Rates of Viral Non-Suppression and Acquired HIV-1 Drug Resistance Emergence among Children during the Sociopolitical Crisis in the Northwest Region of Cameroon: A Call for Improved Monitoring Strategies.

Background: Virological failure (VF) among children remains concerning, with high risks of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) emergence and increased disease progression. Therefore, monitoring of viral non-suppression and emerging HIVDR is crucial, especially in the frame of sociopolitical unrest.

Objective: The study sought to determine the prevalence of VF and evaluate the acquired HIVDR and viral genetic diversity among children in the Northwest region of Cameroon during the ongoing sociopolitical crisis.

Empowering adolescents living with perinatally-acquired HIV: tailored CD4+ count assessment for optimized care, the EDCTP READY-study.

Background: The elevated rate of AIDS-related mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) is influenced by various factors, notably immunosuppression, within a framework of limited therapeutic alternatives. We aimed to enhance the management of pediatric HIV by assessing the immune response and associated factors in perinatally-infected ALHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Cameroon.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted from 2018-2020 among 271 ART-experienced ALHIV in Cameroon.

Evaluation of Viral Suppression in Paediatric Populations: Implications for the Transition to Dolutegravir-Based Regimens in Cameroon: The CIPHER-ADOLA Study.

Mortality in children accounts for 15% of all AIDS-related deaths globally, with a higher burden among Cameroonian children (25%), likely driven by poor virological response. We sought to evaluate viral suppression (VS) and its determinants in a nationally representative paediatric and young adult population receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). A cross-sectional and multicentric study was conducted among Cameroonian children (<10 years), adolescents (10-19 years) and young adults (20-24 years).

HIV-1 residual risk and pre-treatment drug resistance among blood donors: A sentinel surveillance from Gabon.

Background: Surveillance of HIV-1 pre-treatment drug resistance (PDR) is essential for ensuring the success of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). Beside population-based surveys, sentinel surveillance of PDR and circulating HIV-1 clades in specific populations such as blood donors could efficiently inform decision-making on ART program. We therefore sought to ascertain HIV-1 residual infection, the threshold of PDR and viral diversity among recently-diagnosed blood donors in Gabon.

Evaluation of HIV-1 DNA levels among adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV-1 in Yaounde, Cameroon: A contribution to paediatric HIV cure research in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: With the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART), most children living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are growing toward adolescence, with scarcity of evidence on the size of viral reservoirs to enhance paediatric cure research strategies. This study aims to compare HIV-1 proviral DNA levels according to virological response among adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV-1 (ALPHIV) and identify associated-factors in the Cameroonian context.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, HIV-1 RNA viremia and CD4 T-cell count were assessed through RT-PCR and flow cytometry respectively at three time-points over 18 months of observation.

Accurate and reproducible enumeration of CD4 T cell counts and Hemoglobin levels using a point of care system: Comparison with conventional laboratory based testing systems in a clinical reference laboratory in Cameroon.

Background: Measurements of CD4 T cells and hemoglobin (Hb) are conventionally used to determine the immunological state and disease progression for HIV-infected patients. We obtained a small lightweight point-of-care device, the BD FACSPrestoTM in order to demonstrate its ability to deliver CD4 and Hb analysis in comparison with two larger clinical machines the BDFACSCantoTM analyzer and Sysmex XN 1000 haematology analyzer. The advantages of using the POC device include access to HIV patient data in remote and in resource limited settings.

Determinants of Immunovirological Response among Children and Adolescents Living with HIV-1 in the Central Region of Cameroon.

About 90% of new HIV-1 infections in children occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where treatment monitoring remains suboptimal. We sought to ascertain factors associated with immunovirological responses among an ART-experienced paediatric population in Cameroon. A laboratory-based and analytical study was conducted from January 2017 throughout December 2020 wherein plasma viral load (PVL) analyses and CD4 cell counts were performed.

Genotypic resistance testing improves antiretroviral treatment outcomes in a cohort of adolescents in Cameroon: Implications in the dolutegravir-era.

Acquired drug resistance (ADR) is common among adolescents living with perinatal HIV (APHI) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Personalized management has the potential to improve pediatric antiretroviral therapy (ART), even in the presence of long-term treatment and HIV-1 subtype diversity. We sought to evaluate the effect of HIV-1 mutational profiling on immuno-virological response and ADR among APHI.

Inflammatory profile of vertically HIV-1 infected adolescents receiving ART in Cameroon: a contribution toward optimal pediatric HIV control strategies.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved the lifespan of people living with HIV. However, their immune system remains in a state of sustained activation/inflammation, which favors viral replication and depletion of helper T-cells with varying profiles according to ART-response. We herein sought to ascertain the inflammatory profile of adolescents living with perinatal HIV-1 infection (ALPHI) receiving ART in an African context.

Variability of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus and Associated Factors among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) carries the highest burden of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in the world, driven by, and together with, HIV infection. This systematic review aimed to identify HR-HPV genotypes and their associated factors among women in SSA.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies conducted in SSA on HR-HPV was conducted.

Viral suppression in the era of transition to dolutegravir-based therapy in Cameroon: Children at high risk of virological failure due to the lowly transition in pediatrics.

This study aimed to compare viral suppression (VS) between children, adolescents, and adults in the frame of transition to dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Cameroonian context. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 through May 2022 amongst ART-experienced patients received at the Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre in Yaounde-Cameroon, for viral load (VL) monitoring. VS was defined as VL < 1000 copies/mL and viral undetectability as VL < 50 copies/mL.

Challenges faced by the HIV testing system in low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction: Determining the HIV status of some individuals remains challenging due to multidimensional factors such as flaws in diagnostic systems, technological challenges, and viral diversity. This report pinpoints challenges faced by the HIV testing system in Cameroon.

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old male received a positive HIV result by a rapid testing algorithm in July 2016.

Evaluation of archived drug resistance mutations in HIV-1 DNA among vertically infected adolescents under antiretroviral treatment in Cameroon: Findings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: With the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART), children born with HIV are more likely to reach adolescence. However, frequent non-adherence to ART in adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) leads to viral replication. Notably, a viraemic infection might lead to archived drug resistance mutations (ADRMs).

Dolutegravir-Based Regimen Ensures High Virological Success despite Prior Exposure to Efavirenz-Based First-LINE ART in Cameroon: An Evidence of a Successful Transition Model.

To ensure optimal prescribing practices in the dolutegravir-era in Cameroon, we compared first-line virological response (VR) under tenofovir + lamivudine + dolutegravir (TLD) according to prior exposure to tenofovir + lamivudine + efavirenz (TLE). A facility-based survey was conducted among patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) with TLD (I-TLD) versus those transitioning from TLE to TLD (T-TLD). HIV viral load was performed and unsuppressed participants (VL > 1000 copies/mL) had genotyping performed by Sanger sequencing.

The mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 and profile of viral reservoirs in pediatric population: A systematic review with meta-analysis of the Cameroonian studies.

Background: The mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 (MTCT) remains on the major route of HIV-transmission among pediatric populations in Africa. Though a prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) high-priority country, data on the MTCT burdens in Cameroon remains fragmented.

Objective: We sought to assess the pooled MTCT rate, its risk-factors, and to characterize viral reservoirs of infected-children in Cameroon.

Evaluation of HIV-1 capsid genetic variability and lenacapavir (GS-6207) drug resistance-associated mutations according to viral clades among drug-naive individuals.

Objectives: We evaluated the HIV-1 capsid genetic variability and lenacapavir drug resistance-associated mutations (DRMs) among drug-naive individuals across HIV-1 clades.

Methods: A total of 2031 HIV-1 sequences from drug-naive patients were analysed for capsid amino acid modification and the prevalence of lenacapavir DRMs. Amino acid positions with <5% variability were considered as conserved and variability was analysed by HIV-1 clades.

High genotypic diversity of human papillomavirus among women in Cameroon: implications for vaccine effectiveness.

Background: The burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) is high in Cameroon, but knowledge on high-risk oncogenic HPV (HR-HPV) is limited. Our study sought to ascertain the HR-HPV genotypes circulating in Cameroon.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among non-vaccinated women in Cameroon.

Evaluation of Circulating and Archived HIV-1 Integrase Drug-Resistance Variants among Patients on Third-Line ART in Cameroon: Implications for Dolutegravir-Containing Regimens in Resource-Limited Settings.

To ensure the long-term efficacy of dolutegravir (DTG), we evaluated the genotypic profile in viral reservoirs among patients on third-line (3L) antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Cameroon, according to prior exposure to raltegravir (RAL). A facility-based study was conducted from May through December 2021 among patients on 3L ART from HIV treatment centers in Yaoundé and Douala. Viral load was measured, and genotyping was performed on plasma RNA and proviral DNA.

Global burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization and case fatality rate among COVID-19 vaccinated individuals and its associated factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Background: COVID-19 has been the most important public health concern worldwide since 2020. Several vaccines are now available to help in controlling COVID-19 associated morbidity and mortality. This study will aim to provide the global and regional prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as an estimate of disease severity among COVID-19 vaccinated individuals.

Epidemiological, virological and clinical features of SARS-CoV-2 among individuals during the first wave in Cameroon: Baseline analysis for the EDCTP PERFECT-Study RIA2020EF-3000.

In Cameroon, COVID-19 infection spread rapidly and nationwide, with up to 721 deaths reported. To the best of our knowledge, no study reported the on-theground data using a large patients' dataset to give a comprehensive knowledge on COVID-19 pandemic in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to shade lights on the epidemiological, virological and clinical features of COVID-19 in the Cameroonian context.