There is still no effective vaccine or cure for HIV. Scientists are considering options ranging from longer-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) that space out injections by several years to long-lasting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that acts as a vaccine while immunization is achieved. What else can be done? The “Innovations in HIV virology: Translating discoveries into novel therapies” symposium in basic science at the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), which took place from July 13 to 17, 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda, showcased some of the new ideas that the scientific community are developing.

While people living with HIV can lead virtually normal lives thanks to antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV persists in a latent state within cellular reservoirs that scientists do not know how to eliminate. “Transcription is a critical step in the viral life cycle. … But there are currently no drugs suppressing HIV transcription, and that may be one of the reasons why current antiretroviral therapy is not curative,” Melanie Ott told the audience at the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science this week in Kigali, Rwanda.

Researchers from Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Hospital Universitario de La Princesa and collaborators have developed nanoparticles loaded with poly(I:C) and used them to prime monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Nano-PIC-MDDC), which in turn activate natural killer cells to eliminate HIV-infected CD4+ T cells.

Scientists at Institut Pasteur have gained new insights into how some people control HIV-1 replication after interruption of antiretroviral treatment (ART). The investigators found a fingerprint involved in long-term viral remission.

The availability of effective antiretroviral therapy has lowered the risk, and the severity, of neural sequelae of HIV infection. “Early in the HIV pandemic, approximately 15% of people with HIV had dementia and or encephalitis,” Howard Fox told his audience. “Fortunately, with treatment, the prevalence of these severe disorders has been greatly lowered. But there is persistence of what are called more minor disorders – which are not minor if you have them.”

It was previously demonstrated that the HIV-1 integrase (IN)-interacting host factor INI1/SMARCB1 binds to HIV-1 IN through its Rpt1 domain of INI1 (INI1-Rpt1) and plays a key role in assembly and particle production.

At the 2025 meeting of the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. On the first full day of the conference, reports from the first HIV cure trial conducted in Africa, the RIO trial and others showed that perhaps, a broadly useful cure is on the horizon.

At the 2025 meeting of the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. On the first full day of the conference, reports from the first HIV cure trial conducted in Africa, the RIO trial and others showed that perhaps, a broadly useful cure is on the horizon.

The development of an effective HIV vaccine remains an urgent public health need due to the high genetic variability and rapid mutation rates of the virus, which limit the generation of broadly neutralizing antibodies.