SEATTLE, Washington — Worldwide, there are some 36.7 million people living with HIV; most of these patients live in low and middle-income countries. As researchers work toward a functional cure for the disease, two recent studies have brought promising new discoveries to light.
At the University of Valencia (UV), researchers studying the relationship between the immune system in HIV patients and their intestinal flora found that some patients have a subset of bacteria that respond to antiretroviral therapies (ART). These bacteria both respond to and contribute to the patient’s recovery by producing anti-inflammatory molecules, which combat the immune deficiency and intestinal inflammation often experienced by HIV patients, as a result of the toxins that their cells produce as they fight off the infection.
The researchers suggested that therapies that target intestinal flora might be used in combination with ART treatment to help patients further their recovery.
Meanwhile, research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates an antibody that could potentially be used as a treatment for combating HIV – and, possibly, lead to a functional cure for the disease.
The antibody targets a protein, produced by the virus, that attacks immune cells that mostly live in the gut. Without the protein, the immune system remains strong enough to defend against the virus. The immune systems of the monkeys who were treated with the antibody after 90 days of ART treatment were able to prevent the virus from rebounding. The virus levels in these monkeys remained undetectable for 23 months after the treatments stopped.
The UV’s bacteria and the NIH’s antibody both require further study before being used as a treatment for patients; in the meantime, an organization called the Pan-American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO) has launched a website, primarily for users in Central America, that aims to educate users about prevention strategies for combating HIV transmission.
The website ensures anonymity for its users and allows “cyber-educators” to send vouchers for HIV testing and counseling and STI screenings. Users can also chat with cyber-educators, as part of a behavior change process. The role of education and HIV testing resources is particularly important, as the WHO estimates that only 54 percent of people with HIV know their status.
The WHO also reports that the number of new HIV infections between 2000 and 2015 was reduced by 35 percent, and there was 28 percent fewer deaths related to HIV/AIDS. Research and development of new treatment options and more widespread and accessible testing and prevention information will help further reduce these numbers.
– Madeline Reding
Photo: Flickr