NOVEL PREVENTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES AGAINST HIV INFECTION

FROLA C; CAHN, PEDRO; JAWORSKI JP

MEDICINA (BUENOS AIRES)

MEDICINA (BUENOS AIRES)

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2019

0025-7680

Since its first isolation in 1983, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has infected over 77 million people and only one patient from whom the virus was completely removed from the body was documented. A recent second case was reported that remains to be confirmed. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) manages to control blood viral replication and, consequently, to restore −at least partially− the functions of the immune system with a notable reduction of the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection. However, given the difficulty in eliminating the virus from the body, treatment has to be given for life. This long-term exposure to antiretroviral drugs implies the risk of generating intolerance, toxic effects, gaps in adherence and selection of resistance mutations. Another limitation is the high cost of treating 37 million persons living with HIV, most of whom are living in resource-limited countries and relying on international aid initiatives. Having these challenges in mind, there is general agreement that new approaches for preventing and treating HIV infection are needed to control the epidemic, while efforts on vaccine development continue. In this regard, new generation broadly neutralising monoclonal antibodies (bnMAbs) against the HIV envelope protein can prevent virus acquisition, reduce viremia, enhance immunity, and induce the killing of infected cells in animal models of HIV infection. Most importantly, some clinical trials have shown that bnMAbs could effectively decrease viremia and delay viral rebound in people chronically infected with HIV.