# Reservoir modulation by Nef and anti-nef CTL

> **NIH NIH R21** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2021 · $212,500

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
HIV has proven remarkably adept and avoiding nearly all attempts at a cure, with one and possibly two
individuals to date having been successfully cured. More and better ideas are needed to develop novel cure
strategies. The creation of these strategies relies on a far better understanding of the host and viral factors that
dictate reservoir size, location, and evasion of immune responses and therapeutics. Here, we will assess the
importance of the viral Nef protein in establishment and maintenance of the SIV reservoir in SIV infected
macaques. In Aim 1, we will use a cell culture model of SIV latency to assess whether variants of Nef are
better or worse at protecting latently infected cells from antiviral immune responses. In Aim 2, we will infect
macaques with Nef mutant viruses or wild type, place the animals on suppressive cART therapy, and
comprehensively assess the reservoir, in terms of size, location, viral expression and viral sequence evolution.
These studies will be important in assessing whether novel therapeutics that target the Nef protein (either via
vaccination or pharmacological) might be fruitful in eradication strategies moving forward.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10261352
- **Project number:** 5R21AI150413-02
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Nicholas James Maness
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $212,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-11 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10261352

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10261352, Reservoir modulation by Nef and anti-nef CTL (5R21AI150413-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10261352. Licensed CC0.

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