# Immune response to COVID-19 vaccine in HIV infected men and women

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $739,018

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The CDC recommends that persons living with HIV (PWH) be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. However,
there are minimal scientific data to support this important public health principle in relation to ongoing
immune dysfunction and chronic comorbidities and the persistent HIV reservoir in antiretroviral treated (ART)
PWH. We propose that a formal, comprehensive, longitudinal study in a well-characterized cohort of male
and female PWH compared to HIV uninfected controls (HUC) is essential to assess the immunogenicity
of COVID-19 vaccines in PWH. The MACS-WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) is ideal for analyzing
the interactive impact of chronic HIV infection on COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna RNA-based vaccine
immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and the HIV reservoir. In Aim 1, we propose to conduct an in-
depth analysis of antibody neutralizing function and B lymphocyte responses in 100 male PWH and 100
female vaccinated PWH, and 25 male and 25 female vaccinated HUC, from the MWCCS. In Aim 2, we will
extensively characterize immune cell phenotypes, soluble markers, and functional cellular immune
responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the participants from Aim 1 before and after vaccination. In Aim 3,
we will evaluate the effects of COVID-19 vaccine on the persistent HIV reservoir (amount and composition,
immune parameters) before and after immunization. Aim 4 applies machine learning approaches on the
entire set of features quantified in Aims 1-3 to predict COVID-19 vaccine response outcomes and
determine the critical parameters that influence vaccine responses. We believe that this study is unique,
important, and critically timely for assessing the scientifically unprecedented, vaccine prevention
phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of HIV infection.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10897067
- **Project number:** 5R01AI167711-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Robbie B Mailliard
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $739,018
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-23 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10897067

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10897067, Immune response to COVID-19 vaccine in HIV infected men and women (5R01AI167711-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10897067. Licensed CC0.

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