Sexually transmitted infection syndemic interactions: Biological amplification between HIV, HSV-2, syphilis, and HPV and implications for co-treatment strategies
15 affiliations
- 1University of Bamenda, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Bambili, Cameroon
- 2Health Organisation Welfare (HOW), Yaoundé, Cameroon
- 3Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India
- 4Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Ila-Orangun, Nigeria
- 5Department of Public Health, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- 6Department of Digital Health, Global Health Focus Africa, Kigali, Rwanda
- 7Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India
- 8Department of Public Health, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
- 9Florence Nightingale Higher Institute of Health and Biomedical Sciences, Bamenda, Cam
- 10School of Pharmacy, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
- 11Department of Biomedical Engineering, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Türkiye
- 12Department of Allied and Healthcare Sciences, Lyallpur Khalsa College Technical Campus, Jalandhar, India
- 13Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
- 14Department of Computing and Informatics, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- 15Department of Biochemistry, AIIMS Kalyani, West Bengal, India
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV frequently coexist and may interact through shared biological, immunological, and epidemiological pathways. This narrative review examines the biological interactions between HIV, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), syphilis, and human papillomavirus (HPV), with particular emphasis on mucosal disruption, immune activation, and implications for integrated prevention and care. Evidence indicates that HSV-2-associated genital ulceration and recruitment of HIV-susceptible immune cells may increase HIV acquisition risk, while syphilis-associated systemic immune activation can transiently affect HIV viral load and CD4 cell counts. Persistent HPV infection may also promote inflammatory mucosal environments relevant to HIV susceptibility and HPV-associated disease in people living with HIV. However, evidence from intervention studies demonstrates that biological associations do not necessarily translate into effective HIV prevention through treatment of individual co-infections. Collectively, the evidence supports greater integration of STI screening, treatment, HPV vaccination, cancer screening, and HIV prevention and care, while highlighting important gaps in evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of syndemic-informed integrated interventions.
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BibTeX
@article{tanwieh2026sexually,
title = {{Sexually transmitted infection syndemic interactions: Biological amplification between HIV, HSV-2, syphilis, and HPV and implications for co-treatment strategies}},
author = {Esoh Rene Tanwieh and Kiranjot Kaur and Uthman Okikiola Adebayo and Rajshreejeet Jayant Bhensdadiya and Misonge Kapnang Ivan and Shey Fortune Ndzi and John Ricky and Mohit Paul and Solomon Gyampoh and Ishmael Gumbo and Amit Pal},
journal = {Science Progress},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/00368504261492492},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/00368504261492492},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Sexually transmitted infection syndemic interactions: Biological amplification between HIV, HSV-2, syphilis, and HPV and implications for co-treatment strategies
AU - Esoh Rene Tanwieh
AU - Kiranjot Kaur
AU - Uthman Okikiola Adebayo
AU - Rajshreejeet Jayant Bhensdadiya
AU - Misonge Kapnang Ivan
AU - Shey Fortune Ndzi
AU - John Ricky
AU - Mohit Paul
AU - Solomon Gyampoh
AU - Ishmael Gumbo
AU - Amit Pal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
JO - Science Progress
DO - 10.1177/00368504261492492
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/00368504261492492
AB - Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV frequently coexist and may interact through shared biological, immunological, and epidemiological pathways. This narrative review examines the biological interactions between HIV, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), syphilis, and human papillomavirus (HPV), with particular emphasis on mucosal disruption, immune activation, and implications for integrated prevention and care. Evidence indicates that HSV-2-associated genital ulceration and recruitment of HIV-susceptible immune cells may increase HIV acquisition risk, while syphilis-associated systemic immune activation can transiently affect HIV viral load and CD4 cell counts. Persistent HPV infection may also promote inflammatory mucosal environments relevant to HIV susceptibility and HPV-associated disease in people living with HIV. However, evidence from intervention studies demonstrates that biological associations do not necessarily translate into effective HIV prevention through treatment of individual co-infections. Collectively, the evidence supports greater integration of STI screening, treatment, HPV vaccination, cancer screening, and HIV prevention and care, while highlighting important gaps in evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of syndemic-informed integrated interventions.
SN - 0036-8504
SN - 2047-7163
ER -