Program at a glance

The current HIV care paradigm goes beyond the concept of suppression of plasma HIV-RNA viral load and recovery of CD4+T cells by also taking into consideration all those factors, pharmacological and non pharmacological, general or tailored to the individual, that make long-term success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) possible. In this context, a person-centered approach must meet the needs and expectations of people with HIV (PWH) in order to ensure their long-term therapeutic success. The symposium aims to provide new knowledge about HIV and hepatitis viruses, especially in the most difficult-to-treat populations, such as PWH with suboptimal adherence and PWH with HBV/HDV coinfection. Through an interactive talk, experts will discuss current and future challenges and innovative strategies that can address the unmet needs of PWH, including whose with HBV/HDV coinfection, by supporting individuals to overcome clinical issues and improve outcomes and quality of life.

Ageing is a physiologic process consisting of physical and mental changes. It is primarily influenced by a genetic factors but also by various external factors including diet, exercise, stress, and smoking. HIV infection has been associated with early ageing. Frailty is a clinically state increased vulnerability, resulting from age-associated declines in physiologic reserve and function across multiple organ systems, such that the ability to cope with everyday or acute stressors is compromised. Frailty is strictly associated with ageing and quality of life. Peoples living with HIV (PWH) are at increased risk of myocardial infarction: a recent trial has confirmed a beneficial impact of statin therapy also in PWH older than 40 yo with a low cardiovascular risk. Other comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and depression contribute to polypharmacy in PWH. The aim of the course is to analyze the principle issues regarding Ageing in PWH and how to manage them focusing on practical recommendations.

In the host, innate and adaptive immunity are the arms of a functional and well-organized immune response against several pathogens. Beside immune system, inflammation protects the host by eliminating pathogens, repairing damaged tissue, and restoring homeostasis. Inflammasome is the core component of the inflammatory response, having a crucial role in resisting pathogenic infections and maintaining immune homeostasis by releasing inflammatory soluble factors. An overactive inflammasome can also trigger a cytokine storm, leading to various inflammatory diseases and exacerbating tissue damage. During viral infections, a balanced immune/inflammatory response is prominent in resolving the infection. Innate immunity implements non cellular/cellular strategies to eliminate viruses in the early stage of infection, by priming specific T and B cells responses in the resolving phase. Viruses are able to modify host's immune response both in acute/chronic phases of infection, by evolving mechanisms to evade or to yperactivate immune response by damaging the host. T cells have a pivotal role in controlling infectious diseases and cancer. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T) therapy has emerged as a highly efficacious treatment modality for refractory and relapsed hematopoietic malignancies in recent years. Thus, it seems likely that engineered, re-directed T cells will also be able to control these diseases when naturally occurring T cells fail. A successful effector CAR-T cell therapy is designed to kill every cancer or virus-infected cell in the patient. By understanding the biology of naturally occurring T cells, these advances will help the field to engineer better T cells to function in a wide array of disease areas. In this pre-congress course we will deepen the innovative diagnostic and therapeutic aspects in the control of acute and chronic viral infections in view of the clinical and pathogenetic relevance of the host's immune response during viral infections.

Giunto alla decima edizione e destinato agli studenti degli Istituti Scolastici Superiori, il Contest artistico RaccontART rappresenta un'occasione unica e preziosa di formazione e informazione in tema di HIV, Infezioni Sessualmente Trasmesse e Covid-19. Questa sessione è dedicata alla presentazione delle Opere finaliste in concorso, selezionate dalle Giurie Artistica e Tecnico-Scientifica. Al termine della Sessione, verranno premiati i primi tre classificati.

The aim of this pre-congressional course is to reflect on some topics in the management of HIV infection of high clinical complexity. The simultaneous presence of multiple comorbidities can create extreme difficulties for clinicians in the daily clinical management of the person living with HIV. The course is aimed at young infectivologists who will be able to interactively discuss with tutors the approach of five different HIV-related issues. The course aims to critically analyse diagnostic and therapeutic choices in order to synthesise practical management principles useful in clinical practice.

The last decade has seen a profound change in our understanding of viral persistence as a much more dynamic picture of the reservoir emerged. The mechanisms that prevent HIV and HBV eradication have been redefined, as well as their role in chronic immune activation and inflammation. At the same time, the COVID-19 global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 reopens questions about the ability of some RNA viruses to drive chronic symptoms by persisting in certain body sites or tissue reservoirs after acute infection. In summary, viral persistence is undoubtedly complex and multifaceted process, but if approached from the right angle, can yield many clues for the identification of new weapons and new curative strategies to counteract it. Thus, this course is shedding light on the state of the art as well as the most recent discoveries and fascinating innovations in HIV, HBV, HDV persistence and post-COVID-19 syndrome. It uncovers putative links between viral persistence, viral evolution, host immune status, and protective immunity to guide and direct future basic science and clinical research priorities.