AIDS Alert Archives – August 1, 2007
August 1, 2007
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First medication in new class of ARTs poised to be available for salvage therapy
HIV clinicians will have a powerful new weapon in the AIDS arsenal when the first CCR5 antagonist receives marketing approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Approval was expected to be given sometime in July or August. -
Herpes treatment can help co-infected HIV patients
For about two decades research data have suggested that genital herpes is a risk factor in HIV acquisition. But now there is a growing consensus among investigators that genital herpes may account for a significant proportion of new HIV infection, an expert says. -
Here's how maraviroc and other entry inhibitors work
Current entry inhibitors under study, including maraviroc, target one of the three stages of HIV's entry into cells. -
Adherence Strategies: Simple pill box organizers improve HIV adherence
San Francisco, CA, investigators found a significantly higher adherence among HIV-infected people who used pill boxes, and the same patients had increased viral suppression. -
FDA Notifications: FDA approves new formulation of Lexiva
On June 14, 2007, FDA approved a new formulation of fosamprenavir calcium (Lexiva). -
Structural basis for coreceptor selectivity by the HIV type 1 V3 loop
Over the last 15 years increased understand ing of the complicated process of HIV attachment and entry into host cells has developed. After initial binding of the virus' external envelope glycoprotein gp120 to CD4, the trimeric gp120 structure undergoes conformational change resulting in exposure of the third variable domain of gp120 (V3 loop) which then interacts with one of two coreceptors, CCR5 or CXCR4. -
Screening for abacavir hypersensitivity
The immune response to hiv exerts a selective pressure, just as do antiretroviral drugs. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that recognize HLA class I-restricted viral epitopes expressed on the surface of infected cells exert a pressure on these epitopes. -
Progress report: researchers make strides in global battle against HIV
Good news on the research front: Results from a major study indicate that treating genital herpes may help keep the AIDS virus under control in women with both infections and may reduce the spread of HIV as well. -
Prediction and Diagnosis of HIV Dementia
Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has changed the nature of HIV dementia: the degree of cognitive impairment is milder, the course may improve as well as worsen, and traditional biomarkers such as CSF viral load or levels of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) are less likely to be associated with dementia.