Immunological analysis of an acute HIV-1 Infection cohort
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study involving the immunological analysis of an acute HIV-1 Infection cohort to determine characteristics of host acquired and innate immune responses that contribute to virus control in acute HIV-1 infection
IRAS ID
164311
Contact name
Xiao-Ning Xu
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study will collect information on the immune system’s response to early HIV infection, and how it behaves to try and control HIV. The immune system’s first response to early HIV infection may be important in the development of disease. Understanding early HIV is difficult as it is not always apparent, limiting opportunities to obtain blood tests within the first few weeks of infection.
Recent studies suggest one fifth of HIV patients make antibodies (proteins of the immune system which prevent or fight viral infection) against HIV. Unfortunately, this occurs 2-3 years after initial infection. Some immune responses may eventually control or stop infection. Discovering how the immune system makes these antibodies is important, as better understanding could lead to vaccines to prevent HIV infection or treatments to try and cure the virus.
We wish to explore which kinds of immune cells (T and B lymphocytes) are involved in making protective antibodies against HIV. By using new ways to find antibodies produced by the immune system, we wish to track the development of HIV antibodies over 2 years in patients with recent HIV infection, and to follow and examine co-infections including hepatitis C and other infections.
We plan to describe when the immune system makes antibodies to fight HIV, and identify which immune system components make protective HIV antibodies
High rates of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) occur in London and provision of sexual health services in Soho led to a significant increase in diagnosis of acute HIV infection at the Dean Street Clinic. The formation of an acute HIV cohort at Dean Street provides opportunity to analyse early immune responses to HIV.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/2058
Date of REC Opinion
17 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion