The lack of understanding of the correlates of protection may lie, at least partially, in the fact that historically virus-host interactions have not been studied interactively, but rather by focusing on a single side of the equation. The hypothesis of this study is built on the assumptions that viral mutational pathways in natural HIV-1 infection are restricted by the viral in vivo evolutionary space, and that viral evolutionary space within a given host is confined by a dynamic balance between immune responses and viral fitness. We hypothesize that comprehensive assessment of viral mutational pathways in the early phase of HIV-1 infection may help in formulating specific immunologic questions leading to thorough interactive analysis of virus-specific immune responses, and is likely to result in better understanding of HIV pathogenesis. Applying a novel approach of direct mapping of Gag mutations along the time line of HIV-1 infection, patterns of viral dynamics will be assessed with a particular focus on timing and relationships between different types of viral mutations, and will be translated to a series of specific immunologic hypotheses revealing the mechanisms of virus-host interactions.
Aim 1 : To identify and characterize HIV-1C Gag mutational pathways. To map time of appearance, dominance, and completeness (or transiency/loss) of viral mutations in HIV-1C Gag by utilizing prospective sample sets with estimated time of seroconversion and applying single-genome amplification/sequencing and ultra-deep sequencing (in a subset).
Aim 2 : To design a series of immunologically relevant hypotheses focusing on the dynamic interactions between immune responses and viral mutational pathways. The specific immunologic questions will be addressed based on actual mutational pathways, and therefore, will improve existing methods of assessing virus-specific T cell responses in primary HIV infection, and will help to explore correlates and mechanisms of immune protection in future studies. The proposed study will reveal early evolutionary dynamics of host-virus interactions, and will likely enable better immunogen design.

Public Health Relevance

The lack of understanding of the correlates of protection may lie, at least partially, in the fact that historically virus-host interactions have not been studied interactively, but rather by focusing on a single side of the equation. The study will apply a novel approach of direct mapping of Gag mutations along the time line of HIV-1 infection, and will asses patterns of viral dynamics with a particular focus on timing and relationships between different types of viral mutations. Results will be translated to a series of specific immunologic hypotheses revealing the mechanisms of virus-host interactions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21AI087493-01A1
Application #
7927933
Study Section
AIDS Molecular and Cellular Biology Study Section (AMCB)
Program Officer
Sharma, Opendra K
Project Start
2010-05-15
Project End
2012-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-15
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$239,535
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
149617367
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Novitsky, Vlad; Wang, Rui; Rossenkhan, Raabya et al. (2013) Intra-host evolutionary rates in HIV-1C env and gag during primary infection. Infect Genet Evol 19:361-8
Novitsky, Vladimir; Wang, Rui; Baca, Jeannie et al. (2011) Evolutionary gamut of in vivo Gag substitutions during early HIV-1 subtype C infection. Virology 421:119-28