# Periodontitis as a comorbidity in SIV infection and Antiretroviral Therapy

> **NIH NIH R01** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2024 · $610,578

## Abstract

Abstract
The two major oral diseases of mankind are chronic infections that result in dental caries and periodontitis. There
is evidence of specific dynamics of alterations in commensal and pathogenic bacteria related to periodontitis
within the normal population that appears to differ with aging and in diabetes. It is unclear, however, how HIV-1
infection and current management with antiretroviral drugs may affect the microbiome and disease. It is also
unclear how differences in this oral microbial ecology and systemic viral environment together with host
responses contribute to the destruction of the periodontium. Since characteristics of the immune system
repertoire are critical for maintaining general health, congenital or acquired disruptors of development of normal
immune functions are reflected in altered microbiota across body niches within the population. While extensive
literature has been acquired over the last 3+ decades on the features of the oral microbial biofilms in health and
periodontitis, these have primarily been reported from cross-sectional studies in adults with chronic periodontitis.
The interaction of a microbial dybiosis and dysregulated response in periodontitis coincident with HIV-1 infection
and response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains unknown. This proposal engages a multi-disciplinary and
multi-institutional collaborative approach for the determination of the interaction of the chronic oral infection and
inflammatory disease, periodontitis, with the course and characteristics of SIV infections and response to ART.
The study will use a nonhuman primate model of ligature-induced periodontitis, which is a well-established model
of oral infection, inflammation, and mucosal disease, in Macaca mulatta. The experimental design will address
specific knowledge gaps about the interaction of the chronic infection and dysregulated immune responses of
periodontitis with the immunological and biologic changes occurring with SIV infection, including: (i) Periodontitis
effects on the viremia and CD4+ levels from SIV infection; (ii) SIV effects on the oral microbiome and salivary
and serum responses; and (iii) Interaction of periodontitis on ART efficacy. Our over-arching hypothesis is
that “Periodontitis and age will synergize to negatively impact parameters of SIV infection and will deleteriously
affect the efficacy of ART in managing the SIV infection.” Our proposed studies will be examined in three Specific
Aims: Specific Aim 1: To delineate age effects on the oral microbiome and targeted salivary biomarkers in
health, changes that occur with experimental periodontitis, and impact of a subsequent SIV infection. Specific
Aim 2: To delineate the effect of experimental periodontitis and age on the efficacy of ART treatment for an SIV
infection. Specific Aim 3: To delineate the effect of severe periodontitis on the efficacy of existing ART
treatment to control an SIV infection.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10892166
- **Project number:** 5R01DE032291-03
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Prasun K Datta
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $610,578
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10892166

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10892166, Periodontitis as a comorbidity in SIV infection and Antiretroviral Therapy (5R01DE032291-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10892166. Licensed CC0.

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