Platform for isolation and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 variants enables rapid characterization of Omicron in Australia.

Genetically distinct variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have emerged since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over this period, we developed a rapid platform (R-20) for viral isolation and characterization using primary remnant diagnostic swabs. This, combined with quarantine testing and genomics surveillance, enabled the rapid isolation and characterization of all major SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Australia in 2021.

HIV-1 viral blips are associated with repeated and increasingly high levels of cell-associated HIV-1 RNA transcriptional activity.

Objective: Some HIV+ patients, virally suppressed on ART, show occasional 'blips' of detectable HIV-1 plasma RNA. We used a new highly sensitive assay of cell-associated HIV-1 RNA to measure transcriptional activity in PBMCs and production of infectious virus from the viral reservoir, in patients with and without 'blips'.

Design/methods: RNA and DNA extracted from cells in 6 ml of peripheral blood, from suppressed patients with one to two 'blip' episodes over the past 2 years of ART (n = 55), or no 'blips' (n = 52), were assayed for HIV-1 RNA transcripts and proviral DNA targeting the highly conserved 'R' region of the LTR.

RNAi therapeutics: an antiviral strategy for human infections.

Gene silencing induced by RNAi represents a promising antiviral development strategy. This review will summarise the current state of RNAi therapeutics for treating acute and chronic human virus infections. The gene silencing pathways exploited by RNAi therapeutics will be described and include both classic RNAi, inducing cytoplasmic mRNA degradation post-transcription and novel RNAi, mediating epigenetic modifications at the transcription level in the nucleus.

Block and Lock HIV Cure Strategies to Control the Latent Reservoir.

The HIV latent reservoir represents the major challenge to cure development. Residing in resting CD4+ T cells and myeloid cells at multiple locations in the body, including sanctuary sites such as the brain, the latent reservoir is not eliminated by ART and has the ability to reactivate virus replication to pre-therapy levels when ART is ceased. There are four broad areas of HIV cure research.

Safety of CD34 Hematopoietic Stem Cells and CD4 T Lymphocytes Transduced with LVsh5/C46 in HIV-1 Infected Patients with High-Risk Lymphoma.

Although the risk of developing lymphoma has decreased in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era, this cancer remains the major cause of mortality in HIV-infected patients. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) outcome does not differ for HIV-infected versus HIV-uninfected patients. We propose to develop a new treatment for HIV-associated high-risk lymphoma based on autologous transplantation of two genetically modified products: CD4 T lymphocytes and CD34 hematopoietic stem cells (HSPCs).