October 2023 - Page 6 of 16

Dr. José Luis Del Pozo: The Fight Against Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections丨ECCMID 2023

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.23

In an era where antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA are on the rise, healthcare professionals are constantly in search of potent drugs to combat these pathogens. The 33rd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2023) presented an opportunity to explore advancements in this area. One of the notable voices at this congress was Dr. José Luis Del Pozo from the University of Navarra. Infectious Disease Frontline had a chance to sit down with him for a comprehensive discussion.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: Insights from EUCAST Pioneer, Dr. Gunnar Kahlmeter丨ECCMID 2023

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.23

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is critical in modern medicine, helping doctors determine which antibiotics are most likely to be effective against particular bacterial infections. Across the globe, standards for AST primarily revolve around the European EUCAST and the American CLSI. Dr. Gunnar Kahlmeter, one of the main architects of EUCAST, offers unique insights into the past, present, and future of AST.

Dr. Anne J. Gonzales-Luna: Progress in Pediatric Clostridioides difficile Infection丨ECCMID 2023a

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.23

Clostridioides difficile, a primary cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, presents a spectrum of clinical manifestations. While less prevalent in children than adults, the incidence of pediatric Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is on the rise. The 33rd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2023) dedicated a session to shed light on this pressing issue, with Dr. Anne J. Gonzales-Luna from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy offering her expertise.

Youth Forum of APACC 2023 | (5R)-5-hydroxytriptolide Holds Promise for HIV immunological Non-responders Receiving ART

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.23

Hello everyone, I'm Xiaosheng Liu , a graduate student from Professor Taisheng Li's team of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, China. My primary research focus is on the mechanisms underlying immunological non-response in HIV/AIDS patients after long-term antiviral therapy and the development of therapeutic drugs for this condition. I'm delighted to participate in this year's APACC conference (2023) and present two poster studies conducted by our team at the conference. APACC is the most cutting-edge and top academic conference in the Asia-Pacific region for HIV/AIDS, and I hope to broaden my knowledge in various aspects through this conference.

Dr. Reena Rajasuriar: Eliminating Regional Disparities to Achieve the 2030 End of HIV Epidemic

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.22

Co-President of APACC 2023, Chief Researcher at the Center of Excellence for HIV/AIDS Research (CERiA) at the University of Malaya, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Research Fellow at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne. She is primarily responsible for the University of Malaya's HIV Immunology Translational Research Program, with her current research focus on the immunopathogenic mechanisms of aging in HIV/AIDS patients and their impact on patient health.

Dr. Peter Reiss: Moving Towards the Fourth “90” Goal – Strategies for Improving the Quality of Life and Management of HIV/AIDS Patients

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.22

Honorary Dr. at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, former President of the European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) (2008-2012), former Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia on the Governing Council of the International AIDS Society (IAS) (2006-2014), Co-Chair of the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018), Director of the Netherlands HIV Monitoring Foundation, member of the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIH/NAID) HIV Vaccine Data and Safety Monitoring Board, and member of various committees including CROI, EACS, and HIV Glasgow.

Dr. Linghua Li: Breakthrough on Hepatitis B Cure in HIV/HBV Co-Infected Patients

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.22

The 8th Asia-Pacific AIDS and Co-infection Conference (APACC 2023) was held in Singapore from June 8 to 10, 2023. During this conference, an oral presentation (Abstract #9) conducted by Dr. Linghua Li's team from the Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, China, attracted significant attention. Dr. Li 's team, based on the latest findings from a large cohort study, revealed that the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance rate in HIV/HBV co-infected individuals who received long-term combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) could reach 8.1%. Furthermore, the research results unveiled that the main influencing factors for HBsAg clearance in HIV/HBV co-infected individuals included low baseline HBsAg levels, HBV genotype B, and a more than two-fold increase in ALT within six months of treatment.

Dr. Lang Bai: The Impact and Mechanism of TmPV1 Fungivirus on Talaromyces Marneffei Virulence

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.22

Editor's Note: Over the years, significant progress has been made in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and co-infections. Society has provided the best medications and professional knowledge to combat HIV infections, making substantial contributions to those affected. From June 8th to 10th, 2023, the Asia-Pacific AIDS and Co-Infections Conference (APACC 2023) was held in Singapore. In this issue, we are honored to invite Dr. Lang Bai, Deputy Director of the Infectious Diseases Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China, to share with us the latest research on Talaromyces marneffei infection, a common fungal disease among AIDS patients and other immunocompromised individuals in Southeast Asia.

Dr. Jennifer Hoy: How to Safely Transition ART in HIV Patients Achieving Viral Suppression?

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.22

Infectious Disease/HIV Specialist and Medical Professor at Monash University Alfred Hospital, Australia. Member of the Australian Antiretroviral Guidelines Committee and the International Antiviral Society-USA (IAS-USA) Antiretroviral Guidelines Panel. Leading and participating in the development of new antiretroviral drugs and the prevention and management of opportunistic infections, with a primary research focus on complications related to aging in HIV-infected individuals and their pathogenesis, prevention, and management.

Dr. Iskandar Azwa: Second and Third-Line Treatment Options for HIV/AIDS Patients

By Peter W. PENG 2023.10.22

Chairman of the Malaysian AIDS Council, Head of Infectious Diseases Department at the University of Malaya Medical Center. His research interests include pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation in key populations, HIV drug resistance, and evaluating new HIV treatment strategies. He is the principal investigator for several international collaborative HIV clinical trials, including TAHOD, START, and D2EFT studies.