Current Organisation

University of the Witwatersrand

Current Job Title

Senior Researcher

Biography

Publications

Project Title

Innate Immunological Mechanisms of Control and Factors Driving Inflammation in HIV Controllers from a high incidence setting in South Africa-Prospects for HIV Cure

EDCTP Project Call

Senior Fellowship (SF)

Host Organisation

Project Objectives

1. To assess monocyte phenotype, immunometabolism and pro-inflammatory function of antigen presenting cells (monocytes and DCs) in HIV controllers vs other HIV infected groups. 2. To identify unique phenotypic profiles of monocytes and dendritic cell subsets in HIV controllers and other HIV groups. 3. To assess NK cell frequency, phenotype, nutrient transporter profiles and function in HIV controllers compared to treated and non-treated HIV infected individuals.

Study Design

Observational study

Project Summary

HIV controllers are a unique group of individuals who exhibit spontaneous control of HIV and thus provide proof of concept that HIV functional cure is possible; however, genetic and immunological mechanisms described so far do not fully explain this rare phenotype. Despite universal antiretroviral therapy in most countries, including South Africa, most HIV infected individuals opt out of initiating treatment, and it is possible that most of the untreated populations include HIV controllers. Most interestingly, these individuals have high levels of inflammation despite low or undetectable viral loads and are thus at risk of non-AIDS related malignancies. Some reports suggest that non-AIDS co-morbidities in HIV infected individuals result in part from the effects of HIV on the innate compartment; however, very little is known about the cause of these conditions in Africans, a population mostly affected by the HIV epidemic. Our study aims to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the innate immune compartment of HIV controllers compared to healthy individuals and other HIV infected groups from South Africa and will provide novel features of persistent inflammation, activation and function that will distinguish controllers from other HIV infected and uninfected groups.