How a person's biology influences where HIV hides in infected cells over time
Host-Dependent Mechanisms that Guide the Longitudinal Dynamic of Sites of SIV Integration
This project will learn how host factors shape where an HIV-like virus inserts into cells over time to help people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169827 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze stored samples from rhesus macaques infected with an HIV-like virus taken before infection, before antiretroviral therapy (ART), and during ART suppression. They will map where viral DNA is inserted in host genomes and build an atlas of integration sites using genomic and epigenetic methods such as ATAC-seq. The team will compare integration patterns with host features like metabolites, cytokine levels, and immune cell activation to see which host factors are linked to viral latency and persistence. Insights from these comparisons aim to reveal how the host environment guides viral hiding and persistence under treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who are on suppressive ART and interested in HIV cure research are the population most likely to benefit from findings, although this project uses animal-derived samples.
Not a fit: Individuals without HIV or those seeking immediate changes to their medical care should not expect direct personal benefit from this preclinical, animal-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological signatures or targets that help clear latent HIV and improve cure strategies for people on ART.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has mapped HIV/SIV integration sites and shown links to viral persistence, but directly connecting early host metabolites, cytokines, and immune states to integration site dynamics is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boudries, Malika — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Boudries, Malika
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.