Assessment of factors associated with voluntary counseling and testing uptake among students in Bahir Dar University: A case control study

Background: Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is one of the cornerstones for successful implementation of HIV prevention, care and support services among HIV negative and positive individuals.Objectives: This study was intended to assess the factors associated with the use of VCT service among students in Bahir Dar UniversityMethods: Unmatched case-control study was conducted among 158 cases (who had received VCT services) and 318 control students from March 20 to May 10, 2010. The study subjects were selected randomly among 452 students who had received VCT and 2548 controls. Data were collected using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire.Results: The findings indicated that male [OR= 1.84 (95% CI: 1.15, 2.92)], married [AOR=2.95 (95% CI: 1.23, 7.10)] and senior students [AOR=8.64 (2.70, 24.13)] were more likely to be tested than their counterparts. Knowledge, [AOR=2.44 (95% CI: 1.39, 4.28)], attitude [AOR=2.23 (95% CI: 1.19, 4.16)] and risk perception [AOR=5.43 (95%CI: 3.38, 8.72)] showed significant association with VCT service.Conclusion: In order to promote VCT service, more emphasis should be given to the knowledge and attitudes of students towards VCT, and to help the students to internalize the risk of HIV so that they can take preventivemeasures. Furthermore, strategies should be designed to help senior students to be tested.[Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2012;26(1):16-21

ART-naive HIV patients at Feleg-Hiwot Referral Hospital Northwest, Ethiopia

Objectives: To determine socio-demographic and immunological status of anti-retroviral treatment (ART)-naïve HIVpositive patients.Methods: This was a longitudinal survey of HIV-positive patients treated with ART at Felege-Hiwot Hospital. CD4 cell counts were enumerated at baseline and after 6 months of treatment using FACS count (Becton Dickinson). Socioeconomic data were collected using pre tested questionnaires.Results: Three hundred sixty eight (62% female), with median age 30 years were enrolled. Of these, 207 (56.5%) were uneducated and 233 (66.8%) had monthly income ≤ 250 birr. Three hundred fifteen (85.6%) started ART within 6 months of HIV diagnosis. The mean (95% CI) CD4 cell count at baseline was 153 (139-167); 156 (137-175) for females and 122 cells/μl (105-139) for males (

A Candidate HIV/AIDS Vaccine (MVA-B) that Enhances the Magnitude and Polyfunctionality of Memory HIV-1-Specific T-Cell Responses

Background: The poxvirus vector Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara (MVA) expressing HIV-1 Env, Gag, Pol and Nef antigens from clade B (MVA-B) is currently used as a HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate. A general strategy to try to improve the immunogenicity of poxvirus HIV-1 vaccine candidates is the deletion of known or suggested immunomodulatory vaccinia virus (VACV) genes.Methods: We have generated and characterized the innate immune sensing and the immunogenicity profile of a new HIV-1 vaccine candidate, which contains a deletion in a VACV gene.Results: We show that this VACV protein is expressed early during virus infection and localizes to the cytoplasm of infected cells. Deletion of this VACV gene from the MVA-B had no effect on virus growth kinetics; therefore this VACV protein is not essential for virus replication. The innate immune signals elicited by the MVA-B deletion mutant in human macrophages and monocyte-derived dendritic cells were characterized. In a DNA prime/MVA boost immunization protocol in mice, flow cytometry analysis revealed that the MVA-B deletion mutant enhanced the magnitude and polyfunctionality of the HIV-1-specific CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell memory immune responses, with most of the HIV-1 responses mediated by the CD8 + T-cell compartment with an effector phenotype. Significantly, while MVA-B induced preferentially Env- and Gag-specific CD8 + T-cell responses, the MVA-B deletion mutant induced more GPN-specific CD8 + T-cell responses. Furthermore, the MVA-B deletion mutant enhanced the levels of antibodies against Env in comparison with MVA-B.Conclusion: These findings revealed that this new VACV protein can be considered as an immunomodulator and that deleting this gene in MVA-B confers an immunological benefit by inducing innate immune responses and increasing the magnitude and quality of the T-cell memory immune responses to HIV-1 antigens. Our observations are relevant for the improvement of MVA vectors as HIV-1 vaccines