Grant: Catalyst Grant: Innovation in HIV Vaccine and HIV Cure Research

Failure of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to eradicate or cure HIV, even in patients who suppress the virus to undetectable levels for many years, underscores the problem associated with long-term control of this infection. The existence of persistent infection in some infected immune CD4 cells and in special anatomical body parts appears to be the major limitation for HIV eradication. The human testicular tissue represents a distinctive site due to a special immune defense and a special concentration for antiretroviral medication. To better understand persistence of HIV in human testicular tissue we plan to collect testis following transgender surgery in HIV infected persons. We will compare the persistence of HIV in CD4 T cells collected in the blood and in the testicular tissues and we will also assess the antiretroviral concentration in the two compartments. The expected results will be to better understand the distinctive characteristic of persistence of HIV in human testis that will pave the way for future eradication strategy.