Hidden HIV reservoir cells in blood and tissues: how they change over time
Selection and Evolution of HIV-1 reservoir cells in blood and tissues
This project looks at how the tiny population of HIV-infected CD4 T cells that survive effective treatment changes over time in people who started therapy early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146600 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to provide blood and, when possible, tissue samples over time so researchers can track the rare HIV-infected CD4 T cells that persist despite treatment. The team will use advanced single-cell molecular tests and high-resolution imaging to map intact proviruses and cellular features within those reservoir cells. By following the same patients longitudinally, they will study how immune pressures and continuous therapy select for cells that remain latent. The work aims to identify which infected cells are eliminated and which persist and why.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people living with HIV who began antiretroviral therapy during acute infection, have durable viral suppression, and can provide periodic blood and tissue samples.
Not a fit: People not on suppressive ART, those who began treatment long after infection, or those unwilling to provide tissue samples are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal vulnerabilities in the HIV reservoir that help researchers design treatments to reduce or clear the cells that cause viral rebound.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has shown that HIV reservoirs persist despite therapy and single-cell approaches can profile infected cells, but comprehensive longitudinal single-cell and imaging profiling across blood and tissues is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lichterfeld, Mathias — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lichterfeld, Mathias
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.