Table 1.

Progress towards 2001 WHO research priorities: HSV-2 and HIV interactions

2001 WHO research priority	Has the priority been addressed?			Explanation
	Yes	Partially	No
Effect of aciclovir antiviral on HIV viral load and genital shedding				15 studies in total Viral load and genital shedding studied Multiple geographical areas studied
Differences in HIV genital shedding during primary clinical HSV-2 episodes, subclinical recurrences and in-between recurrences				0 studies comparing shedding in the different HSV-2 disease stages
Differences in HIV viral shedding between genital lesions and from semen				Independent studies carried out for shedding from genital lesions and semen, but no studies comparing both directly
Geographical differences in the effect of HSV-2 on HIV between Africa and other LMICs				46 studies on the effect of HSV-2 on HIV; however, only 2 of these from outside of Africa No single study comparing effect of HSV-2 on HIV in Africa and another geographical region
Risk ratios/relative risk and PAF by age and sex, as well as the difference in these measures for incident and prevalent cases. More prospective studies would help achieve this				Six studies studying PAF, 2 of these divided by sex, none divided by age Risk measures reported in >15 studies, many compared risk for incident and prevalent cases 41% of the studies were prospective
Studies involving HIV-discordant couples where at least one partner is HSV-2 positive to investigate the effect of HSV-1 on transmission and acquisition				One study included HIV-discordant and HSV-seropositive couples
More information on estimated PAFs of HSV-2 for HIV				Six studies included PAF of HSV-2 for HIV as an outcome

HSV-2, herpes simplex virus type 2; LMICs, low-income and middle-income countries; PAF, population attributable fraction.