Funding outcome

The spread of Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) from a mother to her child during pregnancy is the most common manner by which children get HIV. Although there is currently no cure for HIV, the use of HIV drugs has significantly prolonged the life of infected individuals and decreased the spread of the virus. However, long term complications are emerging even after taking HIV drugs. Molecules that are expressed during infection still persist in HIV infected individuals despite being on these drugs. These factors are thought to contribute to heart disease, yet there is still much about HIV infection that remains unclear. While many research studies have been published on these molecules and their link with HIV disease activity in adults, data on HIV-infected children are limited. If we can measure and detect these molecules, we can learn more about additional health complications that may arise in HIV-infected infants and children despite suppression of the infection by HIV drugs. The project will be examining blood samples that have been collected from CIHR-funded Early Pediatric InitiationCanadian Child Cure Cohort Study (EPIC, principal investigator Hugo Soudeyns). Molecules that are expressed during an infection will be measured using a quantitative specific protein test known as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA}. Our immune system is responsible for_fighting off infections, and is constantly changing over time. This make HIV-1 infected children an intriguing group because we still do not know much about HIV in children. By looking specifically at how the body reacts to an HIV infection, we may better understand how the immune system of children reacts to chronic HIV-1 infection and advance the pediatric 'cure' research agenda.