This project consists of two protocols to collect human blood samples for research studies and to validate research assays used in evaluation of clinical trials immunogenicity results. VRC PAN allows collection of oral swabs, urine samples and blood samples through normal phlebotomy, while VRC 200 allows collection of plasma and blood cell samples by apheresis. The VRC is using the samples for several types of research, including to study specific immune responses to HIV infection in order to characterize protective responses that can prevent new infection in uninfected individuals, as well as define those responses that lead to successful control of viral replication in persons already infected with HIV. Because of the lack of an adequate animal model it is necessary to use human peripheral blood cells. We wish to define the specific human immune responses to HIV infection using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as a model. These sample collection protocols also support VRC research on other pathogens and vaccines.
| Precopio, Melissa L; Betts, Michael R; Parrino, Janie et al. (2007) Immunization with vaccinia virus induces polyfunctional and phenotypically distinctive CD8(+) T cell responses. J Exp Med 204:1405-16 |
| Heraud, Jean-Michel; Edghill-Smith, Yvette; Ayala, Victor et al. (2006) Subunit recombinant vaccine protects against monkeypox. J Immunol 177:2552-64 |
| Khurana, Surender; Needham, James; Mathieson, Bonnie et al. (2006) Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine trials: a novel assay for differential diagnosis of HIV infections in the face of vaccine-generated antibodies. J Virol 80:2092-9 |
