# Role of eosinophils in SIV infection

> **NIH NIH R21** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $241,500

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Chronic HIV infection is associated with increased risk of co-morbidities including diabetes mellitus,
cardiovascular diseases, neuro-dysfunctions and cancer, due to the state of persistent inflammation
and immune dysfunction induced by the virus. Further, HIV causes gut leakage and intestinal
inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract of infected patients. Eosinophils are an important innate cell
subset that are highly enriched in small and large intestines with gut homeostatic functions, but their
role in mucosal viral infections have been mostly overlooked. In our recent publication (Jones et al,
2021; Immunology), we phenotypically characterized different subsets of granulocytes in rhesus
macaques and found non-human primate (NHP) eosinophils analogous to human eosinophils and were
found enriched in jejunum, suggesting that these tissue-resident eosinophils are well situated and
capable of eliciting early antiviral mucosal responses. However, the pro-inflammatory responses of
eosinophils- cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion, reactive oxygen species generation can also cause tissue
damage. Further, there is a lack of knowledge of potential reprogramming of eosinophils in HIV infection
that could contribute to clearance of pathogens and/or pathologic manifestations. In this new
exploratory proposal, we will test the role of eosinophils contributing to antiviral responses that lead to
viral clearance or pathogenic mechanisms that lead to persistent inflammation in lentivirus infection.
Our two specific aims towards this goal are: (1) Determine the relative contribution of eosinophils
to lentiviral pathology and control and (2) Evaluate mechanisms of trained immunity in
eosinophils upon de novo infection with SIV in rhesus macaques. The outcomes of this proposal
will provide first time detailed analysis of an eosinophil depleted immune system in any viral infection
and reprogrammed eosinophils ‘trained’ in the context of SIV infection.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10533909
- **Project number:** 1R21AI172030-01
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Cordelia Manickam
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $241,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-20 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10533909

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10533909, Role of eosinophils in SIV infection (1R21AI172030-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10533909. Licensed CC0.

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