Shared immunotherapeutic approaches in HIV and HBV: Combine and conquer

Journal article

Purpose of review: To identify similarities, differences and lessons to be shared from recent progress in HIV and HBV immunotherapeutic approaches.

Recent findings: Immune dysregulation is a hallmark of both HIV and HBV infection, which have shared routes of transmission, with approximately 10% of HIV positive patients worldwide being co-infected with HBV. Immune modulation therapies to orchestrate effective innate and adaptive immune responses are currently being sought as potential strategies towards a functional cure in both HIV and HBV infection. These are based on activating immunological mechanisms that would allow durable control by triggering innate immunity, reviving exhausted endogenous responses and/or generating new immune responses. Recent technological advances and increased appreciation of humoral responses in the control of HIV have generated renewed enthusiasm in the cure field.

Summary: For both HIV and HBV infection a primary consideration with immunomodulatory therapies continues to be a balance between generating highly effective immune responses and mitigating any significant toxicity. A large arsenal of new approaches and ongoing research offer the opportunity to define the pathways that underpin chronic infection and move closer to a functional cure.

Authors: Maini, M; Peppa, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Journal: Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 157-164
• Publication date: 2020-05-26
• Acceptance date: 2020-02-14
• DOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000621
• EISSN: 1746-6318
• ISSN: 1746-630X
• Language: English
• Keywords: HBV; HIV; functional cure; immunotherapy