How HIV and malaria together weaken immune defenses during pregnancy
Mechanisms of innate immune dysfunction in SIV/malaria co-infection in pregnancy
Researchers are looking at how an HIV-like infection and malaria during pregnancy change immune cells in pregnant monkeys to learn ways to better protect mothers and their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140376 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses pregnant rhesus macaques infected with SIV (the monkey equivalent of HIV) and a simian malaria parasite to model co-infection during pregnancy. Researchers will follow immune cells in the blood and placenta, focusing on neutrophils and innate lymphoid cells, to see how co-infection alters immune responses. Lab tests will include tissue analysis, cell profiling, and functional assays to map the pathways that lead to poor birth outcomes. The goal is to identify targets that could guide safer, more effective treatments for pregnant people living with HIV in malaria-prone areas.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people living with HIV in malaria-endemic regions would be the group most likely to benefit from the findings and from related future clinical trials.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, do not have HIV, or live in areas without malaria are unlikely to see direct benefits in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new treatments that reduce illness and death for pregnant people with HIV who get malaria and improve outcomes for their babies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and observational human studies have noted immune changes with HIV and malaria co-infection, but targeted therapies for pregnant people with HIV remain limited, making this mechanistic approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New Orleans, United States
- Tulane University of Louisiana — New Orleans, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manuzak, Jennifer — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Manuzak, Jennifer
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.