We all look different to HIV, a virus that destroys the immune system. The defensive cells record every interaction with foreign agents, infections from viruses and bacteria, but also with mechanisms occurring within the body, such as microbiome metabolism, the effects of aging, or the development of diseases. At a preconference session at the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), scientists explained the interactions of different microorganisms with HIV.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for 9.3% of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The levels of circulating immune cells in patients with CRC have been reported to undergo significant alterations, concretely in lymphocyte subsets.

Myopia, a leading cause of visual impairment globally, can progress to serious complications like retinal and choroidal degeneration. While atropine is commonly used to manage childhood myopia, its nonselective action on all five acetylcholine muscarinic receptor subtypes (M1-M5 receptors) can cause side effects such as pupil dilation and photophobia.

Azole antifungal agents are widely used to treat invasive fungal infections (IFIs), which are life-threatening in immunocompromised patients such as those undergoing chemotherapy, transplantation or intensive care.

Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide, is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to a decline in both motor and cognitive functions. Incretin-based therapies, initially designed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, have demonstrated relevant neuroprotective effects in preclinical models of PD.