Participant experiences using novel home-based blood collection device for viral load testing in HIV cure trials with analytical treatment interruptions.

: HIV cure-directed clinical trials using analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) require participants to adhere to frequent monitoring visits for viral load tests. Novel viral load monitoring strategies are needed to decrease participant burden during ATIs.: To examine acceptability of a novel home-based blood collection device for viral load testing in the context of two ongoing ATI trials in Philadelphia, PA, United States.

"We are looking at the future right now": community acceptability of a home-based viral load test device in the context of HIV cure-related research with analytical treatment interruptions in the United States.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) and community members have advocated for the development of a home-based viral load test device that could make analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) less burdensome.

Objective: We assessed community acceptability of a novel home-based viral load test device.

Methods: In 2021, we conducted 15 interviews and 3 virtual focus groups with PWH involved in HIV cure research.

Preliminary Acceptability of a Home-Based Peripheral Blood Collection Device for Viral Load Testing in the Context of Analytical Treatment Interruptions in HIV Cure Trials: Results from a Nationwide Survey in the United States.

Frequent viral load testing is necessary during analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) in HIV cure-directed clinical trials, though such may be burdensome and inconvenient to trial participants. We implemented a national, cross-sectional survey in the United States to examine the acceptability of a novel home-based peripheral blood collection device for HIV viral load testing. Between June and August 2021, we distributed an online survey to people with HIV (PWH) and community members, biomedical HIV cure researchers and HIV care providers.

Intact Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Reservoir Estimated by the Intact Proviral DNA Assay Correlates With Levels of Total and Integrated DNA in the Blood During Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy.

Accurate characterization of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir is imperative to develop an effective cure. HIV was measured in antiretroviral therapy-suppressed individuals using the intact proviral DNA assay (IPDA), along with assays for total or integrated HIV DNA, and inducible HIV RNA or p24. Intact provirus correlated with total and integrated HIV.

Hepatitis C virus modulates IgG glycosylation in HIV co-infected antiretroviral therapy suppressed individuals.

Objective: Glycosylation plays a critical role in mediating several antibody (mainly immunoglobulin G; IgG) immunological functions, including antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC), and anti-inflammatory activities. We investigated whether IgG glycosylation and immune profile patterns are differentially modulated in mono and dual infection using samples from untreated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals with and without co-infection with antiretroviral therapy (ART)-suppressed HIV.

Design: IgG glycosylation, immune subsets, natural killer cell function, and liver enzymes were assessed in 14 HCV mono-infected and 27 ART-suppressed HIV/HCV co-infected participants naïve to HCV treatment.

Pegylated Interferon alfa-2a monotherapy results in suppression of HIV type 1 replication and decreased cell-associated HIV DNA integration.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-mediated immune reconstitution fails to restore the capacity of the immune system to spontaneously control human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication.

Methods: A total of 23 HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-infected, virologically suppressed subjects receiving ART (CD4(+) T-cell count, >450 cells/μL) were randomly assigned to have 180 μg/week (for arm A) or 90 μg/week (for arm B) of pegylated (Peg) interferon alfa-2a added to their current ART regimen. After 5 weeks, ART was interrupted, and Peg-interferon alfa-2a was continued for up to 12 weeks (the primary end point), with an option to continue to 24 weeks.