Technical difficulties at TPAN/PA
Proteins that provide immunity against HIV among commercial sex workers in Kenya identified
Herpes drug may also work against HIV, study finds
CDC officials say an additional $4.8 billion is needed to reduce annual number of new infections
Tibotec solicits proposals for new HIV treatment education initiative
Texas emergency HIV medicine information
AIDS Institute launches National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day during USCA
Technical difficulties at TPAN/PA
TPAN/PA has experienced a crash in our computer server since Friday, September 12, 2008. If you have been trying to reach our staff via e-mail, we apologize for the lack of response. Please contact us via telephone at (773) 989-9400.
We are very sorry for the inconvenience, and hope to be back up and running very soon.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.
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Proteins that provide immunity against HIV among commercial sex workers in Kenya identified
According to a study published recently in the Journal of Proteome Research, 15 proteins have been identified in a group of commercial sex workers from Kenya that are believed to provide them with natural immunity against HIV.
Conducted by researchers from the University of Manitoba, in collaboration with others from the National Microbiology Laboratory in Canada and the University of Nairobi, the study involved 3,000 Kenyan sex workers. A degree of immunity was found among 140 of these women, many with complete immunity while others were “late converters” with high initial resistance.
Eight specific proteins were found to be much more common in a group of women with apparent resistance to HIV. These proteins are considered to have an antiviral effect, which may inhibit HIV replication, or anti-inflammatory abilities which aid in the prevention of transmission.
Although more research is necessary, these findings have what Toronto’s Globe and Mail refer to as “considerable implications” for future research on HIV vaccines as well as new antiretroviral therapies.
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Herpes drug may also work against HIV, study finds
A recent study found that acyclovir, a drug used to treat herpes, may also be effective at helping control HIV in people who are infected with both viruses.
Conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, researchers found that a chemical reaction (known as phosphorylation) which occurs when acyclovir encounters the herpes virus alters the drug into a form that can work against HIV as well.
Researchers believe that these findings may explain why other studies have shown lower HIV viral loads in people taking acyclovir, while others that have tried to prove the effectiveness of the drug at reducing the transmission of HIV have not been successful.
“If you suppress herpes virus completely, there is nothing to phosphorylate,” said lead researcher Leonid Margolis. Margolis and his team are hopeful that the results of this study will assist researchers with finding better ways to use acyclovir in the treatment of HIV, as well as in the development of new technologies such as microbicides.
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CDC officials say an additional $4.8 billion is needed to reduce annual number of new infections
At a recent House Government Reform and Oversight Committee hearing, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials said that it would need an additional $4.8 billion dollars over the next five years to reduce the annual number of new HIV infections in the U.S.
This hearing comes after the release of a CDC study in August that found that approximately 56,000 new HIV infections occur every year in the U.S., a number 40 times higher than previous estimates.
Officials reportedly explained to the committee that although their request for additional funds is high, they believe that it could reduce the HIV transmission rate in the U.S. by 50% over 12 years, as well as increase the number of HIV-positive people who know their status by the same amount, and reduce the racial disparities seen in the HIV epidemic.
Julie Gerberding, Director of CDC, said that the increased funding would be used to expand HIV testing, research new prevention interventions, and evaluate prevention programs.
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Tibotec solicits proposals for new HIV treatment education initiative
Tibotec Therapeutics, makers of HIV drugs Prezista and Intelence, recently issued a request for proposal announcement for its first annual STEP Initiative: Strengthening Treatment Education for People Living with HIV/AIDS.
The goal of this initiative is to improve treatment education for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States and Puerto Rico. The initiative will support treatment education that includes, but is not limited to: treatment preparedness; medication management and adherence; goals of antiretroviral therapy; and awareness and knowledge of therapeutic options. Proposed programs should target an underserved population in your community.
Applicants should complete and submit an application describing the unmet need in the community, the treatment education approach proposed to fill the gap, and the intended measurable outcomes of the program. All requests need to be submitted on the Tibotec Therapeutics STEP Initiative template (available at www.ttgrants.com) and e-mailed to ttstep@its.jnj.com no later than October 31, 2008. For additional details, including submission requirements, visit www.ttgrants.com.
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Texas emergency HIV medicine information
Many HIV-positive Texans have been displaced from their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, leaving some without access to their HIV medications. If you or someone you know is in need of temporary medications as a result of being evacuated from the Texas area, please view this document for information on programs that have been put in place to help.
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AIDS Institute launches National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day during USCA
September 18, 2008 marked the launch of a new national awareness initiative of The AIDS Institute entitled National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day. This national campaign highlights the complex issues related to HIV prevention care and treatment for aging populations in the United States.
“National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is being introduced during Healthy Aging Month in September and will be held annually. The AIDS Institute will work throughout the year to bring a heightened awareness of all the issues related to HIV/AIDS and aging to a broad audience,” explains Gene Copello of The AIDS Institute.
“We are proud to announce that this campaign is further supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, and www.aids.gov. We look forward to working with the other awareness day organizations to keep HIV/AIDS on the burner of the domestic agenda.”
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