An overview of the history of epidemic of and response to HIV/AIDS in China： achievements and challenges

Since the first case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome （AIDS） in China was identified and reported in 1985, the country has experienced dramatic changes in the course of its human immunodeficiency virus （HIV）/AIDS epidemic along1 with the government＇s response to it in the past 24 years. As the severity of the epidemic grew, so too has the government＇s reaction to it.

R5 to X4 coreceptor switch of human immunodeficiency virus type 1B' and B'/C recombinant subtype isolates in China

The chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 play an important role as coreceptors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 （HIV-1） entring into cells. HIV-1 isolates can be distinguished by the chemokine coreceptors. Nonsyncytium inducing （NSI）, macrophage tropic viruses utilizing CCR5, are called R5 viruses; syncytium inducing （SI） isolates use CXCR4 and known as X4 viruses. R5 viruses generally are associated with latent stage of infection and X4 viruses with later,

HIV-specific T cell immunity across the entire HIV genome in Chinese men who have sex with men

Background Man who has sex with man （MSM） is one of the high risk groups for spreading HIV/AIDS. It was reported that the most prevalent human irnmunodeficiency virus type 1 （HIV-1） strain among MSM is subtype B; however, T cell immunity remains unknown across the HIV-1 B genome in this population. Methods Using Elispot assay with synthetic peptides spanning the sequence of HIV-1 consensus B, HIV-l-specific cytotoxic T-cell lymphocyte responses were quantified among 3 treated and 19 untreated HIV-1 infected MSM from Beijing, China. Cross-sectional association between viral loads and cellular immune responses were analyzed. Results Peptide pools corresponding to each HIV-1 protein were used for Env, Gag, Pol, Nef, Tat/Rev, Vpr/Vpu and Vif. The results showed that the magnitude of T cell responses in the 3 treated HIV^＋ MSM group [median, 770 spot forming cells （SFCs） per 106 peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMCs）] might be significantly lower than that in the 19 untreated HIV^＋ MSM group （median, 6175 SFCs per 106 PBMCs）. Nef, Gag and Pol are the most frequently targeted HIV-1 antigens; and 16 subjects （73%） were identified with vigorous T cell immunity against each of these three proteins. The overall magnitude of T cell immunity closely related to its breadth （r=-0.72, P〈0.05） and was inversely but weakly associated with viral loads （r=-0.15）. Further analysis showed that both Gag （r=-0.24） and Pol specific T cells （r=-0.12） contributed to this inverse association whereas Nef specific T cells showed no association with viral loads. Conclusions The magnitude of HIV-1 specific T cells is inversely but weakly associated with viral loads among MSM; HIV-specific T cell responses against conservative sequences （Gag and Pol） are the main contributors to this association among Chinese HIV^＋ MSM. These findings have important implications for vaccine design.

Improving China＇s antiretroviral treatment program： assessing current and future performance using the principals of ethics

The global commitment to providing antiretroviral therapy （ART） to people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome （HIV/AIDS） in low-income countries has raised hope that the increasing momentum in the fight against the worldwide HIV/AIDS pandemic will be sufficient to control it. However, improved availability of subsidized antiretroviral （ARV） treatments in low-income .countries raises complex ethical issues. In many resource-constrained countries the number of individuals infected with HIV in need of treatment far exceeds the supply of ARV medication. Resource allocation decisions can be made on the basis of many epidemiological, ethical, or preferential treatment priority criteria. Healthcare systems and funding in low-income countries are limited, requiring a step-by-step approach to scaling- up programs to reach their stated aims.

High Risk Behaviors for HIV and STIs Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Aged 15−19 Years—Guangzhou City and Tianjin Municipality,China,2018

What is already known on this topic?There has been a steady increase of new reported HIV infections in individuals aged 15–24 years,primarily from self-reported men who have sex with men(MSM).What is added by this report?MSM aged 15–19 years practiced behaviors that put them at high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections(STIs).Systems to address their unique risks and vulnerabilities in both school settings and in high impact HIV interventions may be inadequate.What are the implications for public health practice?Special needs of MSM aged 15–19 years must be met by starting sex education in junior high school and sensitizing health workers in and out of school settings on quality counselling,testing,and referral.Piloting approaches that address age of consent issues are also suggested.