Promising steps in HIV research

Melbourne is hosting the 20th International AIDS Conference

In a recent post in AIDS 2014 blog, Edwina Wright explores the  breakthroughs in HIV research. The five most significant are:
Treatment as prevention 
- Treatment of HIV positive people prevents onward HIV transmission
Pre-exposure prophylaxis
-This involves people at risk of infection taking a daily antiretroviral tablet in conjunction with other HIV prevention measures, such as condom use and regular testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Antiretroviral therapy
-A number of combinations of antiretroviral agents are available for people living with HIV who choose to start this treatment. Several of these regimens require only tablet daily
- A promise of injectable long-acting  antiretroviral regimen 
Co-infection of HIV and Hepatitis C
- People with co-infection are at high risk of developing liver cancer
Towards cure 
- Initiatives to prevent HIV from establishing latency and to remove latent HIV from reservoirs during chronic HIV infection, including boosting the immune system with vaccines. Participants in the 20th International AIDS Conference to be held in Melbourne July 20 to 25, will have the chance to hear  the results of the ongoing research in HIV. This year the conference is focusing on the stigma and discrimination attached to the virus and it goes with the theme ''stepping up the pace ''.