Why some newborns treated right after birth can later control HIV without ongoing medicine
Virologic Determinants of Very Early Antiretroviral Treatment Responses of Infants with in utero HIV-1
Testing whether specific viral features explain why a small number of babies with in utero HIV who start treatment immediately after birth can keep the virus under control without ongoing ART.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11322066 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use blood and proviral DNA from infants in the IMPAACT P1115 group who were infected before birth and began ART very early. They will make lab copies of each baby's virus from key HIV genes and measure how well those viruses grow and how resistant they are to interferon in both standard cell lines and primary CD4+ immune cells. The lab results will be compared with early-life markers like blood viral load, cell-associated HIV DNA levels, and the infant's sex to look for viral traits linked to long-term control without medicines. This work analyzes stored samples and lab-grown viruses rather than testing new treatments in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Infants diagnosed with HIV acquired before birth who started antiretroviral therapy immediately after delivery and who have available blood or DNA samples (for example, participants in IMPAACT P1115).
Not a fit: Adults, people who acquired HIV after birth, or infants who began ART later are unlikely to be included or to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify viral markers that predict which newborns might later control HIV without lifelong ART and help guide targeted cure strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Clinical observations, including cases from IMPAACT P1115 and other cohorts, have reported a few infants with sustained ART-free control and suggest viral and sex-related differences, but this detailed cloning and interferon-resistance testing approach is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Persaud, Deborah — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Persaud, Deborah
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.