How HIV-related vaginal viruses may affect early births in pregnant South African women
Influence of HIV infection on vaginal virome and risk of preterm birth in pregnant South African women
This work looks at whether differences in vaginal viruses in pregnant women with HIV help explain their higher chances of having a preterm birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176710 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to provide vaginal swabs and health information during pregnancy so the team can compare the types and amounts of viruses in the vagina of women with and without HIV. The researchers will sequence viral and bacterial genetic material, measure signs of inflammation, and track pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth. They will also compare women on different antiretroviral treatments to see if medications or HIV itself relate to viral changes and birth risk. The goal is to connect viral patterns to early labor and point to ways to lower preterm birth risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant women in the study region (South Africa) both living with HIV and without HIV who are willing to provide vaginal samples and pregnancy outcome information.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or who live outside the study sites in South Africa would not be eligible and are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify viral or inflammatory targets that lead to new strategies to reduce preterm births among pregnant women with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked changes in vaginal bacteria and the gut virome to preterm birth and HIV-related inflammation, but examining the vaginal virome specifically in pregnant women with HIV is largely new.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jaspan, Heather Beryl — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Jaspan, Heather Beryl
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.