Towards Control of the HIV epidemic: Trends in Epidemiology and Emerging Drug Resistance in the Integrase Inhibitor Era

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) continues to be a significant global health challenge, affecting more than 32 million people worldwide. While significant strides have been made in managing the disease through antiretroviral therapy (ART) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) options, the persistent issue of drug resistance poses a substantial threat to these advancements. Understanding the epidemiology of HIV, alongside the evolving patterns of drug resistance, is critical for developing effective strategies to fight the virus and improve outcomes of Persons Living With HIV (PLWH).

This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge research and the latest advancements in both the epidemiology of HIV and the mechanisms, detection, and management of HIV drug resistance. By fostering collaboration between epidemiologists, virologists, clinicians, and public health experts, we hope to inspire innovative approaches and drive forward the global fight against HIV/AIDS. This Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, case studies, and methodologies that explore, but are not limited to, the following areas:

1. Epidemiological Insights:
o Global and regional trends in HIV incidence and prevalence.
o Novel approaches in HIV surveillance and data collection.
o Socio-demographic factors influencing the spread of HIV.
o Impact of interventions and barriers to implementation of PrEP and PEP on HIV epidemiology.

2. Drug Resistance Mechanisms:
o Genetic mutations and pathways leading to HIV drug resistance.
o Minority variants and treatment failure
o Emerging role of HIV DNA genotyping
o Evolutionary dynamics of drug-resistant HIV strains.

3. Detection and Monitoring:
o Advances in diagnostic technologies for early detection of HIV drug resistance.
o Epidemiological methods for monitoring the spread of drug-resistant strains.
o Integration of resistance testing into routine clinical practice.

We encourage contributions from researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals across the globe. Manuscripts should adhere to the submission guidelines of the journal they are submitted via and will undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high scientific standards. We look forward to your valuable contributions that will undoubtedly shape the future landscape of HIV research and treatment.

Keywords: HIV, Epidemiology, Drug Resistance, Integrase Inhibitor, Surveillance

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.