Infectious Disease Frontier

Since its inception in 2005, the Shanghai International Forum for Infection Control (SIFIC) has grown over the past two decades. Known for its professionalism and forward-thinking approach, SIFIC has become a significant academic platform in China for the fields of hospital infection, major infectious diseases, and the prevention and control of multidrug-resistant organisms. Each year's academic conference not only boasts a large scale but also serves as a grand academic gathering for infection control experts and scholars from both domestic and international arenas. In the recently concluded SIFIC 2024 conference, one of the founders and current Chairman of SIFIC, Dr. Bijie Hu from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, shared with Infectious Disease Frontier the development and achievements of SIFIC, as well as his profound insights into the future of infection control in China. Through his perspective, we gain a glimpse into the evolution of the field, the challenges it currently faces, and the direction it is likely to take in the future.

The 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) was held in Munich, Germany, from July 22 to 26, 2024. This highly anticipated academic event showcased some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. Currently, clinical cures for people co-infected with HIV and HBV are still in the exploratory stage. At the conference, a research study conducted by Dr. Jie Peng’s team from the Nanfang Hospital was selected for poster presentation. The study revealed that after receiving antiretroviral therapy, HIV/HBV co-infected patients had a higher rate of HBsAg clearance. Baseline HBsAg levels and CD4 cell counts were identified as predictive factors for HBsAg clearance in these patients. We have invited Dr. Jie Peng to provide an insightful interpretation of these research findings for our readers.

At the AIDS 2024 Conference, Dr. Albert Liu from the University of California, San Francisco, delivered a keynote presentation on the latest developments in long-acting HIV prevention technologies. Following his talk, he participated in an exclusive interview with Infectious Diseases Frontier. Dr. Liu highlighted that the field of HIV prevention is currently undergoing exciting transformations. Long-acting drugs, such as bimonthly injections and monthly vaginal rings, have already been approved, significantly improving prevention outcomes and reducing patient burden. Additionally, other technologies in development, such as long-acting tablets, HIV implants, and broadly neutralizing antibodies, show immense potential. However, cost and accessibility remain key challenges to widespread adoption. Future research must focus on the safety, efficacy, and community implementation strategies of these technologies while also simplifying delivery processes to ensure these innovations benefit a broader population and advance HIV prevention efforts.

At the 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) in Munich, Germany, a study on the impact of HIV on the gut virome of children garnered significant attention. This research was conducted by scientists from the University of Washington in Seattle, Seattle Children's Hospital, and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The study revealed unique changes in the gut virome of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants born to HIV-infected mothers.

Severe depression in people with HIV is a complex public health issue requiring urgent attention. The 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) was held from July 22 to 26 in Munich, Germany, attracting 15,000 professionals and attendees from around the world to discuss the latest advancements and future challenges in AIDS prevention and treatment. At the conference, a study revealed a significant association between neuroinflammation and severe depressive symptoms in people with HIV. This study utilized diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy (DW-MRS) to measure the diffusion of metabolites in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of people with HIV, finding that increased diffusion of creatine and choline is significantly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that neuroinflammation may be an important pathophysiological mechanism of severe depression in people with HIV.

Numerous studies have explored the use of long-acting antiretroviral therapy (Long-acting ART) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), achieving positive preventive outcomes. However, the promotion of long-acting PrEP still faces many challenges. Additionally, how can adherence to existing oral PrEP regimens be further improved? At the recently held 9th Asia Pacific AIDS & Co-infections Conference (APACC 2024), Dr. Chunyan Li from the The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study participated in several panel discussions and shared her team's research findings, offering more insights and reflections on these issues.

In recent years, the concept of “U=U” (Undetectable equals Untransmittable) has become widely recognized in the field of HIV prevention. This concept is based on extensive scientific research showing that HIV patients on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load (typically defined as less than 20 or 50 copies/mL) have a negligible risk of sexually transmitting the virus. The introduction of “U=U” has not only changed our understanding of HIV transmission but also provided significant confidence and support to HIV patients and their partners, encouraging more individuals to engage in treatment to achieve personal health and public health goals. At the 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024), a recent study revealed that over 95% of HIV patients in Australia on ART achieved sustained viral suppression (SVS) over the past three years, which holds significant implications for global HIV management and prevention strategies in the “U=U” era.

The 25th International AIDS Conference was held from July 22-26, 2024, in Munich, Germany. At the conference, a randomized controlled trial conducted by the Canadian Centre for Disease Control, the University of British Columbia, and the Canadian HIV Trials Network evaluated the effectiveness of doxycycline pre-exposure prophylaxis (doxyPrEP) in preventing bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in people with HIV. The encouraging results provide new evidence supporting the preventive use of doxycycline in people with HIV, offering a promising approach for STI prevention in this vulnerable group. We invited Dr. Yun He from Shenzhen Third People's Hospital to provide an in-depth analysis of this study and its deeper implications.

Children are the future of humanity and an essential resource for sustainable social development. However, approximately 1.2 million children and adolescents worldwide are threatened by tuberculosis (TB), with drug-resistant TB complicating treatment. To optimize pediatric TB drug treatment strategies, the World Health Organization (WHO) held the second Pediatric Drug Optimization for Tuberculosis (PADO-TB) meeting from October 3-5, 2023. This issue of "Shenzhen Third People's Hospital Tuberculosis Window" summarizes the key points from this conference report.

Recently, a groundbreaking study published in Science has revealed that the antimalarial drug artemisinin may have potential therapeutic effects on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a complex endocrine disorder primarily affecting women of reproductive age. It is characterized by persistent anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance. Clinically, it manifests as irregular menstrual cycles, enlarged ovaries with cysts, hirsutism, and acne. Due to the high heterogeneity in its clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment remain contentious, and the choice of therapeutic methods varies.