How HIV hides in immune cells and how virus levels fall with treatment
Understanding reservoir dynamics through analysis of viral decay processes
Researchers are looking at how infected CD4 immune cells change and disappear during antiretroviral treatment to better understand the hidden HIV reservoir in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322123 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You may be asked to provide blood samples so scientists can look at individual CD4 T cells and measure which cells are producing virus and which enter a long-lived, hidden state. The team will use high-resolution single-cell laboratory methods and compare findings with animal-model data to map the processes that create the reservoir. By tracking how virus levels drop in different cell types after treatment starts, they hope to identify which infected cells die quickly and which persist. This work aims to reveal the cellular origins of the persistent reservoir that prevents cure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people living with HIV who can provide blood samples, especially those starting or already on antiretroviral therapy and willing to participate in laboratory-focused research.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those hoping for immediate changes to their clinical care are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific cell types or processes to target in future therapies aimed at reducing or eliminating the HIV reservoir.
How similar studies have performed: Past landmark work defined the biphasic viral decay and the long-lived latent reservoir, but applying single-cell viral-decay analysis to map reservoir formation is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Siliciano, Robert F — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Siliciano, Robert F
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.