Non‑B HIV subtypes and second‑line protease inhibitor treatment in Africa
Impact of Non - B HIV - 1 Subtype on second line Protease Inhibitor Regimens in Africa (INSPIRE)
This research looks at whether certain non‑B types of HIV common in Africa make second‑line protease inhibitor treatments less effective for people whose first HIV drugs stopped working.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11026402 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will compare virus genes (env and gag) from people in Africa whose second‑line protease inhibitor treatment failed to see if there are mutations linked to resistance. They will put those viral gene changes into lab viruses to test how well the virus spreads between cells and how it responds to different protease inhibitors and to dolutegravir. The team will focus on non‑B subtypes like CRF02_AG and subtype G that are common in parts of Africa and link lab findings to patients' treatment records and viral loads. The aim is to find viral markers that help explain treatment failure and could guide better drug choices.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with HIV who have experienced virologic failure (high viral load) while on second‑line protease inhibitor regimens, especially those infected with non‑B subtypes common in Africa, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients doing well on first‑line therapy or whose virus carries classical protease resistance mutations may not get direct benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians identify when second‑line protease inhibitor regimens are unlikely to work and choose more effective treatments sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Clinical reports and some lab work have suggested resistance can arise without protease mutations, but demonstrating Env/Gag‑driven resistance is relatively new and still being validated.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ndembi, Nicaise — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Ndembi, Nicaise
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.