How B cells may help HIV hide in the body
Elucidating the role of B cell mediated trans infection in the establishment of the latent HIV-1 reservoir
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-11137670
This project looks at whether B cells can pass HIV directly to T cells and help create the hidden, long-lived HIV reservoir in people.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11137670 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers may ask for blood or other samples so they can study your immune cells. They will compare B cells from people who naturally control HIV without treatment to those from people who do not, and use lab tests to see how B cells transfer virus to resting CD4+ T cells. The team will also use humanized mouse models and molecular measurements of HIV DNA to track how hidden reservoirs form. Results will combine human samples and lab models to clarify whether B cell–mediated trans-infection helps establish long-lived HIV infection pockets.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be adults living with HIV who can provide blood or other samples, including people who naturally control the virus without antiretroviral therapy.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those unable to give samples are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or reduce the hidden HIV reservoir, which is a major barrier to cure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have shown B cells can transfer HIV to T cells, but direct evidence in living humans linking this to the long-lived reservoir remains limited.
Where this research is happening
PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SLUIS-CREMER, NICOLAS PAUL — UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- Study coordinator: SLUIS-CREMER, NICOLAS PAUL
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus