Overview
Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is highly effective in reducing HIV present in the bloodstream of HIV-positive individuals to undetectable levels and preventing virus transmission to uninfected sexual partners. However, patients need to take ART every day for the rest of their lives; as soon as ART is stopped or interrupted, high levels of HIV in the bloodstream are quickly reestablished.
Evidence suggests that persistent viral infection of a subset of CD4 T cells contributes to an overall viral reservoir in HIV-positive individuals. This project leverages a similarity between the viral reservoir in humans with HIV and in monkeys infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)—the equivalent of HIV in nonhuman primates—to test a new approach to control virus levels over the long term. This project will examine the ability of engineered killer T cells to locate to particular tissues and specifically target and clear SIV-infected cells. In addition, this project will explore whether immune-modulating signals can be used to enhance antiviral activity in areas where immune activity is normally highly restricted. The project aims to demonstrate a proof-of-concept for therapeutic treatment regimen of HIV infection that may lessen or reduce the need for lifelong treatments.
Public-Sector Partner
Contact
David Brown, Director, Vaccine Discovery and Development, [email protected]
Rebeca Salmeron, Project Manager, [email protected]
Goals
Develop a more definitive treatment of HIV infection that may lessen the burden of lifelong treatment
Results & Accomplishments
Leidos received the project award and initiated Research efforts in September 2020. The project is now in early stages of testing the primary hypothesis.