HIV and Long COVID Insights from the RECOVER Program on Risk and Diagnosis
At CROI 2025, Kellie Hawkins, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado and attending infectious disease physician at Denver Health, discussed findings from the RECOVER Program, which explores the impact of HIV on Long COVID. The study examined the incidence of Long COVID in people living with HIV (PWH) and aimed to […]
Targeting Soluble gp120 to Combat Immune Dysfunction in People Living with HIV
At CROI 2025, we spoke with three researchers from Université de Montréal about the role of soluble gp120 (sgp120) in people living with HIV (PLWH). Mehdi Benlarbi, a PhD student explained how sgp120 may contribute to immune dysfunction, even in individuals with undetectable viral loads on ART. “We believe that soluble gp120, as a viral […]
Measles: An Old Foe Has Returned
Texas is experiencing its largest measles outbreak in 30 years and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Epidemic Intelligence Service is providing support there. Here is an overview on testing, disease presentation, and vaccination, as well as commentary on the public health impact of vaccine hesitancy, and the unintended consequences of the immunization […]
Bivalent HIV Vaccine Induces Stronger T Cell Responses in People with HIV on ART
At CROI 2025, Nilu Goonetilleke, LLBHons, BScHons, PhD, associate professor at UNC School of Medicine, discussed The CM Study, a Phase 1 trial investigating the ChAdOx1 and MVA-based HIVconsvX vaccine. The vaccine uses viral vectors to express the HIVconsvX immunogens, Mosaic-1 and Mosaic-2, and aims to induce HIV-specific T-cell responses in people with HIV (PWH) […]
Age-Related T Cell Response in People with HIV on ART in MVA.HIVconsvX Vaccine Trial
At CROI 2025, Nilu Goonetilleke, LLBHons, BScHons, PhD, associate professor at UNC School of Medicine, discussed The M&M Study, a Phase I trial investigating the MVA.HIVconsvX vaccine. The vaccine uses a Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vector to express HIVconsvX immunogens and aims to induce HIV-specific T cell responses. The study examined the impact of age […]
Does Slow Viral Clearance and Viral Rebound During Infection Contribute to Long COVID?
The pathogenesis in how Long COVID developing remains a mystery and truly undefined as to why some people become afflicted by this condition and why others do not. However, investigators are gathering clues towards increasing evidence of how it takes hold. Annie Antar, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine […]
Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories Week of March 1-8
Top FDA Approvals and Updates from February 2025 in Infectious Disease In February 2025, several key FDA approvals and updates in infectious disease included the approval of Bavarian Nordic’s Vimkunya vaccine for chikungunya, providing a single-dose option for those aged 12 and older. The FDA also approved GSK’s Penmenvy vaccine, offering protection against five meningococcal […]
IMUNON’s IMNN-101 Vaccine Shows Promising Results in Phase 1 Trial, Demonstrates Cross-Reactivity Against COVID Variants
IMUNON, Inc, a clinical-stage company focused on developing non-viral DNA-based immunotherapies, has announced promising results from its Phase 1 proof-of-concept clinical trial of IMNN-101, a DNA plasmid vaccine targeting COVID-19. The vaccine, developed using the company’s proprietary PlaCCine technology, demonstrated a sustained immune response with a 2- to 4-fold increase in neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers […]
Measles-Positive New Mexico Resident Dies, Cause of Death Still Unconfirmed
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Update March 7, 1:01pm ET: The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting there have been 198 cases of measles confirmed since late January. Twenty-three of the patients have been hospitalized.1 This means since Texas authorities last reported the number […]
Insights from Investigator Evaluating Paxlovid’s Effectiveness in Vaccinated Older Adults
Katherine L Kahn, MD Image credits: UC Health Randomized clinical trials of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid) have shown reduced COVID-19-related hospitalizations in unvaccinated individuals, but its effectiveness in vaccinated populations remains unclear. This question is particularly important for older adults, who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. In an exclusive interview with investigator Katherine L […]
