Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS, a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections).
Pneumococcal vaccine offers protection to HIV-infected African adults in clinical trial – A clinical trial of a vaccine against a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis has shown that it can prevent three out of four cases of re-infection in HIV-infected adults in Africa.
FDA Announces Possible Safety Concern for HIV Drug Combination – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced preliminary data suggesting that Invirase (saquinavir) in combination with Norvir (ritonavir) may have potentially important adverse effects on the heart.
Circumcision associated with significant changes in bacteria — Changes in bacteria within the penis microbiome documented for the first time. – Circumcision, which substantially lowers HIV risk in men, also dramatically changes the bacterial communities of the penis, according to a study led by scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Johns Hopkins University and published Jan. 6 in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.
UCSF study finds routine HIV screening in community health centers boosts HIV testing – UCSF researchers have that found routinely offering rapid HIV tests to patients in community health centers can significantly increase the number of patients screened for HIV.
The largest international clinical trial to date into a preventative HIV gel has found no evidence that the vaginal microbicide PRO 2000 reduces the risk of HIV infection in women. – Pro 2000, a vaginal microbicide gel designed to reduce women’s risk of HIV infection, showed no evidence that it reduces the risk of HIV infection, revealed by researchers at Britain’s Medical Research Council (MRC).
LAUNCH OF RED RIBBON EXPRESS ? WORLD AIDS DAY, 1 DEC 2009 – Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA and Chairperson Rajiv Gandhi Foundation flagged off the Red Ribbon Express from Safdarjung Railway Station to commemorate the World AIDS Day.
HIV vaccine failure probably caused by virus used, says new research – The recent failure of an HIV vaccine was probably caused by the immune system reacting to the virus ‘shell’ used to transmit the therapy around the body, revealed by researchers.
HIV care providers applaud Congress’ extension of Ryan White program – The U.S. Congress has extended the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, helping to ensure that more than half a million low-income, uninsured, or underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS have access to lifesaving care.
HIV vaccine regimen demonstrates modest preventive effect in Thailand clinical study – In an encouraging development, an investigational vaccine regimen has been shown to be well-tolerated and to have a modest effect in preventing HIV infection in a clinical trial involving more than 16,000 adult participants in Thailand.
High HIV infection rate among Soweto Township gays – New research from UCSF examining HIV among men (MSM) in the township of Soweto in South Africa has found that a third of gay-identified men are infected with HIV.
