# The origin, predictors, and immune correlates of viral rebound in orally SHIV infected infant monkeys

> **NIH NIH P01** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2021 · $1,438,174

## Abstract

ABSTRACT – Overall (Sallie Permar, PI; Duke University)
Almost 2 million children are infected with HIV worldwide, and every year more than 150,000 new pediatric HIV
infections occur. Postnatal breast milk transmission accounts for at least half of these new infections. Current
standard of care commits HIV-infected children to lifelong, daily antiretroviral treatment (ART). A cure is
needed to provide HIV-infected children a life without the medical complications, pharmacological burden, and
social stigma associated with HIV-1 infection. While early initiation of ART leads to prolonged virus
suppression, the virus rebounds after treatment cessation due to the persistence of virus reservoirs. However,
there is hope that strategies to reduce or eliminate virus reservoirs could lead to long-term remission, as
demonstrated by the over two-year ART-free remission that was demonstrated in the case known as `the
Mississippi baby'. Using a highly relevant animal model, the overall goal of our Program is to define the origin,
kinetics, and predictors of viral rebound in postnatally-infected infants, as well as assess the potential impact of
immune-based interventions to eradicate pediatric HIV reservoirs. Our central hypothesis is that the origin
and kinetics of viral rebound in postnatally infected infants can be predicted through biomarker measurement
(Project 1) and can be extended through the enhancement of antiviral humoral and T cell immunity (Project 2).
Specifically, we will use a highly translational animal model of pediatric HIV infection and long-term ART
treatment to accomplish the following Specific Aims: 1) Define the origin, kinetics, and predictors of viral
rebound following long term ART treatment in our animal model of postnatal infection; 2) Define the impact of
passive immunization with broadly-neutralizing antibodies and T cell-based vaccine on viral rebound in our
animal model of postnatal infection; and 3) Develop a mathematical model that will define the primary
contributing factors and the potential efficacy of immune-based interventions on viral rebound following
postnatal infection. Successfully completed, this Program will use our highly translational animal model to
uniquely define the tissue origin, kinetics, and viral sequences of viral rebound, guiding development and
evaluation of pediatric-specific HIV cure strategies; define biomarkers that can be used to clinically predict viral
rebound; and evaluate the impact of immune-based interventions on viral rebound. Together, these results will
help guide the design of passive and active vaccine strategies to achieve long-term remission or cure in human
infants.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10194347
- **Project number:** 5P01AI131276-06
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Sallie R. Permar
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,438,174
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-24 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10194347

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10194347, The origin, predictors, and immune correlates of viral rebound in orally SHIV infected infant monkeys (5P01AI131276-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10194347. Licensed CC0.

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