# Expression of CircRNAs in HIV infection and latency

> **NIH NIH R21** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2021 · $211,875

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single stranded covalently closed RNAs, which lack the classical characteristics
of linear mRNA such as 5’ cap and 3’ poly-A tails. CircRNAs expression patterns are sensitive to viral infection
and cell division rates, which allows us to propose the hypothesis that circRNAs might be involved in infection
and latency state of HIV-1. HIV-1 is still one of the world’s most significant infectious diseases and, despite the
vast attempts, its cure has not been found. Most of the transcriptomic studies in HIV-1 have been focused on
RNA species, like messengers RNAs or micro RNA but the expression of circRNAs during early and late stages
of infections in addition to their response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains unknown. Furthermore, the
major barrier impeding HIV-1 eradication is a small reservoir of latently infected resting T-cells that persist after
ART and can spawn new waves of infection. CircRNAs could serve as biomarkers for latent HIV-1 cells or could
be important in processes of HIV-1 reactivation, for the kick and kill or block and lock HIV-1 eradication strategy.
Here we will identify circRNAs implicated in early and late stages of HIV-1 infection in addition to the role of
circRNAs involved in latency. Additionally, the effect of several ARTs and latency reversal agents on the
expression of circRNAs will be explored. As preliminary results, we have analyzed data from two different time
points during HIV-1 infection and from an in vitro HIV-1 latency model. The results on the time after HIV-1
infection showed differences of circRNA expression through time. On the other hand, the results of the in vitro
HIV-1 latency model showed a significant downregulation of circRNAs after latency reactivation, and two
circRNAs as potential biomarkers of HIV-1 latent cell. Results will increase the knowledge on HIV-1 viral infection
and innate immune response to it. Additionally, circRNAs might point to the identification of novel cellular RNAs
targets for discovery or design interventions that control HIV-1 infection and latency.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10239083
- **Project number:** 5R21AI152929-02
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Miguel De Mulder Rougvie
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $211,875
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-08-14 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10239083

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10239083, Expression of CircRNAs in HIV infection and latency (5R21AI152929-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10239083. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*