In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag speaks with Dr Graham Hatfull, a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr Hatfull joins Dr Saag to discuss Bacteriophages for the treatment of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacterial infections. Dr Hatfull provides an overview of the types of bacteriophages and how they can be used to treat antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Dr Hatfull and Dr Saag discuss the challenges of treating bacterial infections with phages given the diversity and complexity of the different types of bacteria and bringing phage treatments to scale. Finally, they discuss what research is needed to overcome the challenges of phage treatment and look to the future where technology enables synthetically produced phages to provide targeted therapy to antimicrobial resistant bacteria.

0:00 – Introduction

1:05 – Overview of bacteriophages and Dr Hatfull's interest in phage research

2:46 – How phages can be used clinically for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria

4:34 – Differences between the 2 types of phages: lytic phages and temperate phages

6:01 – How phages are used to target specific types of bacteria

9:37 – The challenge of phage treatment matching and natural CRISPR processes within bacteria

15:16 – Understanding the phage genome diversity 

18:59 – Discussion of therapeutic uses of phages

28:32 – Prospect of phages for future treatments including synthetic phages

Resources: 

Harnessing the Power of Bacteriophages with Dr Robert Schooley:

• YouTube: https://youtu.be/_BUpDRNhMsQ
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-10-harnessing-the-power-of-bacteriophages/id1713226144?i=1000647215580 

Exploring Bacteriophage Therapy for Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections Robert T. Schooley, MD: https://www.iasusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/31-1-23.pdf  

The inaugural Conference on Bacteriophages: Biology, Dynamics, and Therapeutics: https://www.iasusa.org/bacteriophage-conference/ 

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

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In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag speaks with Dr Annemarie M. Wensing, a Clinical Virologist at the University Medical Center Utrecht and an Honorary Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Dr Wensing joins Dr Saag to discuss the recently released IAS–USA 2025 Update of the Drug Resistance Mutations in HIV-1. Dr Wensing discusses the influence of Dr Charles Boucher in developing her interest in the topic of HIV drug resistance and Dr Wensing and Dr Saag provide an overview of HIV drug resistance and testing. Dr Wensing also provides advice to clinicians on how to manage patients who experience drug resistance. Dr Wensing and Dr Saag then discuss an upcoming report soon to be published that addresses the potential role and the important limitations of HIV DNA resistance testing. Finally, they address the topic of drug resistance in the absence of resistance mutations and look ahead to what the future holds for the field of HIV resistance. 

0:00 – Introduction

 1:30 – Dr Wensing reviews the influence that Dr Charles Boucher played in her development as an investigator and her interest in HIV resistance

 2:46 – Discussion of why there is HIV drug resistance

 4:48 – Overview of drug resistance testing, genotypes and phenotypes

 7:25 – New recommendations from the IAS-USA resistance mutation panel

 9:50 – Advice to clinicians on managing drug resistance

 16:16 – Discussion of HIV DNA resistance testing

 21:26 – Understanding drug failure in the absence of resistance mutations 

 24:49 – Predictions about the future

 Resources: 

•  IAS–USA Drug Resistance Mutations Chart: https://www.iasusa.org/hiv-drug-resistance/hiv-drug-resistance-mutations/ 

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag speaks with Dr Izukanji Sikazwe, the Chief Executive Officer for the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ). Dr Sikazwe joins Dr Saag to provide an overview of her symposium presentation at the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) entitled Innovations in HIV Service Delivery: Building a Path Forward with Those Left Behind. Dr Sikazwe discusses her career journey in treatment of HIV in Zambia and her path to CIDRZ. Dr Sikazwe and Dr Saag discuss the history of HIV and AIDS in Zambia and address the impact that PEPFAR had on the disease when it arrived in the country in 2004. They discuss how PEPFAR has operated in Zambia and provide a current overview of the sudden cancellation of USAID contracts on those receiving HIV care and treatment and other health services. Finally, they look ahead given the current disruptions on how Zambia and other countries can move forward to meet the needs of those in need of care.

0:00 – Introduction

1:41 – Dr Sikazwe reviews her path to CIDRZ

5:21 – History of HIV and AIDS in Zambia and discussion of stigma

7:53 – The impact of PEPFAR’s arrival in Zambia and Dr Sikazwe’s personal history with treatment during that time

13:37 – How PEPFAR works in Zambia

16:56 – Impact of recent decision by the US government to cancel USAID contracts

22:31 – Disruption to other health services that USAID has supported in Zambia

23:50 – Response from the government in Zambia

24:46 – Status of HIV in Zambia prior to cancellation of USAID contracts

25:50 – The best-case scenario for people living with HIV globally and closing remarks

Resources: 

• CROI 2025: https://www.croiconference.org/
• Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ): https://www.cidrz.org/   
• PEPFAR: https://www.state.gov/pepfar/ 

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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This episode of Going anti-Viral, features Rebecca Denison, who gave the Martin Delaney Presentation, entitled 40+ Years of HIV: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t, What Shouldn’t, What Must, at the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). Ms. Denison is the founder of Woman Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases or (WORLD).  

Resources: 

• CROI 2025: https://www.croiconference.org/
• Woman Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases or (WORLD): https://womenhiv.org/
• Link to video of presentation: https://youtu.be/CutIwfkv8oU
• More on the Martin Delaney Presentation: https://www.croiconference.org/presenters/

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag speaks with Dr Tonia Poteat, a professor in the Duke University School of Nursing and co-director of the Duke SGM Wellness Program. Dr Poteat joins Dr Saag to provide an overview of a Themed Discussion session that she is leading at CROI 2025 entitled Meeting the Treatment and Prevention Needs of Transgender Women. Dr Poteat and Dr Saag address the 3 most common challenges faced in the care of transgender persons: uninformed clinicians, societal discrimination, and efforts by governments to limit the rights of transgender persons. They discuss efforts to educate clinicians and summarize the resources that are available to provide care to transgender persons facing stigma and discrimination. They also discuss efforts to take legal action against discriminatory policies. Finally, Dr Poteat and Dr Saag look ahead to the next five years of transgender care and provide advice to all involved in the care of transgender persons during a challenging time. 

0:00 – Introduction

1:26 – Overview of Dr Poteat’s background and research interests

3:42 – Most common challenges encountered by transgender women

4:59 – Educating clinicians about care for transgender women

9:46 – Resources for clinicians to learn about managing stigma and discrimination

11:24 – Efforts by governments to limit transgender care

16:14 – Overview of the Themed Discussion session at CROI 2025

19:07 – Looking ahead to the next five years in transgender care

Resources: 

• CROI 2025: https://www.croiconference.org/
• IAS-USA webinar: Gender-Affirming Hormone Care for People With HIV: https://www.iasusa.org/events/webinar-2024-poteat/
• AIDS Education and Training Center: https://aidsetc.org/  
• World Professional Association for Transgender Health: https://wpath.org/  
• Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org/ 
• Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ 

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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...

In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag speaks with Dr Joseph Eron, Professor of Medicine at University of North Carolina (UNC) about the topic of his upcoming presentation at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2025: HIV Cure Research: State of the Art and Navigating Presentations at CROI 2025. Dr Eron discusses the state of HIV cure research including a detailed discussion of why it has been so difficult to develop a cure for HIV. Dr Saag and Dr Eron discuss the difference between HIV cure and functional cure and provide a detailed overview of cure research efforts looking at blocking and locking HIV in human DNA. Dr Saag and Dr Eron also discuss the potential for “molecular scissors” (CRISPR-Cas9) to cure HIV. Finally, they provide an overview of cure research that will be presented at CROI, highlighting the plenary presentation by Dr Ole Søgaard at CROI on Monday March 10 entitled HIV Cure: A Translational Research Perspective. For more information about the topic of this episode, listen to an earlier episode of Going anti-Viral where Dr Saag discusses Vaccine Development with Dr Richard Koup, see links in the resources below. 

0:00 – Introduction

1:31 – Defining cure in the context of HIV

4:56  – Why is it so hard to cure HIV

7:56 – What is functional cure

11:47 – Description of the concept of “block and lock” in human DNA

14:33 – Discussion of tat inhibitors – blocking of HIV regulatory genes

18:02 – Prospect of using “molecular scissors” (CRISPR-Cas9) as a cure

23:13 – Highlights in HIV cure research at CROI and closing remarks

Resources: 

CROI 2025: https://www.croiconference.org/

Going anti-Viral Episode 4 – A Deep Dive into Vaccine Development with Dr Richard Koup: 

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-4-a-deep-dive-into-vaccine-development-with/id1713226144?i=1000637677124 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/nXeMt3GMj4Q 

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag speaks with Dr Diane Havlir, Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Havlir currently serves as Chair of the Scientific Program Committee for the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) and joins Dr Saag to provide a preview of CROI 2025. Dr Havlir provides an overview and history of CROI along with a summary of how the program is developed. Dr Saag and Dr Havlir review why CROI is unique among scientific meetings: leading scientific advances, poster sessions, and the focus on supporting new investigators. They also discuss expected hot topics from CROI such as: HIV treatment and cure, STI prevention, weight management, aging and HIV, as well as pediatric and adolescent care. Dr Saag and Dr Havlir provide an overview of resources that will be available to those who will not attend CROI in person. Finally, they discuss the value of CROI during a challenging time for all involved in the field of HIV research, care, and treatment.

0:00 – Introduction

1:36 – Overview and history of CROI

4:12 – What makes CROI unique

6:21 – Discussion of how the CROI program is developed both abstract and invited presentations

11:04 – How attendees can interact at CROI

12:06 – Features of poster abstract sessions and poster hall

13:42 – CROI focus on new investigators

17:55 – Hot topics at CROI 2025

20:45 – Resources for people not attending CROI

22:26 – Value of CROI during a challenging time and closing remarks

CROI Resources: https://www.croiconference.org/ 

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag speaks with Dr Andy Pavia of the University of Utah for an update on COVID-19. Dr Pavia and Dr Saag review COVID-19 cases and deaths in 2024 including a discussion about the reasons why deaths have declined compared with earlier years in the pandemic. They also review Long COVID and challenges clinicians face with treatment. Dr Pavia provides a detailed review of COVID-19 vaccines and effectiveness including recommendations on who should be vaccinated. Dr Saag and Dr Pavia review COVID-19 testing, including home testing and antiviral (including monoclonal antibody) treatments. They also discuss how best to provide early treatment to persons at high risk of developing severe disease. Finally, they provide predictions for the future including possible improvements in next generation of COVID-19 vaccines.

0:00 – Introduction

1:21 – COVID-19 cases and deaths in 2024

3:21 – Discussion of reduction in deaths 

5:11 – Evolution of COVID-19 immunity and discussion of Long COVID

12:37 – Challenges in treating Long COVID

16:20 – Review of data on effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and current recommendations on who should receive a vaccine

19:10 – Recommendations on use of antiviral treatments and testing – including recommendations for persons at high risk for developing severe disease

23:16 – Discussion of use of remdesivir

24:44 – Recommendations for use of pemivibart in persons who are immune compromised 

26:30 – Predictions for future therapies and vaccines 

28:11 – Summary and closing remarks 

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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In this episode of Going anti-Viral, Dr Michael Saag speaks with Dr Melanie Thompson who is a clinical researcher and provider of HIV clinical care in Atlanta, Georgia. As Principal Investigator and Executive Director of the AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta (ARCA), she has led over 400 studies of HIV treatment and prevention and is recognized as an expert in the treatment of patients with HIV. In the episode, Dr Thompson and Dr Saag discuss the recently released 2024 update of primary care guidance for providers who care for persons with HIV by the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (see links in resources below). They address topics such as telemedicine, outreach to underserved populations, and how to create a welcoming clinic to improve retention in care. They discuss how HIV providers have been leaders in primary care in areas like hepatitis and address how to bring future generations of providers into HIV medicine. Finally, they address the importance of providers being advocates to their elected representatives about HIV medicine and that providing care to individuals, no matter who they are and where they come from, improves overall public health.

0:00 – Introduction

1:30 – A discussion of Dr Thompson’s background in HIV medicine and transition from primary care to focus on HIV

4:54 – What’s new in the recently released primary care guidelines for persons with HIV 

8:40 – Discussion of new recommendations in how providers can manage outreach, including providing mobile care to individuals with substance use disorder and unstable housing

15:15 – Treatment of hepatitis as an example of how HIV medicine has led the way in providing primary care 

17:04 – Review of guidance on substance use disorder including the use of Narcan and Buprenorphine

19:14 – Reflections on the importance of providers being advocates to their elected representatives  

24:10 – A discussion of how to create a future generation of HIV providers whether from internal medicine or infectious diseases, or both

28:05 – Closing remarks  

Resources

HIV Medicine Association - https://www.hivma.org/
HIVMA/IDSA HIV Primary Care Guidance - https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-arti

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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This episode of Going anti-Viral features an IAS–USA Dialogue titled "Latest Update on Urgent Viral Outbreaks," a panel discussion held on January 15, 2025. This IAS-USA Dialogue is a must listen as our distinguished panel of infectious diseases experts dives deep into some of the most pressing public health challenges facing the world today. Moderated by Carlos del Rio, MD, a Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine, this Dialogue brings together world-class experts Yvonne Maldonado, MD, Peter Chin-Hong, MD, and Jason Zucker, MD, to discuss the latest news on urgent and emerging viral outbreaks, including mpox, avian flu (H5N1), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), measles, human metapneumovirus, and COVID-19/long COVID.

The panel also reflects on the alarming erosion of public trust in public health experts, which has been compounded by misinformation and the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

0:00 – Introduction 

2:27 – Update on mpox including treatment options

11:09 – Discussion of avian flu (H5N1), influenza, and vaccination in human and animals

27:36 – Impact of avian flu (H5N1) on dairy and other agriculture industries and the role of public health in supporting the economy

32:47 – Impact of recent study on Tamiflu in treatment recommendations and discussion of Biloxivir

37:37 – Update on COVID-19 – vaccination, treatment with Paxlovid, other treatment options, and long COVID

48:27 – Recent updates on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and vaccination 

52:03 – Discussion of human metapneumovirus

54:25 –Impact of misinformation on the reduction in measles vaccinations and the health risks of measles to the population at large 

59:54 – Concluding remarks

__________________________________________________

Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

Email [email protected] to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
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...