Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 52 632 935 at 4.30pm on Wednesday June 25
Evolution: HIV infection is less likely to progress in individuals with rare immune system gene variations than those with common variations, suggesting that HIV has evolved to exploit the most common gene patterns, according to a study in this week’s Nature Medicine.
”HIV-infected people who carry particular, rare gene variants have much lower viral loads than other patients do,” said Thomas Keller of Duke University, North Carolina.
The study analysed 996 men — 562 of whom were HIV-positive — enrolled in an Aids study.
In analysing the dozens of genes in the patients, the researchers identified some that conferred protection against HIV, but others left patients more susceptible.
The genetic combinations that conferred the greatest protection were also the least common gene variants, the team reported.
By screening patients’ immune systems, physicians might ultimately identify those patients at the greatest risk for progressing to Aids and prescribe treatments accordingly, Kepler said.
Source: www.aidsmap.com
Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 52,542,876 at 10.20am on Thursday June 19
Vaccine update: The use of therapeutic vaccines — with and without concurrent Highly Active Anti-Retrovial Therapy (Haart) — was the major topic at the Immune Reconstitution and Control of HIV meeting in Italy last week. Although IL-2 remains the only immunomodulator likely to be approved in the near future, there are several exciting candidates that promise to boost CD4 cell counts and reduce HIV viral load.
Promising tests: The most exciting of the vaccines about to enter Phase I clinical trials is DermaVir, a topical DNA vaccine. Made from a mix of HIV’s genetic material it stimulates immune cells located in the epidermis and is applied to the skin once every six weeks. DermaVir has so far been tested with late-stage simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV, the monkey equivalent of HIV). Treatment using DermaVir plus Haart gave significantly decreased levels of SIV and increased levels of CD4 cells, compared to those who received DermaVir or Haart alone.
Source: Aidsmap
Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 52 432 128 at 5.45pm on Wednesday June 11
 Downward spiral: The United Kingdom’s sexual health is in crisis and should be made a government health priority according to a report published by the House of Common’s health select committee.
The cross-party committee of MPs highlighted huge increases in rates of sexually transmitted infections over the past six years, with new cases of gonorrhoea increasing by 87%, chlamydia by 108%, and syphilis by 486%. HIV infections have increased by an annual average of 10% over the same period.
Sexual health clinics need a 90% increase in specialist consultant posts, teaching of sex education in schools is too biological say MPs. Writing in The Guardian Professor Michael Adler of the Royal Free and University College Medical School in London condemned sex education in schools as ”—too little, too late”.
Although the government launched an HIV and sexual health strategy in 2001, this has been undermined because sexual health has not been made a national health priority.
Source: Aidsmap
Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 52 330 146 at 3.47pm on Wednesday June 4
Urgent action: The rising number of HIV infections in Australia requires urgent government action, a leading Australian HIV/Aids community organisation said this week.
Bill Whittaker, president of the Australian Federation of Aids Organisation, said that the number of new HIV cases had risen in the three states that have 90% of Australia’s caseload.
In Queensland infection rates rose 20% from 2001 to 2002. In Victoria new diagnoses increased by 7%.
Most of the new infections occurred among gay and bisexual men, in line with the upward trend in comparable countries in Europe and North America.
”Australia is at risk of losing its international reputation as a world and regional leader in HIV/Aids if it allows the current situation to continue,” Whittaker said.
A review of Australia’s current five-year plan, which provides the framework for the country’s HIV/Aids policies, programmes and research was commissioned last year due to emerging evidence of an increase in infections. It is yet to be released.
Source: aidsmap.com