Viral Response among Early Treated HIV Perinatally Infected Infants: Description of a Cohort in Southern Mozambique

Frequency and Factors Associated To School Delay among HIV-infected and Uninfected Children Followed in the ANRS 12,225-PEDIACAM III Cohort in Cameroon

Many studies have shown that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and/or exposure to antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy can influence a child's neurocognitive development. Moreover, the family and social challenges experienced by some HIV-infected children may have a negative impact on their academic performance. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of school delay among HIV-infected adolescents followed up in the ANRS 12225-Pediacam III cohort in Cameroon and identify associated factors. The cohort consists of three groups of children enrolled before the age of 7 months: HIV-infected (HI; n = 210), HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU; n = 205); and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU; n = 196)). Data were collected from these children from the project's inception in 2007 until 2022 and analysed retrospectively. School delay was defined as the occurrence of at least two instances of grade retention at either primary or secondary education levels. After performing a descriptive analysis, we used the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression to identify determinants of school delay. A total of 405 children were considered; of whom 51.4% were male. The overall frequency of first school delay was 29.1% (118/405; 95% CI:24.8; 33.8), which differed significantly between the children's groups. In multivariate analysis, the risk of school delay was significantly higher among children living with HIV compared to HUU (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 2.7; 95% CI:1.66-4.64), male children (aHR: 1.9; 95% CI:1.33-2.84), children born from low educated mothers (aHR: 3.0; 95% CI:1.58-5.95), and children whose parents were not living together (aHR: 1.5; 95% CI:1.02; 2.39).

HIV-1 Antiretroviral Drug Resistance in Mozambique: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review assessed the prevalence of transmitted and acquired HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) and the associated risk factors in Mozambique. A search of the PubMed, Cochrane, B-On, and Scopus databases up to December 2023 was conducted and included 11 studies with 1118 HIV-1 pol sequences. Drug resistance mutations (DRMs) to NNRTIs were found in 13% of the drug-naive individuals and 31% of those on ART, while NRTI resistance occurred in 5% and 10%, respectively. Dual-class resistance (NNRTI + NRTI) was detected in 2% of the drug-naive and 8% of ART-experienced individuals. DRMs to protease inhibitors (PIs) were found in 2% of the drug-naive and 5% of ART-experienced individuals. The rate of DRMs was significantly higher in Beira than in Maputo, as well as in pediatric patients than in adults and pregnant women. Subtype C predominated (94%) and was associated with lower viral loads and DRM rates as compared to the other subtypes. The high prevalence of DRMs, particularly to NNRTIs and NRTIs, highlights the need for ongoing surveillance and targeted interventions. These findings are critical for optimizing ART regimens and informing public health strategies in Mozambique, with particular attention to regions such as Beira and vulnerable populations such as pediatric patients.

Optimising Paediatric HIV Treatment: Recent Developments and Future Directions

Treatment options for children living with HIV have historically been less effective, less practical and more difficult to implement compared with those for adults, as the research and development of new drugs for children has lagged behind. Significant progress has been achieved in response to the paediatric HIV epidemic over the last decade. Several optimised paediatric antiretroviral formulations are currently available or in development, including fixed-dose combination tablets containing a complete World Health Organization-recommended regimen. Despite these advancements, virological suppression rates in children are generally lower than in adults. Even when oral fixed-dose combinations with the optimal target profiles are developed, for some children virological suppression is not achievable for reasons such as adherence challenges, intolerance, toxicity and genotypic resistance. New safe, effective, well-tolerated antiretroviral agents from existing and novel classes, as well as innovative administration strategies are essential. To achieve the UNAIDS target of virological suppression in 95% of children receiving antiretroviral therapy, concerted efforts are required. This includes identifying priority drugs in line with latest developments, focusing drug development studies on these priorities, ensuring a timely technical knowledge transfer between originator and generic companies, accelerating regulatory approvals and facilitating procurement and implementation in countries. Success in these efforts depends on collaboration among all stakeholders, including communities, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, guideline and policymakers, governments, funders, regulators and healthcare providers. This review outlines which paediatric antiretroviral therapies are currently available, those which are under development and the future directions of paediatric HIV treatment.

High mortality following early initiation of antiretroviral therapy in infants living with HIV from three African countries

Background

Even with increasing access to rapid HIV diagnosis and early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, infants living with HIV seem to have adverse outcomes. We assessed the probability of death, viral suppression, and other HIV-related events in the first three years of life among early-treated children with perinatally-acquired HIV in South Africa, Mozambique, and Mali.

Methods

We enrolled a cohort of infants who initiated ART within the initial 6 months of life and within 3 months of diagnosis. These children were monitored 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after enrolment, followed by biannual check-ups up to 4 years after enrolment. We assessed the probability of death, viral load (VL) suppression, severe immunosuppression (according to WHO guidelines), and engagement in care using Kaplan-Meier plots, and hazard ratios for these outcomes using multivariable Cox regression models.

Findings

Two hundred and fifteen infants were enrolled and monitored for a median of 34 months [IQR, 16.3; 44.1]. ART initiation occurred at a median of 34 days of age [IQR, 26.0; 73.0]. The probability of death at 1 year of ART was 10% (95% CI, 6-14), increased to 12% (95% CI, 8-17) at 2 and remained in 12% at 3 years. The main risk factor for HIV/AIDS-related mortality was baseline viral load [HR: 2.98 (95% CI, 1.25-7.12)]. Sixty-one of 146 (42%) children achieved sustained virological control below lower limit of detection for any ≥1 year period between enrolment and 4 years after enrolment. Viral suppression during follow-up was inversely associated with baseline viral load [Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.72 (95% CI, 0.58-0.89] and adverse maternal social events [HR: 0.26 (95% CI, 0.15-0.45)]. Adherence to ART was assessed as optimal in 81% of the visits. Female sex at birth, lower age at diagnosis and maternal adverse social life events were risk factors for low adherence [Odds ratio, OR 1.25 (95% CI, 1.00-1.56); 1.12 (95% CI, 1.01-1.27) and 2.52 (95% CI, 2.16-12.37), respectively].

Interpretation

Despite early ART, mortality remains high in infants. High baseline VL and adverse maternal social environment increased the risk of poor outcomes. Sustained supportive strategies are essential during and after pregnancy, to achieve better survival.

Funding

Early Treated Perinatally HIV Infected Individuals: Improving Children's Actual Life (EPIICAL) is a research consortium funded by ViiV Healthcare and led by Penta Foundation. The funder was not involved in the analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the paper for publication. The corresponding authors had access to all data and take final responsibility for the decision to submit.

Accelerated CD8+ T cell maturation in infants with perinatal HIV infection

In perinatal HIV infection, early antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is recommended but questions remain regarding infant immune responses to HIV and its impact on immune development. Using single cell transcriptional and phenotypic analysis we evaluated the T cell compartment at pre-ART initiation of infants with perinatally acquired HIV from Maputo, Mozambique (Towards AIDS Remission Approaches cohort). CD8+ T cell maturation subsets exhibited altered distribution in HIV exposed infected (HEI) infants relative to HIV exposed uninfected infants with reduced naive, increased effectors, higher frequencies of activated T cells, and lower frequencies of cells with markers of self-renewal. Additionally, a cluster of CD8+ T cells identified in HEI displayed gene profiles consistent with cytotoxic T lymphocytes and showed evidence for hyper expansion. Longitudinal phenotypic analysis revealed accelerated maturation of CD8+ T cells was maintained in HEI despite viral control. The results point to an HIV-directed immune response that is likely to influence reservoir establishment.

Longitudinal analysis of innate immune system in infants with perinatal HIV infection until 18 months of age

With the advent of antiretroviral therapy (ART), perinatal HIV infection is declining globally but prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa is still greater than other nations. The relationship of HIV replication in early infancy and the developing immune system is not well understood. In this study, we investigated cellular components of the innate immune system including Natural Killer (NK) cells, monocytes, and Dendritic Cells (DC) in a cohort of HIV exposed infected (HEI) and age-matched HIV exposed uninfected (HEU) infants from Mozambique. Study entry was at the first visit after delivery at age 1-2 months for HIV diagnosis and initiation of ART. Phenotypic analysis by multi-parameter flow cytometry revealed an expansion of total NK cells and the dysfunctional, CD56-CD16+, NK cell subset; increased activation in monocytes and DC; and higher levels of inflammatory homing receptor CCR5 on circulating DC subsets in the HEI infants. NKG2A, an inhibitory receptor for NK cytolytic function, was reduced in HEI compared to HEU and positively correlated with pre-ART viral load (VL) while expression of CCR2, the inflammatory homing receptor, on NK was negatively correlated with VL. Other subsets exhibited positive correlations with VL including the frequency of intermediate monocytes amongst total monocytes. Longitudinal analysis of VL indicated suboptimal ART adherence in HEI. Regardless of level of viral suppression achieved, the frequencies of specific innate immune subsets in HEI were normalized to HEU by 18m. These data support the notion that in early life, NK cells play a role in virus control and should be explored for functional attributes that are effective against HIV at this time during development. Overall, our study provides high resolution overview of the innate immune system during perinatal HIV infection.