Inhibition of a Chromatin and Transcription Modulator, SLTM, Increases HIV-1 Reactivation Identified by a CRISPR Inhibition Screen.

Despite effective antiretroviral therapy, HIV-1 persistence in latent reservoirs remains a major obstacle to a cure. We postulate that HIV-1 silencing factors suppress HIV-1 reactivation and that inhibition of these factors will increase HIV-1 reactivation. To identify HIV-1 silencing factors, we conducted a genome-wide CRISPR inhibition (CRISPRi) screen using four CRISPRi-ready, HIV-1-d6-GFP-infected Jurkat T cell clones with distinct integration sites.

Design and implementation of a cohort study of persons living with HIV infection who are initiating medication treatment for opioid use disorder to evaluate HIV-1 persistence.

Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) negatively impacts the HIV continuum of care for persons living with HIV (PLH). Medication treatment for OUD (MOUD) may have differential biological effects in individuals with HIV and OUD. To understand the role of MOUD - opioid agonist methadone, partial agonist buprenorphine and antagonist naltrexone - in HIV-1 persistence and reactivation, we will use molecular virology approaches to carry out the first prospective, longitudinal studies of adults living with HIV with OUD initiating MOUD.

SARS-CoV-2: a storm is raging.

The pandemic coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is rapidly spreading across the globe. In this issue of the JCI, Chen and colleagues compared the clinical and immunological characteristics between moderate and severe COVID-19. The authors found that respiratory distress on admission is associated with unfavorable outcomes.