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COMPLETED PROJECT
1. Molecular Epidemiology of HIV in STD patients and IVDUs in India
Principal Investigator : Dr. R.S.Paranjape, Director
Category: Basic Science
Funding agency: National Institutes of Health of the US Government
Budget: $ 50,000 / yr
Total duration: Three years
Study Initiation: 2005
Objectives of the study:
National AIDS Research Institute, Pune
National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai
Regional Medical Research Center, Dibrugarh
Brief Description:
HIV epidemic is characterized by evolution of HIV-1 subtypes, Circulating Recombinant Forms(CRF) and Unique recombinant forms. Many countries have seen emergence of recombinant viruses (CRFs and URFs) forming more than 50% circulating virus strains. India has seen spread of HIV-1 subtype C. Majority of circulating viruses in India belong to subtype C. First recombinant virus was reported by us in 1998. Subsequently a modest number of recombinant viruses have been reported from India.(Ref).
The surveillance of circulating viruses for emergence of recombinant forms is essential as they may influence the development of vaccine, influence the biologic characteristics of the virus and impact anti-HIV drug resistance.
Hence, this proposal aims at understanding the molecular epidemiology of recently transmitted HIV viruses circulating in diverse risk groups and geographic regions in India.
Objectives of the study:
To identify incident infections among Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) clinic attendees and Intra-venous drug users (IVDU) from Pune, Chennai and Notheastern states. To undertake detailed molecular epidemiologic studies to characterize the viruses circulating in these areas. To undertake full-length analysis of incident infections to understand the complexity and distribution of subtypes and recombinant strains. Current status:
Around 9000 STD patients and Intravenous drug users were enrolled in the study and the individuals with recent HIV infection are being identified using BED Capture Assay Multi-Region Hybridization Assay has been standardization for detection of recombinant viruses from whole blood, plasma and being standardized for dried blood spots.
2. Immunological and virological characterization of early HIV infection
Principal Investigator: Dr. Madhuri Thakar, Scientist D
Brief Description:
In the absence of curative anti-HIV treatment and sustainable behavioral interventions, vaccine would be an ideal tool to curtail the HIV epidemic as a public health measure.
However, there is not much data available on HIV-1 C infection in India. Also there are very limited HIV-1 subtype C candidates available for clinical trials. Those that are available for clinical trials are constructed on the empirical selection of the genes and virus strains included in the vaccine. Identifying the determinants of slower disease would provide rational basis for vaccine design.
The study was proposed with the following objectives:
To identify Innate and HIV-specific immune responses associated with low viral set point. To characterize the viral factors associated with low viral set points. To develop a repository of EBV transformed Cell lines to study host genetic factors in future and to develop a repository of plasma and serum samples.
Principal Investigator: Dr. R.S.Paranjape, Director
Brief Description:
The project for Development of Candidate Vaccine based on Multi CTL Epitopes for Gag and Envelope Antigen was funded by DBT. The construct is developed based on CTL epitopes identified in HIV infected patients correlating with slower disease progression. The construct contains sequences coding for 11 CTL epitopes form Gag, 7 epitopes from Nef and one epitope from Env along with one murine epitope. The construct is tested in vitro using DC model and is found to be immunogenic. At present the construct is being tested in BALB/c mice along with IL-12 construct used as an adjuvant.