Understanding the Interactions between HIV and Other Infections and Their Impact on Immune Function

Dear Colleagues,

The late diagnosis of HIV infection remains challenging in many regions of the world. This results in patients presenting AIDS-defining conditions (ADCs), such as tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, P. jiroveci, or JCV. Despite this, the diagnostics of and therapy for ADC remain understudied in the modern world.

Furthermore, even in patients on effective antiretroviral therapy, residual HIV virus replication is responsible for immune activation, which is broadly linked with a higher frequency of non-HIV-related conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or cancer.

Another important aspect is that many pathogens share the same mode of transmission as HIV, with hepatitis viruses, syphilis, and other sexually transmitted infections being the most pronounced.

The relationship between HIV infection, immune activation, and other pathogens profoundly influences health outcomes, posing significant challenges in clinical management. However, the precise mechanisms of these interactions remain unclear. Understanding how these viruses interact with HIV and impact immune function is essential for developing effective strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and management.

This Special Issue aims to delve into the abovementioned aspects of HIV infection and will cover topics ranging from early diagnosis and effective treatment to exploring the immunological responses and potential risks associated with co-infections.

Prof. Dr. Justyna Dominika Kowalska
Dr. Botond Lakatos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• antimicrobials
• natural products
• anti-biofilm strategies
• anti-microbial resistance
• drug delivery
• formulations