Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to be a global health challenge, with over 38 million people infected by the end of 2022. HIV-1, the predominant strain, primarily targets and depletes CD4+ T cells, leading to immunodeficiency and subsequent vulnerability to opportunistic infections. Despite the progress made in antiretroviral therapy (ART), drug resistance and treatment-related toxicity necessitate novel therapeutic strategies. This review delves into the intricate interplay between HIV-1 and host cellular proteins throughout the viral life cycle, highlighting key host factors that facilitate viral entry, replication, integration, and immune evasion. A focus is placed on actual findings regarding the preintegration complex, nuclear import, and the role of cellular cofactors such as FEZ1, BICD2, and NPC components in viral transport and genome integration. Additionally, the mechanisms of immune evasion via HIV-1 proteins Nef and Vpu, and their interaction with host MHC molecules and interferon signaling pathways, are explored. By examining these host–virus interactions, this review underscores the importance of host-targeted therapies in complementing ART, with a particular emphasis on the potential of genetic research and host protein stability in developing innovative treatments for HIV/AIDS.

Introduction. The problem of transfusion safety in relation to parenteral viral hepatitis still remains relevant. Viral hepatitis B (HB) remains the most common viral infection transmitted through transfusion procedures. One of the natural phases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is occult hepatitis B infection (OBI), characterized by an undetectable HBsAg (regardless of the other serological markers content) in the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the liver tissue and an extremely low, up to undetectable, level of viral load in the blood. In the Republic of Guinea, as in most countries on the continent, the prevention of HBV transmission through transfusion is still based on HBsAg serological testing of donors only. In this connection, OBI remains as a potential threat to blood transfusion safety. Detection of HBV DNA is a reliable preventive measure against transmission of the virus from donors with HBsAg-negative HBV infection, especially in highly endemic regions. In this regard, the study was conducted to substantiate recommendations for improving blood safety against the background of significant HBV prevalence in the Republic of Guinea.The aim of the work was the evaluation of serological and molecular markers of HBV infection in blood donors in the Republic of Guinea.Material and methods. We examined 250 blood samples obtained from donors living in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. Samples were tested for the presence of serological (surface antigen, HBsAg; antibodies (ABs) to surface (anti-HBs IgG) and core (anti-HBc IgG) antigens) and molecular (DNA) markers of HBV infection.Results and discussion. The overall detection rate of hepatitis B markers was 83.2%; HBsAg was detected in 16.4% of all individuals. The high incidence of HBsAg in men (19.55%) compared to women (8.45%) was shown, the relative risk of HBV infection with the formation of HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis B in males was also significantly higher. The prevalence of the HBV DNA in the study group was 30.4%, the OBI cases accounted for 15.6%. The prevalence of this form of the disease was shown in donors aged 30–49 years (24.78%), in the group of people younger than 30 years, the incidence was lower (8.73%), and at the age of over 50 years, OBI was not detected. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of 76 virus isolates, it was shown that genotype E prevails in the examined group (85.53%).Cases of pathogen DNA detection occurred in HBsAg-negative blood donors in the presence of anti-HBs IgG (n = 4), as well as in the simultaneous presence of ABs anti-HBs IgG and anti-HBc IgG (n = 7). The viral load exceeded 200 IU/ml in OBI samples. Escape mutations were detected by sequencing in each OBI sample, contributing to the virus escaping from diagnostic based on screening for HBsAg.Conclusion. Assessment of the prevalence viral hepatitis B markers in blood donors, determination of genotypes and clinically significant mutations of virus variants are necessary to ensure safe medical manipulations, control and prevention of the spread of this infectious agent.

The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of serological and molecular genetic markers of HIV infection, viral hepatitis B and C among persons in pre-trial detention.Materials and methods. The material of the study identified 138 samples of blood sequences obtained from men in the pretrial detention center in St. Petersburg. Patients were examined by ELISA for the presence of serological markers of HIV infection (Ag/Ab HIV), HBV (HBsAg, antiHBs IgG, anti-HBcore IgG) and HCV (anti-HCV IgG). Determination of HIV and HCV RNA, as well as HBV DNA by PCR with hybridization-fluorescence detection in «real time» mode. HBV DNA with a low viral form was detected using a technique developed at the Saint-Petersburg Pasteur Institute.Results and discussion. With the prevalence of the general prevalence of serological markers, markers of HIV infection were detected in 55 (39.86%) patients, HBV — in 73 (52.90%), HCV — in 83 (60.14%). the same markers of HIV infection and HBV were detected in 6 (4.35%) examined, HIV infection and HCV in 17 (12.32%), HBV and HCV in 22 (15.94%) persons, to all three infections in 26 (18.84%) cases. In 22 (15.94%) people did not notice any of the analyzed markers. HIV RNA was found in 23.19%, HCV RNA — in 46.38%, HBV DNA — in 10.14% of the examined. At the same time, HBV DNA with a low viral form (less than 50 IU/ml) was detected in 7.97% of cases, including 6.52% of seronegative samples. Simultaneously, HIV and HCV RNA were detected in 6.52%, HCV RNA and HBV DNA in 2.17% of patients. Molecular biological markers of all three indicators were found in 1.45% of patients. The examined group was ranked by age into the following subgroups: 21– 30 years old (12.32%), 31–40 years old (34.78%), 41–50 years old (37.68%) and older than 51 years old (15.22%). Certain differences in the prevalence and distribution of the analysis of serological and molecular biological markers between age markers, the highest frequency was found for groups of 31–40 and 41–50 years.Conclusion. The results obtained indicate a high prevalence of HIV infections and parenteral viral hepatitis B and C among persons convicted and awaiting a stage in a pre-trial detention center. Careful attention must be paid to their admission to penitentiary institutions, since many convicts are not aware of their morbidity and may become infected. Regular conclusions, concluded in dynamics, including laboratory diagnostics using highly sensitive molecular biological methods, upon admission to a penitentiary institution, and then annually and upon release, should be taken into account as measures to prevent infection with HIV, HBV, HCV.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of serological and molecular biological markers of viral hepatitis B and C among apparently healthy residents of the Southern Vietnam. The study material was represented by 397 blood serum samples collected from apparently healthy residents of the Southern Vietnam. The ELISA examination for presence of HBV and HCV markers involved HBsAg, anti-HBs IgG, anti-HBcore IgG, and anti-HCV qualitative determination. For HBV DNA and HCV RNA detection, nucleic acids were extracted from serum blood, and a test for virus detection was carried out by real-time PCR with hybridization fluorescence detection. Amplification and subsequent sequencing of HBV and HCV were performed using nested PCR with paired overlapping primers jointly flanking the target regions. Analysis of the overall prevalence of serological markers showed that among the apparently healthy individuals anti-HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 12.3% (95% CI: 9.27–15.99%) and 3.27% (95% CI: 1.76–5.53%) of individuals, respectively. The prevalence of HBsAg in men (19.1%) significantly exceeded that of found in women (5.9%), χ2 = 14.688 with p = 0.0001, df = 1, calculated odds ratio OR = 3.751 (95% CI: 1.892–7.439). Among apparently healthy patients, taking into account HBsAg-positive and negative samples, HBV DNA was detected in 26.95% (95% CI: 22.65–31.6%). HBV phylogenetic analysis showed that subtype B4 prevalence comprised 64.49%. Subtypes C1 (14.95%), B2 (9.35%), C2 (6.54%), C3 (0.93%), and C5 (3.74%) were also identified. HCV RNA was detected in 7 samples, which accounted for 1.76% (95% CI: 0.71–3.6%). Phylogenetic analysis showed that all HCV isolates belong to genotype 6, subtype 6a (100%).

Rationale. Countries of Africa, especially countries in sub-Saharan Africa, represent a region characterized by high incidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Methods for detection of HBV and HCV in low and middle-income countries differ from those that are used in countries having access to high-cost technologies. The Republic of Guinea is a region with high prevalence of hepatotropic viruses, however, the information on HBV and HCV prevalence in the area is extremely limited, thus emphasizing the significance of this study.The purpose of the study is to evaluate the need for improving laboratory diagnostics of parenteral HBV and HCV infections in the Republic of Guinea.Materials and methods. A total of 2,616 samples of blood serum were tested, the samples were collected from apparently healthy residents of the Republic of Guinea during the routine medical checkup. The testing included qualitative detection of HBsAg, anti-HBs IgG, anti-HBcore IgG, anti-HCV IgG antibodies as well as HBV DNA and HCV RNA.Results. The detection frequency of serological markers of HBV and HCV infections was 80.77% and 18%, respectively. However, HBsAg was detected only in 16.01% of individuals. Tests for detection of HBV DNA were performed among seropositive patients and patients seronegative by other HBV markers, HBV DNA was detected in 22.36% of cases, including 6.07% of HBsAg-negative cases. HCV RNA was detected in 2.2% of cases. Both HCV RNA and HBV DNA were detected in 27 people, including 19 HBsAg-negative cases, thus accounting for 1.03% of the examined group.Conclusions. The markers that are currently used for laboratory detection of HBV and HCV in the Republic of Guinea are not efficient enough to diagnose reliably all cases. Undoubtedly, there is an urgent need to improve laboratory diagnostics for timely detection of parenteral viral hepatitis. Routine laboratory operations need assays for additional serological and molecular markers of HCV and HBV infections.

Introduction. The spread of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has become a global concern and has approached the pandemic status. St. Petersburg, a major transportation, tourist, cultural, industrial center, and a border city, is characterized by high migration of the population. The growing number of migrants can contribute to importation and spread of new genetic variants of the virus and trigger recombination processes in the virus population in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region.The aim is to characterize the present-day HIV-1 subtype-specific profile and drug-resistance mutations among patients with virological failure on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Leningrad Region.Materials and methods. The study performed in 2016–2018 was based on clinical material from HIV-infected individuals living in the Leningrad Region and having confirmed virological failure on ART. The genetic diversity and distribution of drug-resistance mutations of the HIV-1 isolates were assessed through analysis of nucleotide sequences of the virus pol gene fragment that included regions encoding protease and the reverse transcriptase region.Results. In the group (n = 138), most of the patients had sub-subtype A6 (97.4%) common in Russia, though a few patients had subtype B and a recombinant containing circulating recombinant form CRF_03AB and sub-subtype A1. The tests showed that 95.79% of patients had at least one significant drug-resistance mutation; in most cases (73%) the virus was resistant to 2 classes of antiretroviral drugs and in some cases (8%) — to 3 classes. A total of 105 different drug-resistance mutations were found at 35 positions of the virus genome.Conclusions. The high prevalence of HIV-1 drug-resistance mutations among ART patients with virological failure calls attention to surveillance of drug resistance of the virus both among ART-experienced patients and ARTnaïve individuals.