Full project summary
HIV infection results in rapid disease progression and death in infants more than any other age group. We have an ongoing project utilizing the SIV-macaque model to evaluate the role of sustained type-1 interferon responses on the ability to mount humoral immune responses to HIV and other important childhood diseases. In addition, the relationship between rapid disease progression and the latent HIV reservoir, which is considered the greatest obstacle to a cure, will also be evaluated. Our long-term goal is to identify therapeutic targets in HIV-infected infants exhibiting rapid or typical disease trajectories to optimize antiretroviral drug administration and improve health outcomes. The ongoing project encompasses evaluation of immune responses to SIV and childhood vaccines in rapid and typical progressor infants along with characterization of the size of the latent SIV reservoir in different T cell subsets.
We are undertaking these studies in collaboration with Dr. Jeremy Smedley and the Oregon National Primate Research Center.
Related Papers
Rapid progression is associated with lymphoid follicle dysfunction in SIV-infected infant rhesus macaques.
Wood MP, Jones CI, Lippy A, Oliver BG, Walund B, Fancher KA, Fisher BS, Wright PJ, Fuller JT, Murapa P, Habib J, Mavigner M, Chahroudi A, Sather DN, Fuller DH, Sodora DL.PLoS Pathog. 2021 May 7;17(5):e1009575. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009575. eCollection 2021 May.PMID: 33961680