Why some HIV-infected cells hide and how to help the immune system kill them
Identifying Roadblocks to Antigen Expression and Enhancing Killing of HIV-Infected Cells That Are Refractory to Clearance
Researchers are looking into why some HIV-infected cells hide from immune cells and trying ways to help the immune system find and destroy those hidden cells in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11289440 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project compares two kinds of long-lived HIV-infected cells: those infected early in untreated infection and those infected near the time people started HIV treatment, to see why some cells avoid detection. The team studies blood and tissue samples from people with HIV and looks at genetic and epigenetic marks that control whether infected cells show viral proteins. Lab tests measure how well T cells recognize and kill these infected cells and whether changing antigen expression makes resistant cells vulnerable. The goal is to identify biological barriers and approaches that could make hidden HIV-infected cells easier for the immune system to clear.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults living with HIV who can provide blood or tissue samples and have known timing of infection or stable antiretroviral therapy.
Not a fit: People who do not have HIV or who cannot or will not provide the required samples or clinic visits are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to therapies that shrink the long-lived HIV reservoir and bring us closer to a durable cure.
How similar studies have performed: Previous efforts to expose hidden HIV and boost immune clearance have shown promising but mixed results, and many reservoir cells remain resistant, so this work builds on those findings.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Joseph, Sarah Beth — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Joseph, Sarah Beth
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.