Dolutegravir/Lamivudine for Maintenance of Virological Suppression in Persons with Historical Suspected or Confirmed Resistance to Lamivudine: Week 48 Results of a Single-Arm, Open-Label, Multicentre, Phase IIA Clinical Trial.

Background: We investigated the efficacy of dolutegravir/lamivudine for maintenance treatment for people with HIV and previous lamivudine resistance.

Methods: Open-label, single arm, multicentric clinical trial including virologically suppressed PWH with historical lamivudine resistance (confirmed by genotypic testing or suspected based on clinical history), no integrase resistance and CD4+ >200 cells/mm3 whose ART was changed to dolutegravir/lamivudine if the M184V/I mutation was not detected in baseline proviral DNA population sequencing. Proviral DNA next-generation sequencing (NGS) was retrospectively performed in baseline samples.

Phenotypic plasticity in bacterial elongation among closely related species.

Cell elongation is a fundamental component of the bacterial cell cycle and has been studied over many decades, in part owing to its mechanisms being a target of numerous antibiotic classes. While several distinct modes of cell elongation have been described, these studies have largely relied on a handful of model bacterial species. Therefore, we have a limited view of the diversity of cell elongation approaches that are employed by bacteria, and how these vary in response to evolutionary and environmental influences.

Performance-based habitat choice can drive rapid adaptive divergence and reproductive isolation.

Theory predicts that performance-based habitat choice-where individuals select environments based on their local performance-should be widespread in nature and significantly influence ecological and evolutionary processes, including local adaptation, population divergence, reproductive isolation, and speciation. However, experimental evidence supporting these predictions has been largely lacking. In this study, we addressed this by inducing performance-based habitat choice in wild tree sparrows (Passer montanus) through the manipulation of differential access to transponder-operated feeders in two adjacent woodland areas.

Non-suppressible viraemia during HIV-1 therapy: a challenge for clinicians.

In individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), persistent low-level viraemia not attributed to suboptimal ART adherence, detrimental pharmacological interactions, or drug resistance is referred to as non-suppressible viraemia (NSV). This Review presents recent findings in the virological characterisation of NSV, revealing that it consists of one or a few identical populations of plasma viruses without signs of evolution. This finding suggests that NSV originates from virus production by expanded HIV-infected cell clones, reflecting the persistence of the HIV reservoir despite ART.

Inter-species Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals a Constitutive Adaptation Against Oxidative Stress for the Highly Virulent Leptospira Species.

Transcriptomic analyses across large scales of evolutionary distance have great potential to shed light on regulatory evolution but are complicated by difficulties in establishing orthology and limited availability of accessible software. We introduce here a method and a graphical user interface wrapper, called Annotator-RNAtor, for performing interspecies transcriptomic analysis and studying intragenus evolution. The pipeline uses third-party software to infer homologous genes in various species and highlight differences in the expression of the core-genes.

Spatial Variation in Yield, Chemical Composition, and Phytotoxic Activity of Cistus ladanifer Essential Oils.

Cistus ladanifer L. (rockrose) is a widespread shrub species of the Mediterranean region with products highly valued by the perfume and cosmetics industry. In this research, the variability in yield, chemical composition and phytotoxic activity of C.

Healthcare outcomes in patients with HIV infection at a tertiary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the care of patients with other diseases. Difficulty in access to healthcare during these months has been especially relevant for persons with HIV infection (PWH). This study therefore sought to ascertain the clinical outcomes and effectiveness of the measures implemented among PWH in a region with one of the highest incidence rates in Europe.

The D165H Polymorphism of QiMYB-like-1 Is Linked to Interactions between Tannin Accumulation, Herbivory and Biogeographical Determinants of .

The accumulation in the leaves and young stems of phenolic compounds, such as hydrolyzable and condensed tannins, constitutes a defense mechanism of plants against herbivores. Among other stressing factors, chronic herbivory endangers , a tree playing a central role in Mediterranean forests. This work addressed the connections between the chemical defenses of leaves and their susceptibility to herbivory, quantitative traits whose relationships are modulated by environmental and genetic factors that could be useful as molecular markers for the selection of plants with improved fitness.

Long-term Evaluation of Residual Viremia in a Clinical Trial of Dolutegravir Plus Lamivudine as Maintenance Treatment for Participants With and Without Prior Lamivudine Resistance.

In this pilot clinical trial, we evaluated rates of residual replication in persons without lamivudine resistance-associated mutations in proviral DNA population sequencing who switched to dolutegravir plus lamivudine. After 144 weeks, there was no signal of changes in residual viremia based on qualitative detection methods, irrespective of past lamivudine resistance. NCT03539224.

48-Week effectiveness and tolerability of dolutegravir (DTG) + lamivudine (3TC) in antiretroviral-naïve adults living with HIV: A multicenter real-life cohort.

Background: The main international guidelines indicate DTG/3TC therapy as one of the preferred regimens for people living with HIV (PLWH), due to its observed efficacy in randomized clinical trials. However, information in real-life cohorts is relatively scarce for first-line use.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study of adult PLWH starting DTG+3TC as a first-line regimen before January 31st, 2020.

Collaborative agroforestry to mitigate wildfires in Extremadura, Spain: land manager motivations and perceptions of outcomes, benefits, and policy needs.

Unlabelled: Wildfires are increasing in severity, and magnitude in the Mediterranean Basin in recent years, reaching a yearly average of 450 000 ha over the last decade. Drivers include climate change, land-use change, and land abandonment. Wildfire mitigation requires landscape-level action as impact to each parcel is affected by the conditions of the others.

Evolution of longitudinal division in multicellular bacteria of the Neisseriaceae family.

Rod-shaped bacteria typically elongate and divide by transverse fission. However, several bacterial species can form rod-shaped cells that divide longitudinally. Here, we study the evolution of cell shape and division mode within the family Neisseriaceae, which includes Gram-negative coccoid and rod-shaped species.

Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in older individuals with HIV: Results of a 96-week, phase 3b, open-label, switch trial in virologically suppressed people ≥65 years of age.

Objectives: Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) is an effective treatment for HIV-1 infection; however, clinical trial data in older people living with HIV (PLWH) are lacking. The primary 24-week and secondary 48-week analyses of study GS-US-380-4449 (NCT03405935), which assessed the efficacy and safety of switching to B/F/TAF in older PLWH, have been published. Here we report the results of the final 96-week analyses from the study.

Past and future of HIV infection. A document based on expert opinion.

HIV infection is now almost 40 years old. In this time, along with the catastrophe and tragedy that it has entailed, it has also represented the capacity of modern society to take on a challenge of this magnitude and to transform an almost uniformly lethal disease into a chronic illness, compatible with a practically normal personal and relationship life. This anniversary seemed an ideal moment to pause and reflect on the future of HIV infection, the challenges that remain to be addressed and the prospects for the immediate future.

Incidence and Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in HIV-Infected Individuals During the First Year of the Pandemic.

Background: We aim to investigate the infection rate, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-disease in a cohort of people living with HIV in Madrid (Spain), during the first year of pandemics.

Setting: Observational single-center study, in which we included all HIV-infected patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection as of February 28, 2021, at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre.

Methods: Confirmed disease was defined as any patient with a positive antigen test, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, or serology for SARS-CoV-2.

Detection of archived lamivudine-associated resistance mutations in virologically suppressed, lamivudine-experienced HIV-infected adults by different genotyping techniques (GEN-PRO study).

Background: Previously selected lamivudine resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) may remain archived within the proviral HIV-DNA.

Objectives: To evaluate the ability of proviral DNA genotyping to detect lamivudine RAMs in HIV-1 virologically suppressed participants; the correlation between Sanger and next generation sequencing (NGS); and predictive factors for detection of lamivudine RAMs in proviral DNA.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of participants on stable antiretroviral therapy and suppressed for ≥1 year.

Healthcare outcomes in patients with HIV infection at a tertiary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the care of patients with other diseases. Difficulty in access to healthcare during these months has been especially relevant for persons with HIV infection (PWH). This study therefore sought to ascertain the clinical outcomes and effectiveness of the measures implemented among PWH in a region with one of the highest incidence rates in Europe.

Late HIV diagnosis among immigrants in Spain vs. native-born Spaniards, 2010-15.

Background: In 2012, the central government of Spain enacted Royal Decree-Law (RDL) 16/2012 and Royal Decree (RD) 1192/2012, which abolished universal healthcare coverage, thus limiting access to care for undocumented immigrants. Free health care was also no longer granted to anyone who has never been employed. In this context, this study investigated the prevalence of late HIV diagnoses (LHDs) among immigrants living in Spain vs.

Hepatocellular carcinoma risk in hepatitis C stage-3 fibrosis after sustained virological response with direct-acting antivirals.

Background & Aims: Patients with chronic hepatitis C and stage 3 fibrosis are thought to remain at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virological response. We investigated this risk in a large cohort of patients with well-defined stage 3 fibrosis.

Methods: We performed a multicentre, ambispective, observational study of chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response after treatment with direct-acting antivirals started between January and December 2015.

Critical range of soil organic carbon in southern Europe lands under desertification risk.

Soil quality is fundamental for ecosystem long term functionality, productivity and resilience to current climatic changes. Despite its importance, soil is lost and degraded at dramatic rates worldwide. In Europe, the Mediterranean areas are a hotspot for soil erosion and land degradation due to a combination of climatic conditions, soils, geomorphology and anthropic pressure.