HIV infections

HIV Life Cycle Controled Through MicroRNAs

harminka — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:40:56 -0500

Scientists at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have discovered that specific microRNAs (non-coding RNAs that interfere with gene expression) reduce HIV replication and infectivity in human T-cells. In particular, miR29 plays a key role in controlling the HIV life cycle.

New view of HIV entry may lead to next generation of inhibitors

harminka — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:25:22 -0500

Scientists may need to rethink the design of drugs meant to block HIV from infecting human cells, according to a study that appears in the May 1st issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication. That's because the new report shows that HIV doesn't enter cells in the way that experts had generally assumed it did.

TB-HIV co-infection is a bigger threat

harminka — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:34:40 -0500

The World Health Organization released staggering new data about the threat of tuberculosis and the toll it takes on people with HIV/AIDS today, in recognition of World TB Day.

Herpes drug inhibits HIV replication, but with a price

harminka — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:21:29 -0600

The anti-herpes drug acyclovir can also directly slow down HIV infection by targeting the reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme, researchers report in this week's JBC. This beneficial effect does pose a risk though, as HIV-infected cells treated with acyclovir promote the emergence of multi-drug resistant HIV variants.

Researchers decode viral process that prepares cells for HIV infection

harminka — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:02:01 -0500

With the publication of a study led by Yuntao Wu, assistant professor in George Mason University's Department of Molecular and Microbiology, the medical community is one step closer to understanding how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks cells in the immune system.

Higher HIV infection estimate shows need for routine screening

harminka — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:53:06 -0500

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected soon to increase the estimate of new HIV infections in the United States by 40 percent. This highlights the need to make HIV testing a routine part of medical care and provide better funding to care for those who test positive, according to the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA).

Speed at which HIV escapes the immune response

harminka — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:26:42 -0500

Researchers from Utrecht University, The Netherlands, have developed a model that illustrates how HIV evades the immune system. The study, published July 18th in the open-access journal PLoS Computational Biology, incorporates detailed interactions between a mutating virus and the immune system.

Since Introduction of antiretroviral therapy, HIV death rate has decreased

harminka — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:36:27 -0500

In industrialized countries, persons infected sexually with HIV now appear to experience mortality rates similar to those of the general population in the first 5 years following infection, though a higher risk of death remains as the duration of HIV infection lengthens, according to a study in the July 2 issue of JAMA.

Circumcision safe in both HIV-infected and HIV–uninfected men

harminka — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:40:41 -0500

Adult circumcision is safe in HIV-infected men without advanced HIV disease, according to research published in PLoS Medicine.

Molecular changes in brain fluid give insight into brain-damaging disease

harminka — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:39:21 -0500

Soon after an individual becomes infected with HIV the virus infects cells in the brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system [CNS]). Although this causes no immediate problems, during the late-stages of disease it can cause dementia and encephalitis (acute inflammation of the brain that can cause death).

Do antidepressants enhance immune function?

harminka — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:08:07 -0500

Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is an epidemic of global concern. According to the most recent estimates, released in November 2007, by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 33.2 million worldwide are living with HIV infection currently.

Spit tests may soon replace many blood tests

harminka — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:23:48 -0500

One day soon patients may spit in a cup, instead of bracing for a needle prick, when being tested for cancer, heart disease or diabetes. A major step in that direction is the cataloguing of the “complete” salivary proteome, a set of proteins in human ductal saliva, identified by a consortium of three research teams, according to an article published today in the Journal of Proteome Research.