Pilot Award

Publications:

• PubMed# 18353945
• PubMed# 19109229

Publications:

• PubMed# 18645515
• PubMed# 19048109
• PubMed# 18945778
• PubMed# 19381272
• PubMed# 18677022
• PubMed# 18376407

Almost half of the human genome is composed of transposable retroelements. These include human endogenous retroviruses (HERV), which are thought to be remnants or fossils of ancient viral infections. Previously, we have identified HERV-specific CD8+ T cell responses in HIV-1 infected adults. For some HIV-1-positive individuals, the strength of their responses against HERV was associated with lower HIV-1 viral loads, suggesting that these responses contribute to immune containment of HIV. However, nothing is known about HERV-specific CD4+ T cell responses.

Almost half of the human genome is composed of transposable retroelements. These include human endogenous retroviruses (HERV), which are thought to be remnants or fossils of ancient viral infections. Previously, we have identified HERV-specific CD8+ T cell responses in HIV-1 infected adults. For some HIV-1-positive individuals, the strength of their responses against HERV was associated with lower HIV-1 viral loads, suggesting that these responses contribute to immune containment of HIV. However, nothing is known about HERV-specific CD4+ T cell responses.

In recent years the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in developed countries has declined to less than 1%. This success is due to the implementation of a package of interventions including universal HIV screening in pregnancy, provision of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to HIV-infected pregnant women, antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis for the infant during the first 6 weeks of life and avoidance of breastfeeding. In resource-limited countries however, vertical transmission rates can be as high as 35-40% in untreated breastfeeding populations.

Research on the role of migration in the spread of HIV/AIDS has almost exclusively focused on male labor migration patterns, finding migration to be a risk factor for men and their non-migrant partners, yet neglecting to measure the HIV risks of migration for women. Moreover, the very manner in which migration is conventionally studied is shaped by the paradigm of male labor migration, and thus fails to capture the complexity of women's mobility in sub-Saharan Africa today.

In recent years the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in developed countries has declined to less than 1%. This success is due to the implementation of a package of interventions including universal HIV screening in pregnancy, provision of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to HIV-infected pregnant women, antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis for the infant during the first 6 weeks of life and avoidance of breastfeeding. In resource-limited countries however, vertical transmission rates can be as high as 35-40% in untreated breastfeeding populations.