Grant: Operating Grant

The ultimate solution to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, still, one of the greatest health issues facing humankind, is the development of an effective vaccine or microbicide. Almost all vaccines were derived out of an understanding, no matter how primitive, of what results in protective immunity. We seek to understand the mechanisms of natural protection against HIV in women who are highly exposed to HIV yet escape infection. Our earlier genetic studies showed that these HIV resistant women have reduced IRF1 expression in their blood cells. IRF-1 is an important regulator of human immunity and HIV replication. To determine how IRF1 works in in protecting against HIV infection, this study will examine how artificially reducing IRF1 levels in cells and tissue from the female genital tract will limit HIV infection, and/or alter host immune responses at this site. Findings from this study will generate new knowledge to determine if specifically reducing IRF1 will protect against HIV infection and if artificially reducing IRF1 could lead to the eventual development of an effective HIV vaccine, microbicide or novel prevention strategy.