AUTHOR=Karim Quarraisha Abdool , Archary Derseree , Barré-Sinoussi Françoise , Broliden Kristina , Cabrera Cecilia , Chiodi Francesca , Fidler Sarah J. , Gengiah Tanuja N. , Herrera Carolina , Kharsany Ayesha B. M. , Liebenberg Lenine J. P. , Mahomed Sharana , Menu Elisabeth , Moog Christiane , Scarlatti Gabriella , Seddiki Nabila , Sivro Aida , Cavarelli Mariangela 

TITLE=Women for science and science for women: Gaps, challenges and opportunities towards optimizing pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-1 prevention

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1055042

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2022.1055042

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=In the era of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), increasing rates of new HIV-1 infections are observed worldwide which continue to disproportionally affect girls and young women. However, the majority of early phase HIV-1 clinical trials disproportionally enroll men. The efficacy of topical and systemic prevention strategies is highly dependent of physiological and social factors which are gender specific. Here we review the past and current developments of HIV-1 prophylaxis options for women with special focus on PrEP considering the diverse factors that can hinder their efficacy. Furthermore, we highlight how female scientists, clinicians, and community advocates should be well represented to further improve development in the field.