Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

It is well documented that not everyone who becomes infected with the HIV virus mounts the same immune response against it. Some people are more susceptible to infection, while others progress more slowly once infected. Variation in immune-related genes has been shown to affect many attributes of the immune system's response to HIV, and studying these genes can give great insight into new ways to combat the virus. This project involves studying naturally occurring variants of a signaling gene called GNB3 and its effects on HIV disease progression. In a cohort of African women, where the variant gene is most common, HIV positive patients with the gene variant show delayed disease progression. We are interested in further determining what effects this gene may have on HIV infection and understanding the mechanism of its action. The project will investigate whether the GNB3 gene variants affect viral load in mothers as well as mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breastmilk. We will also use cell models to determine exactly how GNB3 and cell signaling affect HIV replication in immune cells. By understanding how this signaling gene can alter HIV infection and replication, we may be able to identify new targets for antiviral drugs. It will also allow us to understand the factors that contribute to differences in HIV spread in various populations where the gene variants are more or less common. Overall, this project will increase our understanding of HIV disease progression and may contribute to our ability to treat HIV infect patients.