Acute HIV Infections
A special issue of Viruses (ISSN 1999-4915). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Virology and Viral Diseases".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 901
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Described in 1985 by David A. Cooper, different terms, including acute, recent, primary, and early HIV infection, have been coined to refer to variable periods following an initial infection with HIV.
The term "acute HIV infection" refers to symptomatic early infection, while "early HIV infection" refers to the approximate six-month period following HIV acquisition.
This short period of time represents a turning point for the life of the infected person, and a time to understand the virus–host interactions for the development of novel immunotherapies.
The diagnosis of acute or early HIV infection is of paramount importance since prompt initiation of ART reduces symptoms of acute infection, blocks AIDS development, abrogates secondary HIV transmission (U=U), reduces HIV reservoir size, and preserves anti-HIV immune functions.
Diagnostics can be difficult during cabotegravir long-action PrEP, leading to the recognition of a new syndrome called long-acting early viral inhibition (LEVI) syndrome. For persons infected while on suboptimal long-acting Prep such as cabotegravir, HIV rapid tests and Ag/Ab tests often fail to detect smoldering infection and HIV can persist undiagnosed for months after infection, even after cabotegravir injections are discontinued.
Failure to diagnose and rapidly treat individuals with early infection has significant individual and public health implications. We must acknowledge that recognition of recent HIV acquisition reveals the limits of prevention strategies including education, the perception of high-risk behaviours, and, more importantly, PrEP and PEP programs.
More recently, persons living with HIV and treated early have been identified as potentially eligible for investigative HIV eradication strategies.
Identification of recent HIV infection by self-testing, medical or community setting remains a priority for research, care, and prevention to build a HIV/AIDS free era.
This Special Issue of Viruses will encompass articles and reviews discussing the implications of acute HIV infection prevention and care, as well as host–virus interactions, both in people living with HIV and animal models, including SIV infected monkeys.
Dr. Jean-Pierre Routy
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- acute HIV infection
- primary HIV infection
- HIV acquisition prevention (PreP, PEP)
- acute HIV pathogenesis
- HIV reservoirs
- anti-HIV immunity
