Search Abstracts

Background It remains unclear how HIV transcription varies with timing of ART initiation, duration of ART, and elite controller status. Methods To investigate these questions, we performed a blinded, cross-sectional analysis of 98 PBMC samples from 36 Reservoir Assay Validation and Evaluation Network (RAVEN) program participants, including 4 ART-naïve elite controllers and 32 ART-suppressed participants with HIV…

Background The combination of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and checkpoint receptor blockade may be an attractive strategy and to enhance immune responses, reduce persistent reservoirs and promote control of viral replication in people living with HIV-1 (PWH). Expression of inhibitory receptors TIGIT and KLRG1 has been linked to dysfunctional natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells,…

Background The HIV-1 Nef has been shown to alter MHC-1 presentation on infected T cells, and infection of cell lines suggest upregulation of non-canonical HLA-E may be advantageous for Natural Killer (NK) cell evasion. Conflicting clinical reports leave the role of NK cells in infection control unclear. True mechanistic understanding of HIV replication and control…

Background In the RV550 clinical trial, we hypothesized that IL-15 superagonist N-803 administration with ART during acute HIV infection (AHI) would limit HIV reservoir establishment and persistence. Here, we characterized the effects of N-803 on T cells and NK cells in peripheral blood (PBMC) and lymph nodes (LN). Methods Participants with AHI (Fiebig I-IV) were…

Background Natural Killer (NK) cells are underappreciated regulators of the antibody response to infection. In mice, NK cells can kill T follicular helper cells which decreases somatic hypermutation and vaccine response. In the context of HIV, dysfunctional NK cells are associated with broadly neutralizing antibodies. Understanding the temporal immune factors that influence breadth is an…

Background For most people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART), cessation of ART results in rapid rebound of viremia. However, in rare individuals, called post-treatment controllers (PTCs), HIV is controlled through poorly understood mechanisms. The objective of this study was to leverage multiomics single-cell sequencing approaches to assess the extent to which the transcriptomic and epigenetic features…

Background Acute SARS-CoV-2 infections are mostly cleared within a few days but can become chronic in immunocompromised individuals. Impaired immune clearance is also thought to be a major factor in the evolution of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern(VOC). However, it is unclear how intra-host variation accumulates over the course of very long-term chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection,…

Background Respiratory co-infections caused by HRSV and SARS-CoV-2 often result in severe respiratory disease, but the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Using an in vitro model of HRSV/SARS-CoV-2 co-infection, we investigated how individual cells respond to simultaneous or single infections, providing insights into synergistic/antagonistic viral interactions. Methods Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of the…

Background Although documented, the mutational dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised patients remain relatively understudied. This study examined a cohort of immunocompromised patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection to assess the distinct evolutionary trajectories of SARS-CoV-2 in these individuals compared to their immunocompetent counterparts. We compared the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 between these groups over time. Methods…

Background Genomic sequencing plays an essential role in the ongoing monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 genome evolution, as phylogenetic analyses can identify genomic signatures of circulating strains, thus helping to track transmission or spreading events. By understanding the spread of SARS-CoV-2, public health strategies can be deployed (at various levels) to reduce new infections and mitigate the…