HIV-SEQ Reveals Global Host Gene Expression Differences Between HIV-Transcribing Cells from Viremic and Suppressed People with HIV.

"Active" reservoir cells transcribing HIV can perpetuate chronic inflammation in virally suppressed people with HIV (PWH) and likely contribute to viral rebound after antiretroviral therapy (ART) interruption, so they represent an important target for new therapies. These cells, however, are difficult to study using single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) due to their low frequency and low levels of HIV transcripts, which are usually not polyadenylated. Here, we developed "HIV-seq" to enable more efficient capture of HIV transcripts - including non-polyadenylated ones - for scRNA-seq analysis of cells from PWH.

Inflammatory Monocytes Increase Prior to Detectable HIV-1 Rebound Viremia.

The persistence of HIV-1 proviruses in latently infected cells allows viremia to resume upon treatment cessation. To characterize the resulting immune response, we compare plasma proteomics and single-cell transcriptomics of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before, during, and after detectable plasma viremia. We observe unique transcriptional signatures prior to viral rebound including a significant increase in CD16 monocytes with increased anti-viral gene expression.

Target product profile for cell-based and gene-based therapies to achieve a cure for HIV.

This target product profile (TPP) highlights the minimal and optimal characteristics for ex-vivo and in-vivo cell and gene therapy-based products aimed at achieving an HIV cure (ie, durable antiretroviral-free viral control). The need for an effective, safe, scalable, affordable, accessible, and acceptable cure for HIV infection remains a major global priority. The possibilities for cell and gene therapy-based products for an HIV cure are rapidly expanding.

Evaluating the psychosocial experiences of participants in HIV cure research before, during, and after analytical treatment interruptions: A longitudinal qualitative study in the United States.

The lack of socio-behavioral research on stress and psychosocial experiences among research participants who undergo analytical treatment interruption (ATI) in HIV cure studies underscores a critical gap in cure science. Existing literature acknowledges mixed and potentially adverse mental health impacts of ATIs among trial participants, but empirical insights before, during, and after clinical studies are scarce. We used longitudinal in-depth interviews with 11 participants in HIV cure-related research to explore their experiences with stress, coping, and psychological well-being before, during, and after an ATI.

2024 Update of the RECOVER-Adult Long COVID Research Index.

Importance: Classification of persons with long COVID (LC) or post-COVID-19 condition must encompass the complexity and heterogeneity of the condition. Iterative refinement of the classification index for research is needed to incorporate newly available data as the field rapidly evolves.

Objective: To update the 2023 research index for adults with LC using additional participant data from the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER-Adult) study and an expanded symptom list based on input from patient communities.