Review: an urgent need for research on factors impacting adherence to and retention in care among HIV-positive youth and adolescents from key populations.

Introduction: The 50% increase in HIV-related deaths in youth and adolescents (aged 10-24) from 2005 to 2012 highlights the need to improve HIV treatment and care in this population, including treatment adherence and retention. Youth and adolescents from key populations or young key populations (YKP) in particular are highly stigmatized and may face additional barrier(s) in adhering to HIV treatment and services. We reviewed the current knowledge on treatment adherence and retention in HIV care among YKP to identify gaps in the literature and suggest future directions to improve HIV care for YKP.

In vivo comparison of local versus systemic delivery of immunostimulating siRNA in HPV-driven tumours.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to inhibit oncogene expression and also to activate innate immune responses via Toll-like receptor (TLR) recognition have been shown to be beneficial as anti-cancer therapy in certain cancer models. In this study, we investigated the effects of local versus systemic delivery of such immune-stimulating Dicer-substrate siRNAs (IS-DsiRNAs) on a human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven tumour model. Localized siRNA delivery using intratumour injection of siRNA was able to increase siRNA delivery to the tumour compared with intravenous (IV) delivery and potently activated innate immune responses.

Deep parallel sequencing reveals conserved and novel miRNAs in gill and hepatopancreas of giant freshwater prawn.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are ~20-22 nucleotides, non protein-coding RNA regulatory genes that post-transcriptionally regulate many protein-coding genes, influencing critical biological and metabolic processes. While the number of known microRNA is increasing, there is currently no published data for miRNA from giant freshwater prawns, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (M. rosenbergii), a commercially cultured and economically important food species.

RNA interference for the treatment of papillomavirus disease.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-induced diseases are a significant burden on our healthcare system and current therapies are not curative. Vaccination provides significant prophylactic protection but effective therapeutic treatments will still be required. RNA interference (RNAi) has great promise in providing highly specific therapies for all HPV diseases yet this promise has not been realised.

siRNA-induced immunostimulation through TLR7 promotes antitumoral activity against HPV-driven tumors in vivo.

Oncogene-specific downregulation mediated by RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising avenue for cancer therapy. In addition to specific gene silencing, in vivo RNAi treatment with short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can initiate immune activation through innate immune receptors including Toll-like receptors, (TLRs) 7 and 8. Two recent studies have shown that activation of innate immunity by addition of tri-phosphate motifs to oncogene-specific siRNAs, or by co-treatment with CpG oligos, can potentiate siRNA antitumor effects.