Understanding gut microbes and immunity in infants exposed to HIV
Identifying inter-kingdom microbial determinants of altered immunity in HIV exposed infants
This project looks at how tiny living things in the gut, like bacteria and viruses, affect the immune system of babies born to mothers with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192387 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Babies born to mothers with HIV often have weaker immune systems and don't respond as well to vaccines, even if they don't get HIV themselves. We believe that the mix of bacteria and viruses in their gut might play a big role in how their immune system develops. This project will follow a group of these infants and compare them to babies not exposed to HIV, collecting samples over time. By studying their gut bacteria, viruses, and how their immune cells react to vaccines, we hope to find connections that explain these differences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research would be infants born to mothers with HIV and infants born to mothers without HIV, participating in a longitudinal cohort.
Not a fit: Patients who are not infants or are not part of a cohort studying early life immune development in the context of HIV exposure would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to boost the immune systems of HIV-exposed infants, helping them fight off infections and respond better to vaccines.
How similar studies have performed: While the role of gut microbiota in immunity is well-established, the specific association between the infant enteric virome and cellular responses to vaccination in HIV-exposed infants is a novel area of exploration.
Where this research is happening
Riverside, United States
- University of California Riverside — Riverside, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Bryan P — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Brown, Bryan P
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.