Slow Disease Progression in HIV-1 and HIV-2 Infection

M. Juliana McElrath, MD, PhD (PI, RO1)

This project involves a longitudinal study of HIV-1 infected patients designated long-term non-progressors who are followed at the HIV-1 Vaccine Trials Unit.   About 5% of individuals with HIV-1 infection demonstrate remarkable control of infection and over more than 15 years have not shown disease progression.   Their CD4+ T cell counts have remained stable and their viral loads in some cases are undetectable.   Other patients who exhibit slow disease progression are the majority infected with HIV-2.   A cohort study is underway in Dakar, Senegal, in collaboration with Dr. Nancy Kiviat, to understand the role of immunity in slowing disease progression.

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Publications:

N. Russell, M. Hudgens, R. Ha, C. Havenar-Daughton, and M.J. McElrath .   Moving to HIV vaccine efficacy trials: defining T cell responses as potential correlates of immunity.   In press, J Infect. Dis.

L. Musey, Y. Ding, J. Cao, J. Lee, C. Galloway, A. Yuen, K.R. Jerome and M.J. McElrath .   Ontogeny and specificities of mucosal and blood HIV-1-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes.   J. Virology.   77:291-300, 2003.