Newer antiretroviral agents and how to use them

In vitro evolution and analysis of HIV-1 LTR-specific recombinases

Current antiretroviral therapies would greatly benefit from the concurrent removal of integrated HIV-1 proviral DNA from the patient's cells. In this review, we describe an experimental strategy that allowed the engineering and functional analysis of a HIV-1 LTR-specific recombinase (Tre-recombinase). We furthermore provide protocols that are utilized for the investigation of Tre's antiretroviral activity in infected tissue cultures as well as in infected humanized Rag2(-/-)γc(-/-) mice.

HIV protease inhibitors, indinavir or nelfinavir, augment antimalarial action of artemisinin in vitro

Most malaria endemic regions are co-infested with HIV infection. Treatment of one may affect outcome of the other in co-infected individuals. HIV protease inhibitors, indinavir or nelfinavir, are important antiretroviral drugs and artemisinin is central to malaria treatment. We show these protease inhibitors augment the antimalarial activity of artemisinin against P. falciparum in vitro.

Management of HIV-infected patients with ESRD

Patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often progress to ESRD. In the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the care of these patients has become increasingly complex as survival has improved. Patients infected with HIV who also have ESRD are at risk for critical interactions between medication regimens to treat both of these conditions. Within this population, hemo- and peritoneal dialysis as well as kidney transplantation are life sustaining but present a host of obstacles related to HIV monitoring and risk of transmission, access thrombosis, infection, and rejection. Knowledge of antiretroviral regimens, drug interactions, and HIV resistance as well as the management of ESRD in the presence of HIV infection will improve the care of these unique patients.