Conference highlights of the 5th international workshop on HIV persistence during therapy, 6-9 December 2011, St. Maartin, West Indies

The December 2011 5th International Workshop on HIV Persistence during Therapy addressed the issue of HIV persistence among 210 scientists from 10 countries involved in the study of HIV reservoirs and the search of an HIV cure. High quality abstracts were selected and discussed as oral or poster presentations. The aim of this review is to distribute the scientific highlights of this workshop outside the group as analyzed and represented by experts in retrovirology, immunology and clinical research

The Search for a Cure for Persistent HIV Reservoirs

The persistence of prolonged HIV reservoirs in patients on effective antiretroviral therapy is the main hurdle to HIV eradication. However, major advances have been made over the last few years, both in basic and clinical science of HIV reservoirs. Consequently, the scientific community no longer banishes the term "cure". Despite such renewed hope, there is little investment by both public and private groups in the field. It is therefore imperative to make this a priority and allocate sufficient resources, especially financial support, to aid in finding the cure since there is no effective preventive vaccine. This article discusses the main scientific aspects and strategies to address and build an international task force tackling issues associated with HIV reservoirs. (AIDS Rev. 2011;13:63-6

Discrepancies between Protease Inhibitor Concentrations and Viral Load in Reservoirs and Sanctuary Sites in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients

The variable penetration of antiretroviral drugs into sanctuary sites may contribute to the differential evolution of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the emergence of drug resistance. We evaluated the penetration of indinavir, nelfinavir, and lopinavir-ritonavir (lopinavir/r) in the central nervous system, genital tract, and lymphoid tissue and assessed the correlation with residual viral replication. Plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), semen, and lymph node biopsy samples were collected from 41 HIV-infected patients on stable highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens to determine drug concentrations and HIV RNA levels. When HIV RNA was detectable, sequencing of the reverse transcriptase and protease genes was performed. Ratios of the concentration in semen/concentration in plasma were 1.9 for indinavir, 0.08 for nelfinavir, and 0.07 for lopinavir. Only indinavir was detectable in CSF, with a concentration in CSF/concentration in plasma ratio of 0.17. Differential penetration into lymphoid tissue was observed, with concentration in lymph node tissue/concentration in plasma ratios of 2.07, 0.58, and 0.21 for indinavir, nelfinavir, and lopinavir, respectively. HIV RNA levels were <50 copies/ml in all CSF samples of patients in whom HIV RNA was not detectable in plasma. HIV RNA was detectable in the semen of three patients (two patients receiving nelfinavir and one patient receiving lopinavir/r), and its detection was associated with multiple resistance mutations, while the viral load in plasma was undetectable. HIV RNA was detectable in all lymph node tissue samples. Differential drug penetration was observed among the three protease inhibitors in the sanctuary sites, but there was no correlation between drug levels and HIV RNA levels, suggesting that multiple factors are involved in the persistence of viral reservoirs. Further studies are required to clarify the role and clinical relevance of drug penetration in sanctuaries in terms of long-term efficacy and drug resistance

Highlights from the Seventh International Workshop on HIV Persistence during Therapy, 8-11 December 2015, Miami, Florida, USA.

International audienceOver 4 days, more than 270 scientists involved in HIV persistence research convened to share their data and discuss future avenues to control HIV without continuous antiretroviral therapy. This 7(th) International Workshop on HIV Persistence followed the format of the preceding conferences but more time was given for discussing abstracts submitted by the participants and selected by the Steering and Scientific Committees. The topic of the workshop is HIV persistence: consequently, issues of HIV reservoirs and HIV cure are also addressed. In this article we report as closely as possible what was discussed. However, owing to length constraints, not everything is reported here but all the Workshop abstracts can be found online (www.viruseradication.com)

Highlights from the 2016 International Symposium on HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases (ISHEID): 25-27 May, Marseille, France.

International audienceFor three days in May 2016, the International Symposium on HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases gathered participants from all over the world around the theme 'Fighting deadly viruses'. HIV infection remained the main topic of the meeting but hepatitis, Ebola and Zika viruses as well as other emergent pathogens were also extensively covered. In this article we have tried to summarise what was presented during the plenary lectures, the two keynote lectures, and some of the work accepted for oral presentation. However, all abstracts can be found on the Journal of Virus Eradication website ( viruseradication.com/abstract.php)

Highlights from the 2012 International Symposium on HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases (ISHEID): from cART management to the search of an HIV cure.

International audienceABSTRACT: The 2012 International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases (ISHEID) provided a forum for investigators to hear the latest research developments in the clinical management of HIV and HCV infections as well as HIV-1 reservoirs and cure research. Combined anti-retroviral therapy (c-ART) has had a profound impact on the disease prognosis of individuals living with HIV-1 infection. However, although these anti-retroviral regimens are able to reduce plasma viremia to below the limits of detection for sustained periods of time, there is a rapid recrudescence in plasma viremia if treatment is interrupted. Therefore, despite this potent anti-retroviral suppression, HIV-1 is able to persist within the infected individual. The main 2012 ISHEID theme was, hence "searching for an HIV cure". In this report we not only give details on this main topic of the 2012 ISHEID but also summarize what has been discussed in the areas of HIV epidemiology, access to care, antiretroviral therapy management and recent progress in the therapy of HCV infection in patients with HIV

Highlights from the 2014 International Symposium on HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases (ISHEID): from cART management to the end of the HIV pandemic

International audienceThe 2014 International Symposium on HIV and Emerging Infectious Diseases (ISHEID) provided a forum for investigators to hear the latest research developments in the clinical management of HIV and HCV infections as well as HIV cure research. Combined anti-retroviral therapy (c-ART) has had a profound impact on the disease prognosis and transformed this infection into a chronic disease. However, HIV is able to persist within the infected host and the pandemic is still growing. The main 2014 ISHEID theme was, hence "Together for a world without HIV and AIDS". In this report we not only give details on this main topic but also summarize what has been discussed in the areas of HCV coinfection and present a short summary on currently emerging viral diseases