How biological sex shapes early subtype C HIV infection and treatment response
Deciphering the impact of sex in early subtype C HIV infection and during HART
Comparing immune and viral differences in men and women with early subtype C HIV to help explain why women often have lower viral loads but more immune activation and long-term health issues on therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11133075 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will use blood samples from men and women recently infected with subtype C HIV to compare immune cells and virus activity between sexes. They will use advanced single-cell methods (CITE-seq) and laboratory gene-editing tools (CRISPR) to study CD4+ T cells and the role of type I interferons and hormones. The team wants to understand why women show higher immune activation yet lower viral levels early on and why women experience more non-AIDS health problems while on antiretroviral therapy. Results aim to point toward ways to reduce harmful inflammation and tailor care for men and women.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are men and women with recent (acute) subtype C HIV infection, especially those enrolled in or able to join the affiliated Zambian cohort and willing to provide blood samples and clinical information.
Not a fit: People with other HIV subtypes, those with long-standing treated infection who cannot provide relevant acute-phase samples, or those unwilling to give blood samples are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to sex-tailored strategies to reduce immune-driven inflammation and improve long-term health for people with subtype C HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work has documented sex differences in immune activation and viral load, but using single-cell CITE-seq combined with CRISPR to pinpoint mechanisms in subtype C infection is a relatively new and exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunter, Eric — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Hunter, Eric
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.