HopkinsCFAR

It highlights the potential roles of ccf-mtDNA in immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and aging-related issues in PWH. We believe this could lead us to identify ccf-mtDNA as meaningful biomarkers for monitoring long-term aging-related disease progression among PWH.

Strengths of the Study:
One of the key strengths of our study is the dual-cohort design, which incorporates both human and animal models. This approach provides complementary insights that reveal vital information about ccf-mtDNA dynamics across species.

The NHP model validated our observations in human cohort, showing potential reduction in ccf-mtDNA in chronic HIV infection stage

2. In our NHP model, ccf-mtDNA levels increased after SIV infection, peaking prior to the initiation of ART & subsequently declining below baseline levels after 6 months of treatment.

Key findings from the authors:

1. We found that PWH exhibited significantly lower levels of ccf-mtDNA compared to PWoH, with further reductions linked to lower CD4 T-cell counts. This findings are contrary to our hypothesis and some previous publications.

The authors quantified short and long ccf-mtDNA fragments in serum samples from 2 human cohorts, analyzing data over 1 to 5 years. They included a total of 1,317 participants, which provided a robust framework to examine how HIV status affects ccf-mtDNA levels in human population.

Mitochondrial DNA Fragment Dynamics in Acute and Chronic Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Insights From Human and Nonhuman Primate Models Circulating mitochondrial DNA fragments are reduced in people with HIV and in SIV-infected primates, with levels influenced by immune status and ART, highl

📚Publication: Congratulations to @jsunsun2011.bsky.social Jing Sun et al. on their publication which explores the dynamics of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA) fragments in people with HIV-1 (PWH) as compared to individuals without HIV. Check out the comments for more details! #HIV

The Project-Based Waiting List will be OPEN from January 14, 2026, through January 23, 2026.
Applications are available ONLINE ONLY. Click the link to apply: ow.ly/j5i950XWSxP

Groups gather for several events in Baltimore on World AIDS Day During the vigil, Melanie Reese, who has lived with HIV for 27 years, shared her journey." For a person who has been living with HIV like myself, World AIDS Day is everyday," Reese said.

Our very own Community Advisory Board Member, Melanie Reese, joined those gathered for a candlelight vigil at the Baltimore City Hall on World AIDS Day. Her story can be heard in WBAL's tribute below #WorldAIDSDayIsEveryday

They show that widespread treatment has led to a stark reduction in the population prevalence of resistant HIV, highlighting the critical role in universal access to treatment in improving individual and population health and continuing progress to end the AIDS pandemic.

HIV drug resistance during antiretroviral therapy scale-up in Uganda, 2012–19: a population-based, longitudinal study Despite rising NNRTI resistance among pretreatment people with HIV, overall population prevalence of pretreatment HIV drug-resistant viraemia decreased due to increasing ART uptake and viral suppressi...

📚Publication: Researchers from JH SOM & BSPB used data from a population-based #HIV surveillance cohort in southern Uganda to assess changes in antiretroviral resistance during the scale up of universal testing programs...
More details in the comments!
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Panelists shared how their organizations have tackled stigma and reflected on recent successes in addressing the HIV epidemic in Baltimore and beyond, including the recent legislative win in Maryland to modernize HIV laws.

JHU CFAR and CHIMES were honored to host a panel of community leaders to commemorate World AIDS Day on December 1st. The theme for 2025 was Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.
Panelists included Phillip Westry, Kevin Shird, Lori Gorbey, and Gabrielle Taganas. More details in the comments!

CLAFH - Johns Hopkins School of Nursing CLAFH’s mission is to eliminate health inequities and promote overall wellbeing among Latino adolescents and their families. While our work is Latino-focused, our research and resources are applicable...

The Latino HIV Crisis is now a Cascading Disaster To reverse course, the Center for Latino Adolescent & Family Health has launched Ending the Latino HIV Cascading Disaster to boost visibility and mobilize multi-sector action. Visit the new microsite to learn more.
nursing.jhu.edu/institute-fo...

Dr. Watson closes out the Bridging the Gap Symposium, presented by the JHU CFAR Community Participatory Advisory Board, with the important question: What do we do now? What steps make the most impact?

The Bridging the Gap Symposium, presented by the JHU CFAR Community Participatory Advisory Board, addresses Aging & Lived Experiences through personal stories of lifetime survivors

A big thank you to our panelists who spoke on “Street Medicine: Not Everyone is in a System” during the Bridging the Gap Symposium presented by the JHU CFAR Community Participatory Advisory Board!

The JHU CFAR Bridging the Gap Symposium, presented by the Community Participatory Advisory Board, is underway! The first panel is discussing Housing, Mental Health & Substance use

CDC Backs Twice-Yearly Injectable for HIV Prevention But clinical guidance won't necessarily equal insurance coverage

Hopkins CFAR Adolescent and Young Adult Scientific Working Group Co-Director, Dr. Allison Agwu quoted!

CDC Backs Twice-Yearly Injectable for HIV Prevention www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdi...

‘HIV Unwrapped’ combines science and style for New York Fashion Week The floor was on fire when molecular structures met ballroom aesthetics and decades of scientific research to create colorful couture at "HIV Unwrapped," a

Co-Director of the Hopkins CFAR Lab Core, Deborah Persaud quoted, along with our beloved former co-director, Chris Beyrer
gaycitynews.com/hiv-unwrappe...

Join us on 24 Hours to Save AIDS Research NOW to hear about the incredible successes of the NIH-funded HIV research networks, with leaders Myron Cohen, Larry Corey, Joseph Eron, and Sharon Nachman on YouTube: bit.ly/45Qftts #saveAIDSresearch #HIV

24 Hours to Save AIDS Research is an all-day, online marathon that will include >70 speakers from around the world, enabling people from all time zones to access the programming in real time. Join us! Register bit.ly/45U1keO and join us on YouTube bit.ly/45Qftts. #HIV #saveAIDSresearch #HIVresearch

Check out the CFAR September Newsletter!
mailchi.mp/mail465.jh.e...

Save the Date! Please join the Center for AIDS Research on Friday, September 26th for the CFAR Annual Meeting!

Persistence is Resistance: The fight to End the HIV Epidemic Hangs in the Balance In this perspective piece, representatives from the HIV Medicine Association urge persistent advocacy to resist harmful federal policies to the field of HI

📚Publication: In this perspective piece, representatives from the #HIV Medicine Association urge persistent advocacy to resist harmful federal policies to the field of HIV medicine, research, public health, and the communities we serve

Both regimens of HepB-CpG vaccine achieved a superior seroprotection response compared with 3 doses of HepB-alum vaccine, potentially offering PWH better protection against HBV infection

In a phase 3 clinical trial, PWH with nonresponse to prior hepatitis B vaccination were randomly assigned to receive 2 doses of HepB-CpG vaccine or 3 doses of HepB-alum vaccine of HepB-alum vaccine.

Nonresponse to hepatitis B vaccine is common among people with HIV (PWH), resulting in hepatitis B virus (HBV) vulnerability.

HepB-CpG vs HepB-Alum Vaccine in People With HIV and Prior Vaccine Nonresponse This randomized clinical trial compares the seroprotection response achieved with a 2-dose and a 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine with a cytosine phosphoguanine adjuvant vs a conventional 3-dose hepatitis B...

📚Publication: The BEe-HIVe Randomized Clinical Trial. Check out the comments for more details!