1.Comparison of short- and long-term humoral immune responses to pneumococcal polysaccharide and glycoconjugate vaccines in an HIV-infected population

DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106282

https://www.journalofinfection.com/article/S0163-4453(24)00216-0/fulltext

The international community recommends vaccination to prevent pneumococcal infections in adults with HIV. However, vaccination programs are primarily designed based on studies of initial antibody responses rather than long-term responses. HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of pneumococcal infections. This study aimed to investigate the short-term and long-term antibody responses to polysaccharide and conjugate pneumococcal vaccines in a cohort of adults with HIV, involving a total of 152 participants. The findings revealed that the antibody response from the PCV vaccine was significantly higher than that from the PPV vaccine. However, the median lifespan of the responses from both vaccines was relatively short, supporting the use of high-valent conjugate vaccines with ongoing booster doses to maintain antibody levels above the WHO threshold of ≥8/12 PnPS.

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2.Sirolimus reduces T cell cycling, immune checkpoint marker expression, and HIV-1 DNA in people with HIV

DOI： 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101745

https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(24)00475-0

Despite the sustained suppression of viral replication by antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV persists indefinitely. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a regulatory kinase that controls cell cycle processes. Although mTOR inhibition has immunosuppressive consequences, it can also alter various immune regulatory pathways that may enhance antiviral activity and limit the homeostatic proliferation and cell cycle of CD4 T cells. This article investigates the effects of rapamycin (sirolimus) treatment on HIV. The data indicate that sirolimus treatment does not affect HIV-1 specific CD8 T cell responses but results in a significant reduction in CD4 T cell-associated HIV-1 DNA levels in the primary efficacy population after 20 weeks of treatment. Additionally, it leads to a significant decrease in PD-1 expression on CD4 T cells and CD8 lymphocytes.

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3.Amoebic colitis in a 39-year-old man with HIV

HIV patients have inherent immune deficiencies, making them highly susceptible to infections. This article discusses a case of an HIV patient with amoebic colitis who was hospitalized for Pneumocystis pneumonia. The patient, who had multiple male sexual partners, developed abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea, leading to a diagnosis of amoebic colitis after relevant examinations. Researchers observed severe immune deficiencies, but the patient had not previously reported symptoms of amoebiasis. However, symptoms rapidly emerged shortly after corticosteroid treatment began. Physicians treating patients with a high risk of tissue-invasive amoebic infections with corticosteroids should be aware of the risk of amoebiasis.

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4.The Impact of Aging on HIV-1-related Neurocognitive Impairment

DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102513

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1568163724003313

HIV-1 is the pathogen responsible for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a destructive disease characterized by CD4 T cell depletion and immune dysregulation. Despite the availability of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), it is estimated that HIV-1-related neurocognitive disorders affect up to half of those infected with HIV, depending on the studied population. The factors leading to cognitive impairment are complex and varied. For this reason, this article discusses the impact of aging on HIV-1-related neurocognitive disorders by summarizing relevant studies.

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5.Combined interventions for the testing and treatment of HIV and schistosomiasis among fishermen in Malawi: a three-arm, cluster-randomised trial

DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00283-3

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(24)00283-3/fulltext

African countries face a high burden of both HIV and schistosomiasis, with geographic distribution and affected populations overlapping. While targeted control interventions for these specific diseases are in place, the potential synergistic effects between the control efforts for these health threats are still under investigation. This article primarily focuses on Malawi, where many fishermen have not been diagnosed with HIV and schistosomiasis due to inadequate healthcare conditions. Researchers conducted a randomized trial to assess the rates of testing and treatment in the Malawi region.

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