HIV Infection and Vaccination

Dear Colleagues,

Patients with HIV infection, even while on effective antiretroviral treatment, are subject to substantial alteration of immunological response, as well as activation of inflammation processes. This can naturally result in substantial difference in the effectiveness and safety of both passive and active immunization as compared to non-HIV infected persons. At the same time, people living with HIV are prone to many infections, which reflects both the immune deficiency and exposure to specific health risks, e.g., HPV and hepatitis.

Moreover, the majority of people living with HIV live in regions with epidemics of preventable diseases, i.e., Africa, South and East Asia, and South America. Despite this, most clinical trials of vaccines are conducted in high-income countries and/or do not accept people living with HIV.

Many factors can influence the acceptance of vaccines and compliance to immunization schedule, such as level of knowledge, socioeconomical status, and personal beliefs. People living with HIV have demonstrated, especially in recent times with the development of new COVID-19 vaccines, a great understanding and interest in participating in vaccination programs, vaccine trials, and prevention strategies. Lessons learned from this advocacy could inform future public health campaigns popularizing vaccines.

Finally, it has been suggested by some studies that various vaccines, especially ones based on adenovirus vectors, might increase the risk of acquiring HIV. Such preliminary conclusions may cause reluctance toward vaccination among persons not infected with HIV, while evidence in this area is still lacking.

This Special Issue of Vaccines aims to address the abovementioned needs and improve the knowledge of immunization strategies for people living with HIV. Potential topics include but are not limited to: 

• Antibody and human cellular immune cell responses to active and passive immunization among Hpeople living with HIV;
• Factors related to acceptance of vaccines and other immunization strategies among people living with HIV;
• Dynamics of antibody response to active and passive immunization in people living with HIV;
• Discoveries potentially leading to the development of HIV vaccine and cure;
• Vaccines and the risk of HIV acquisition. 

Prof. Dr. Justyna Dominika Kowalska
Dr. Carlo Bieńkowski
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• HIV infection
• HIV immunology
• HIV prevention
• infectious diseases
• vaccine development