HIV AIDS Research Updates from Montaner Lab

Check out the new NATURE MEDICINE publication out today from the BEAT-HIV group! We are proposing new guidelines for measuring HIV reservoirs in cure-directed trials.

#COVID19 TESTING Our crew of staff members and dedicated volunteers are still providing COVID-19 tests around the community. All testing opportunities are free... of charge and open to the public. You are also do not need to have any symptoms to receive a test. The testing locations and days are below: Wednesday: Norris Square Community Alliance 174 Diamond Street Philadelphia, PA 1:30 4:30 PM Thursday: Francis Scott Key School 2230 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148 Philadelphia, PA 9 - 11 AM For more information, call 267-436-3126.

New study identifies specific areas of the genome that can serve as "dead zones" to viral reactivation if HIV is located in these - identifying for the first time added criteria we can use to distinguish if HIV is unlikely to be expressed even if detectable by standard assays. This is important as there may be persons on ART today whose persistent HIV is located in these areas (if so, could they be identified and stop ART?). Cure-directed strategies could be reevaluated to s...ee if they reduce the persistent HIV signal to these "dead" signals thereby justifying to test stopping ART and determining if vial remission/control without ART would follow? Before this report, we had no way to predict whether a full copy of HIV had the potential to be activated or not without first stopping ART - now we know that if HIV is kept in these "dead" zones, it is highly unlikely that the virus will re-emerge even if kept there with or without ART. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2651-8

Thanks defeatHIV for sharing! See the latest from Montaner Lab collaborator, Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen. #hiv #HIVresearch

New strategy is not yet tested in humans, but trials may start soon. #hiv

We are part of the team developing the next CUREiculum. To better understand what YOU want included, please take this brief survey to inform the team. Thanks! #hivcure Everyone is invited to participate. Survey Link (both English and Español): https://bit.ly/2DwWJpw Survey will close on: September 30, 2020... Survey completion time: 10 15 minutes See more

We join in saluting Larry Kramer's life as bringing to us a meaningful and impactful message of awareness and justice that made a real difference in the lives of persons living with HIV everywhere. He commanded a voice that moved mountains - may we honor his legacy.

AIDS 2020 (July) going virtual https://www.aids2020.org/

Join the Community Health Training Alliance as Doctors from The The Wistar Institute and Philadelphia FIGHT discuss COVID-19. We will address the implications t...his has on our community and how we can be proactive in our individual health as well as the health of those around us. Register here: http://bit.ly/COVID-19HIV

London Patient identifies himself. Mr Castillego now joins Mr. Brown among the unique group of cured. persons of HIV known to us to date. Lets hope this group continues to grow.

Program is recorded so available.

Today marks a BIG milestone for our team. The first two (of 21) persons have signed consents for starting on a cure-directed study (see link below. Participation will require them to make sacrifices per required infusion sessions, apharesis, and rectal biopsy sessions in addition to receiving an experimental therapy for the first time. We know they have agreed because they trust their participation may advance a cure for all. We are also thankful they trust us in order ...to work together towards a world without HIV. Whether we get closer to a cure or not, today marks the culmination of years of preparation for this moment. We are reenergized for having realized a new opportunity to break new ground in the search for an HIV cure. Our next goal is to work with our community to identify all participants needed to complete enrollment of the 21 as soon as possible. Study description: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03588715

Coronavirus questions from persons living with HIV and on antitretroviral therapy: 1. Any reason to think hiv+ folks might actually be less susceptible to the more serious effects of covid19? ANSWER: Untreated or advanced HIV infected patients are more prone to Flu complications but not patients who are controlled under antiretroviral therapy (ART)...expect the same for Covid 19 yet slightly worse if untreated or with advanced HIV as mortality rate for flu is 0.1% and for co...ronavirus is 2% (2 times higher). If well-suppressed and a high CD4 count -- no reason to expect same as overall population. 2. Any reason to think folks on truvada or kaletra might be protected? ANSWER: we can SPECULATE that protease inhibitor will have a protective effect (lower acquisition rate and a milder disease course) but this has not been shown... 3. Is ART supply dependent on China? ANSWER: Components on some regimens come from China so securing a multi-month supply of dug now is warranted.