Activity of antiretroviral drugs in human infections by opportunistic agents

Abstract

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is used in patients infected with HIV. This treatment has been shown to significantly decrease opportunist infections such as those caused by viruses, fungi and particularly, protozoa. The use of HAART in HIV-positive persons is associated with immune reconstitution as well as decreased prevalence of oral candidiasis and candidal carriage. Antiretroviral therapy benefits patients who are co-infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8), Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B virus (HBV), parvovirus B19 and cytomegalovirus (CMV). HAART has also led to a significant reduction in the incidence, and the modification of characteristics, of bacteremia by etiological agents such as Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococcus, non-typhoid species of Salmonella, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. HAART can modify the natural history of cryptosporidiosis and microsporidiosis, and restore mucosal immunity, leading to the eradication of Cryptosporidium parvum. A similar restoration of immune response occurs in infections by Toxoplasma gondii. The decline in the incidence of visceral leishmaniasis/HIV co-infection can be observed after the introduction of protease inhibitor therapy. Current findings are highly relevant for clinical medicine and may serve to reduce the number of prescribed drugs thereby improving the quality of life of patients with opportunistic diseases.<br>A terapia HAART (terapia antirretroviral altamente ativa) é usada em pacientes infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) e demonstrou diminuição significativa de infecções oportunistas, tais como as causadas por vírus, fungos, protozoários e bactérias. O uso da HAART está associado com a reconstituição imunológica e diminuição na prevalência de candidíase oral. A terapia antirretroviral beneficia pacientes co-infectados pelo HIV, vírus herpes humano 8 (HHV-8), vírus Epstein-Barr (EBV), vírus da hepatite B (HBV), parvovírus B19 e citomegalovírus (CMV). A HAART também apresentou redução significativa da incidência e modificou as características da bacteremia por agentes etiológicos, tais como Staphylococcus aureus, espécies não-tifóides de Salmonella, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A HAART é capaz de modificar significativamente a história natural da criptosporidiose e microsporidiose. HAART pode efetivamente restaurar a imunidade da mucosa, levando à erradicação de Cryptosporidium parvum. Semelhante restauração da resposta imune ocorre em infecções por Toxoplasma gondii. O declínio na incidência de co-infecção leishmaniose visceral/HIV pode ser observada após a introdução da terapia com inibidores da protease. Os resultados atuais são altamente relevantes para a medicina clínica e podem proporcionar diminuição no número de prescrições medicamentosas e, consequentemente, melhor qualidade de vida para pacientes com doenças oportunistas

Aspartic peptidase of Phialophora verrucosa as target of HIV peptidase inhibitors: blockage of its enzymatic activity and interference with fungal growth and macrophage interaction

“…and Cryptococcus spp. 19,20 . Indeed, several groups have shown that these HIV-PIs are effective in inhibiting the in vitro growth of several fungi, including F. pedrosoi, Cryptococcus neoformans Candida albicans and Trichosporon asahii 13,[21][22][23] .…”

The Effectiveness of a Bioactive Food Compound in the Lipid Control of Individuals with HIV/AIDS

“…It results in an atherogenic lipid profile, which has the well-defined characteristics of chronic diseases [1,2]. In addition to dyslipidemia, there is also glucose intolerance, diabetes mellitus type II and elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which are proven risk factors for cardiovascular diseases [3,4].…”

Opportunistic infections among individuals with HIV-1/AIDS in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era at a Quaternary Level Care Teaching Hospital

“…Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been available since 1996 for individuals diagnosed with AIDS and has allowed long-term control of the disease with increased survival (4) (5) and decreased morbidity and mortality rates (5) . However, AIDS has become a chronic and degenerative disease for patients undergoing ART (1) (2) (6) .…”