How CMV in the gut may worsen gut damage and immune problems in people with HIV
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), the gut barrier and immune dysfunction in HIV
This project looks at whether cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the gut causes ongoing gut leakiness and immune activation in people living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11373331 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will examine colorectal tissue and blood from people with HIV in the SCOPE cohort to measure CMV-specific immune responses and signs of gut barrier damage. They will use a rhesus macaque model to study how CMV-infected gut cells and dendritic cells interact with T cells. The project will also analyze samples from a linked clinical trial where participants receive the anti-CMV drug letermovir to see if lowering CMV reduces markers of microbial translocation and immune activation. Together, the lab work, animal studies, and clinical samples aim to connect CMV activity in the gut with persistent inflammation in treated HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who are on stable antiretroviral therapy and willing to provide blood and gut tissue samples or to join a CMV-suppression trial would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those unwilling or unable to provide gut biopsy samples are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to treatments that reduce gut inflammation and chronic immune activation in people living with HIV, potentially improving long-term health.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research links CMV to immune activation and letermovir effectively suppresses CMV in other populations, but using CMV suppression to improve gut barrier function in treated HIV is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shacklett, Barbara L. — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Shacklett, Barbara L.
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.