Test: Missed Opportunities for HIV Diagnosis and Survival Outcomes in Advanced HIV Disease
by Arianna Narducci, Alessandra Vergori, Paola Borrelli, Irene Francesca Bottalico, Sergio Maria Ferrara, Chiara Grillo, Francesco Rosario Paolo Ieva, Mariacristina Poliseno, Annalisa Saracino, Antonio Cianciaruso, Riccardo Schiavoni, Laura Mezzogori, Antonio Di Biagio, Andrea Santoro, Giulia Carla Marchetti, Camilla Tincati and Sergio Lo Caputo
Viruses 2026, 18(3), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18030356 - 15 Mar 2026
Viewed by 649
Abstract
Background: Advanced HIV disease (AHD) remains highly prevalent and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Missed opportunities for early diagnosis continue to represent a major public health challenge. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study including antiretroviral-naive people with HIV (PWH) [...] Read more.
Background: Advanced HIV disease (AHD) remains highly prevalent and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Missed opportunities for early diagnosis continue to represent a major public health challenge. Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study including antiretroviral-naive people with HIV (PWH) presenting with AHD (CD4 < 200 cells/µL and/or AIDS) diagnosed between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2024 in four Italian infectious diseases units. Demographic, clinical and viro-immunological data were collected at baseline and during follow up. Information on healthcare contacts, HIV-related symptoms, and prior HIV testing in the two years preceding diagnosis was obtained through structured interviews. Results: Among 658 newly diagnosed participants with HIV, 224 (34%) presented with AHD, of whom 54% presented with AIDS. Most participants (86.2%) had never undergone HIV testing before diagnosis. In the year preceding diagnosis 29.3% accessed healthcare services for symptoms compatible with HIV infection without being tested for HIV. At one year, 84.2% achieved virological suppression, with a median CD4 count of 260 cells/µL. Overall loss to follow-up was 27.2%. Five-year survival was significantly higher in non-AIDS presenters compared with AIDS presenters (100% vs. 85%, p = 0.005). Conclusions: Missed diagnostic opportunities remain frequent among PWH presenting with AHD, despite prior healthcare contacts. Wider implementation of indicator condition-guided HIV testing is urgently needed to reduce late diagnosis and improve long-term outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early ART Initiation: Impacts on Viral Dynamics and Clinical Outcomes)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 989 KB  
Article
Viral Suppression Among People Living with HIV in Tajikistan: A Nationwide Analysis
by Kamiar Alaei, Brian Kwan, Christopher P. Lounsbery, Jamoliddin Abdullozoda, Salomudin J. Yusufi, Patricia Cortez, Mannat Tiwana, Julie Nguyen, Hamid R. Torabzadeh and Arash Alaei
Viruses 2026, 18(3), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/v18030348 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 602
Abstract
Viral suppression is a cornerstone of HIV management, essential for improving health outcomes and preventing transmission. However, varying definitions of suppression, ranging from ≤1000 copies/mL (controlled) to ≤200 (clinically suppressed) and ≤50 (untransmittable), complicate the assessment of progress toward global UNAIDS 95–95–95 goals. [...] Read more.
Viral suppression is a cornerstone of HIV management, essential for improving health outcomes and preventing transmission. However, varying definitions of suppression, ranging from ≤1000 copies/mL (controlled) to ≤200 (clinically suppressed) and ≤50 (untransmittable), complicate the assessment of progress toward global UNAIDS 95–95–95 goals. Our study evaluated progress in achieving viral suppression among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Tajikistan between 2010 and 2024 using cross-sectional data from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population registry. Viral load was measured using real-time PCR, and suppression was assessed across three thresholds (≤1000, ≤200, ≤50 copies/mL). We examined associations between viral suppression and demographic factors using Chi-square tests and logistic regression models. Across all thresholds, suppression rates remained below the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target goals. At the ≤50 copies/mL threshold, 77% of males and 83% of females achieved suppression, with males demonstrating lower odds of achieving viral suppression. Regional disparities were evident, with Khatlon and Sughd showing the lowest viral suppression rate (72.2% and 76.8%, respectively) and lower odds of achieving viral suppression compared to Dushanbe. Urban–rural differences were also observed (78.3% vs. 81.1%), though odds ratios using logistic regression models were not significant. Findings highlight persistent demographic and regional disparities, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to achieve equitable viral suppression in Tajikistan. Our findings also highlight associations and do not imply causal inference. In addition, authors acknowledge that interpretation of viral suppression outcomes is limited by the absence of data on treatment regimens, duration, adherence, CD4 counts, and behavioral factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early ART Initiation: Impacts on Viral Dynamics and Clinical Outcomes)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop