Resource type
Thesis type
(Thesis) M.Sc.
Date created
2018-12-07
Authors/Contributors
Author: Omondi, Fredrick
Abstract
The HIV accessory protein Nef is genetically diverse and modulates key immune evasion and pathogenic functions. Recent early HIV-specific adaptive immune responses were identified as correlates of HIV reservoir size. So, we hypothesized that viral factors facilitating evasion of such responses might also influence reservoir establishment and/or persistence. Plasma HIV RNA-derived nef clones were isolated from 30 acute/early-infected individuals and assessed for their CD4 and HLA-I downregulation function in vitro. We explored the relationships between baseline clinical, immunologic and virologic characteristics, and HIV reservoir size measured 48 weeks following initiation of suppressive cART. Nef-mediated HLA downregulation correlated positively with reservoir size. Furthermore, this function was retained in final multivariable models adjusting for established clinical and immunologic correlates of reservoir size. HIV subtype B infection also emerged as a significant correlate of reservoir size on cART. Results highlight potentially important role of viral factors in modulating viral reservoir establishment and persistence.
Document
Identifier
etd19985
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author.
Scholarly level
Supervisor or Senior Supervisor
Thesis advisor: Brumme, Zabrina
Member of collection
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