Current progress of China‘s free ART program

China‘s Free ART Program was initiated in 2002 as an emergency response to save and improve the lives of AIDS patients living mainly in impoverished rural regions of central China. With little experience in HIV/AIDS treatment and care and resource limitations, China‘s efforts to provide widespread access to free antiretroviral therapy has been a process fraught with difficulty. However, the Free ART Program is progressing from an emergency response to a standardized treatment and care system. The development of national guidelines, training programs, a laboratory support network, a national patient database, programs for special populations such as children and patients living with coinfections, and operational research has improved the scope and quality of the free treatment program. As of June 30,2005, a total of 19,456 patients in 28 provinces, autonomous regions, and special municipalities had received free ART.Challenges stemming from the nature of China‘s health system and patient population persist, but with strong government support and a diverse set of resources, China has the capacity to overcome these challenges and to provide nationwide access to high quality treatment and care.     

Current progress of China＇s free ART program

China＇s Free ART Program was initiated in 2002 as an emergency response to save and improve the lives of AIDS patients living mainly in impoverished rural regions of central China. With little experience in HIV/AIDS treatment and care and resource limitations, China＇s efforts to provide widespread access to free antiretroviral therapy has been a process fraught with difficulty. However, the Free ART Program is progressing from an emergency response to a standardized treatment and care system. The development of national guidelines, training programs, a laboratory support network, a national patient database, programs for special populations such as children and patients living with coinfections, and operational research has improved the scope and quality of the free treatment program. As of June 30, 2005, a total of 19,456 patients in 28 provinces, autonomous regions, and special municipalities had received free ART. Challenges stemming from the nature of China＇s health system and patient population persist, but with strong government support and a diverse set of resources, China has the capacity to overcome these challenges and to provide nationwide access to high quality treatment and care.     

Current progress of China’s free ART program

INTRODUCTION At the end of 2003, there were an estimated 840,000 people in China infected with HIV, among whom 80,000 were in need of antiretroviral therapy (ART) [1]. Since 1999, the annual rate of increase in reported HIV infec- tions has been around 30%, with growing numbers of females becoming infected [1]. The transmission of HIV/ AIDS in China has been through intravenous drug use (43. 2%) in the south, southwest, and western provinces; prior commercial blood and plasma selli…     

In Vitro Modification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Infectivity by the U937 Cells

The effect of host cell factors on infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was studied by infecting a monoblastoid cell line (U937) or a T-cell line (MOLT-4) with a highly infective single clone of HIV-1 and comparing the infectivity of the produced viruses to different cell lines. Chronically infected U937 cells consistently produced viruses with minimal infectivity. This phenotypic change was host-dependent as the back-passage of the U937-produced low infective viruses into MOLT-4 cells resulted in regaining their original high infectivity. Southern and Northern blot analyses of the HIV-1 grown in U937 cells did not reveal any genomic difference between it and the virus grown it MOLT-4 cells. The radioimmunoprecipitation analysis of viral proteins showed that the HIV-1-infected U937 cells had a different pattern of envelope glycoproteins and core proteins, which well correlated with the low infectivity of the produced viruses. This experimental system using MOLT-4 and U937 cell lines would be useful to further explore host cell factor(s) which play an important role in the regulation of HIV-1 infectivity.     

1225例HIV/AIDS患者流行病学特征分析

目的:了解来陕西地区就诊的人类免疫缺陷病毒/艾滋病(Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immuno deficiency syndrome,HIV/AIDS)患者感染状况、流行特征。方法:收集来我院就诊的HIV/AIDS患者的基本信息,对其流行病学资料统计分析。结果:在调查的1225例HIV/AIDS患者中,男性占83.51%,平均年龄为(35.55±11.61)岁,50.98%为农民,小学及以下学历占33.55%,经血液途径感染250例,经性传播途径感染916例,其中同性性传播337例,经母婴垂直传播16例,就诊时CD4+T淋巴细胞计数平均值为(222.82±190.49)个/μL,56%的HIV/AIDS患者采用的抗病毒方案为齐多夫定(Zidovudine,AZT)/替诺福韦(Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate,TDF)+拉米夫定(Lamivudine,3TC)+依非韦伦(Efavirenz,EFV)方案。结论:陕西地区HIV/AIDS感染人数呈上升趋势,且年轻化加剧,同性性传播比例大幅增加。虽然治疗较为及时,应进一步在高危人群中积极宣传防艾知识与措施。     

Unfinished Stories on Viral Quasispecies and Darwinian Views of Evolution

Experimental evidence that RNA virus populations consist of distributions of mutant genomes, termed quasispecies, was first published 31 years ago. This work provided the earliest experimental support for a theory to explain a system that replicated with limited fidelity and to understand the self-organization and adaptability of early life forms on Earth. High mutation rates and quasispecies dynamics of RNA viruses are intimately related to both viral disease and antiviral treatment strategies. Moreover, the quasispecies concept is being applied to other biological systems such as cancer research in which cellular mutant spectra can be also detected. This review addresses some of the unanswered questions regarding viral and theoretical quasispecies concepts as well as more practical aspects concerning resistance to antiviral treatments and pathogenesis.     

人免疫缺陷病毒/艾滋病细胞免疫疫苗研究进展

由于人免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)具有变异快、亚型多、攻击免疫系统等特殊的生物学特点,HIV/艾滋病疫苗至今尚未研制成功。20多年来,艾滋病疫苗研究主要采用中和抗体为主和细胞免疫为主等两种策略,然而目前仍没有实质性突破。诱发广谱有效的强CD8+T细胞反应是研制有效HIV疫苗的重要策略。以次要保护性抗原为靶抗原、优化目的基因表达、多抗原联合使用策略,为研究HIV细胞免疫疫苗引入了新的思路。综合分析这些进展,对于重新思考艾滋病疫苗的研究策略可能会有所帮助。     

HIV and Latino migrant workers in the USA

Abstract

Migrant workers from Latin America are an essential source of economic development in the US agricultural industry. A majority of migrants are from Mexico and are undocumented and they represent a vulnerable and marginalized group in American society. There is a growing concern for HIV disease in the migrant community. The HIV prevalence rate among migrants is higher than the average rates in USA and in countries of Latin America. There are many behavioural, social, cultural, and health care risk factors and barriers that place migrants at increased risk for HIV infection. Many migrant workers contract HIV while working and living in the USA, which has contributed to rising HIV infection rates in Mexico. In order to prevent an increasing epidemic of HIV disease in Latino migrant workers, there is an urgent call for new and improved health care policies at the international, federal, state, and local levels.     

两性霉素B联合氟胞嘧啶与伏立康唑治疗艾滋病合并隐球菌脑膜炎的临床回顾性研究

目的观察两性霉素B联合氟胞嘧啶与伏立康唑治疗艾滋病合并隐球菌性脑膜炎的疗效和安全性,探讨艾滋病合并隐球菌性脑膜炎的新型治疗策略。方法采用回顾性病例对照研究,20例艾滋病合并隐球菌脑膜炎分别接受三联治疗（两性霉素B＋氟胞嘧啶＋伏立康唑,n=10）和传统的两联治疗（两性霉素B＋氟胞嘧啶,n=10）,比较两种治疗方案在降低脑脊液中隐球菌计数的幅度以及临床症状缓解、病死率等方面的差异以及不良反应发生情况。结果治疗2周后,三联治疗患者脑脊液中隐球菌计数下降率明显高于两联治疗患者（下降率分别为0.743和0.408,P=0.009）,三联治疗患者头痛明显减轻或消失的时间短于两联治疗者（分别为12 d和20 d,P=0.009）,两组在2周、4周、8周及12周时的病死率均无统计学差异。两种治疗方案的不良反应发生率相当。结论两性霉素B联合氟胞嘧啶与伏立康唑能有效降低脑脊液中隐球菌计数,可作为艾滋病合并隐球菌脑膜炎诱导期的治疗选择。     

Advance in treatment strategy and immune reconstruction against HIV-1 infection

HIV-1 can be considered an infection of the immune system, resulting in progressive and ultimately profound immune suppression. The availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in dramatic changes in the disease course in persons fortunate enough to have access to these medications, but long-term therapy is limited by the development of resistance as well as toxicities of the potent medication regimens. Emerging data indicate that individuals who have non-progressive clinical course control HIV-1 immunologically. This has bolstered hope that the immune response might be effectively augmented in persons with HIV infection. Recent data indicating that immediate treatment of acute infection leads to augmentation of antiviral immune responses have provided evidence that the immune system might be enhanced in certain situations. Therefore, investigation in the reconstitution of anti-HIV immune response in patients under HAART should provide encouragement for continuing to explore methods to obtain meaningful and durable immune enhancement as an adjunct to HAART in HIV-1 infection.     

268份人类免疫缺陷病毒抗体待确定样本的检测结果分析

为了提高实验室人类免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)抗体检测能力及对免疫蛋白印迹(Western blot,WB)实验结果的判断能力,对送检至北京市东城区艾滋病确证实验室的268份HIV抗体待确定样本进行确证实验及结果分析。按照试剂说明书和实验室标准作业程序(Standard Operation Procedure,SOP)操作对送检的全部样本进行WB确证实验;了解HIV筛查实验结果与确证实验结果的相关性,并分析不同送检机构、送检人群样本的检测结果差异以及不同试剂、不同检测方法的结果差异。结果显示在筛查出抗体待确定的268份样本中,确证阳性170份,阳性率63.43%;确证阴性51份,阴性率19.03%;不确定结果47份,占筛查有反应的17.54%。确证阳性病例来自监管场所、自愿咨询检测门诊(Voluntary Counseling and Test,VCT)和医疗机构,不同送检单位及不同人群的阳性样本率有显著统计学意义(P<0.01)。WB确证阳性样本带型以全条带和次全条带为主,且所有确证阳性标本均来自双试剂阳性样本。不同检测方法阳性样本率的差异有显著统计学意义(P<0.01),其中化学发光法的样本阳性率占46.27%,酶联免疫吸附实验(ELISA)占88.29%,胶体硒法占43.48%。本研究结果提示,对潜在HIV感染者,应扩大检测面,加强医疗机构检测,并提供一种以上方法的多次检测,以减少漏检的风险。     

SIV-specific T lymphocyte responses in PBMC and lymphoid tissues of SIV-infected pigtailed macaques during suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy

There is currently no SIV macaque model in which the effects of combination antiretroviral therapy on tissue immune responses and latent reservoirs have been measured. This study was performed to define the impact of combination therapy on the specificity and distribution of the T lymphocyte response in multiple tissue compartments. Pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) were infected with SIV/17E-Fr and treated with combination antiretroviral therapy consisting of 9-R-(2-phosphonomethoxypropyl)adenine (PMPA) and beta-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thia-5-fluorocytidine (FTC). The SIV-specific T lymphocyte response was measured in peripheral blood, spleen and several lymph nodes at necropsy by IFN-gamma Elispot analysis. Two animals (one treated, one untreated) had high acute peak viremia, which was associated with lower SIV-specific T lymphocyte responses in the peripheral blood and lymphoid tissues. In the treated animal, viremia was controlled to low or undetectable for the study duration, and virus-specific responses remained low. The untreated animal remained viremic throughout the study and developed clinical symptoms of AIDS. In contrast, the two animals that had lower acute peak viremia (one treated, one untreated) had more robust T lymphocyte responses, and controlled viral replication. Virus-specific responses were detected in the treated animal despite 6 months of suppressive therapy. These data suggest that in this model, in the context of acute peak viremia and weak T cell responses, combination therapy may be essential to control virus replication and disease progression. Conversely, in the setting of low initial viremia and robust T lymphocyte responses, treatment does not have a detrimental effect on the immune response.     

含人CCR5Delta32基因重组慢病毒的包装及滴度测定

目的：包装含人CCR5Delta32基因的重组慢病毒并测定其滴度,用于获得性免疫缺陷综合征（AIDS）的基因治疗研究。方法：从CCR5Deha32突变个体外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中提取人基因组DNA,利用PCR技术扩增CCR5Deha32全长基因,经EcoRI单酶切后与pUCm—T载体连接,随后转化EcoliDH5ct,提取质粒进行酶切鉴定及DNA测序;将鉴定正确的CCR5Delta32基因亚克隆至慢病毒载体pLenti6／V5-D-TOPO并进行酶切鉴定及DNA序列分析;用pLP1、pLP2、pLP／VSVG及pLenti-CCR5Delta32等4种质粒共转染293T细胞,产生重组慢病毒并测定其滴度。结果：克隆出人CCR5Deha32基因,并构建了含该基因的重组慢病毒载体,经293T细胞包装后产生5×10^5TU／mL的重组慢病毒。结论：高滴度含人CCR5Deha32基因重组慢病毒的包装,为进一步的AIDS基因治疗研究奠定了基础。     

猴免疫缺陷病毒（SIV）猴模型的建立

应用ＳＩＶｍａｃ毒株感染中国恒河猴１３只,感染剂量为病毒液的１０－１～２×１０－５;感染食蟹猴４只,感染剂量为１０－２。感染后２周出现各种症状和体征如皮疹,浅表淋巴结肿大,脾肿大,血象白细胞总数下降,出现异常淋巴细胞和中性白细胞。感染后期Ｔ４下降,Ｔ４、Ｔ８比例倒置等。从外周血淋巴细胞和血浆分离病毒阳性,血清抗体上升。淋巴结组织切片呈规律性改变,即淋巴滤泡增生－滤泡耗竭－淋巴组织耗竭或逐渐恢复。感染后２．５个月有急性死亡病例,以后呈散在死亡例,尸检还发现机遇性感染如肺寄生虫,肺、肝巨细胞病毒感染等。