This application represents an international extension of our existing United States based NIAID DAIDS Immunology Quality Assurance Program (N01-AI-95356 PI: Thomas N. Denny). Through the AIDS-FRICA we seek to establish a new collaboration with Dr. Serge Diabouga of the HIV/AIDS Centre Muraz located in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. In recent years, significant efforts to make HIV antiretroviral drugs more affordable and available to poor countries has resulted in a decrease in both morbidity and mortality, reflecting the successes seen in developed countries with the use of HAART. At the same time, however, other factors that limit use of these drugs have evolved and this includes the ability to provide immunologic (CD4) or virologic (RNA PCR) monitoring in HIV/AIDS patients. Recently, promising alternative technology tests (Coulter Cytosphere and Dynal Dynabead) were developed and many consider them appropriate for further site-specific use evaluation. Through this AIDS-FRICA we propose the following: 1) To assess and validate in Burkina Faso the Coulter CD4 Cytosphere Assay; 2) To determine site specific and age-associated reference ranges for CD4; 3) To determine Burkina-Faso clinical utility/guidelines of technologies or laboratory tests that progress through objectives 1 and 2. Replicate tests will be performed to determine coefficient of variation for multiple laboratory staff performing the CD4 assessments. The NJ and Burkina Faso research teams are well suited and experienced to take on this project and the proposed work scope. Through the work proposed in this application, we plan to address issues related to research and training, to improve upon the overall immunologic and/or virologic laboratory capabilities while strengthening available human resources in Burkina Faso and improving care for the community at large in this resource poor nation.
| Giorgi, E E; Bhattacharya, T (2012) A note on two-sample tests for comparing intra-individual genetic sequence diversity between populations. Biometrics 68:1323-6; author reply 1326 |
| Yates, Nicole L; Lucas, Judith T; Nolen, Tracy L et al. (2011) Multiple HIV-1-specific IgG3 responses decline during acute HIV-1: implications for detection of incident HIV infection. AIDS 25:2089-97 |
| Shen, Xiaoying; Tomaras, Georgia D (2011) Alterations of the B-cell response by HIV-1 replication. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 8:23-30 |
