CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HIV-1 PROVIRAL LANDSCAPE IN PERINATALLY INFECTED EARLY TREATED CHILDREN ON LONG-TERM ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY
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Date
2022
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Hood College Biomedical Science
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CC0 1.0 Universal
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevents disease progression in people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (PLWH). However, off-target effects can result in liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, and more, and there is no accessible cure for the virus. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms for HIV persistence on ART is important to inform strategies for the development of future potential curative inventions. Studies investigating the genetics of integrated HIV genomes (proviruses) in adults revealed the sources of low-level viremia and informed new targets for possible curative strategies. However, little is known about the effect of HIV and long-term ART on the developing immune systems of infants and children. Differences between the immune systems of adults and children may influence mechanisms of viral persistence and immune control, which may be reflected by differences in the HIV proviral genetics. The aim of this thesis research was to characterize the HIV proviral genetic landscape in children on long-term ART and compare it to infants on short-term ART, children on short-term ART, and adults on long-term ART to elucidate any potential differences in the proviral populations that may inform new targets for future cure interventions.