# Mucosal mechanisms of altered HIV susceptibility in adolescents

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $3,375

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Young women are highly vulnerable to HIV infection, particularly in endemic areas, with young adults making
up 30-40% of new HIV infections globally. However, there is very little understanding of why there is discordant
HIV infection susceptibility in adolescents versus adults. Furthermore, there is currently no established pre-
clinical model to assess any prevention or therapeutic interventions with consideration of age. Here we aim to
create the first nonhuman primate model of SIV infection and susceptibility in adolescents. We will assess the
mucosal environment of the female genital tract (FGT) of adult compared to adolescent pigtail macaques
(Macaca nemestrina). We will determine whether there are baseline differences across the menstrual cycle in
adolescent versus adults, and will also determine whether adolescent pigtail macaques are more susceptible
to SIV challenge. We will use state-of the art proteomic, microbiome, immunological and in vivo imaging
techniques to take advantage of the in depth sampling (multiple tissue and longitudinal) capabilities of the
nonhuman primate model. We will determine whether signatures associated with SIV/HIV susceptibility exist in
adolescents compared to adults. We will also validate these studies using human cervicovaginal samples from
adolescent and adult women. Furthermore, we will assess the mechanisms underlying an altered mucosal
environment in adolescents. This will provide the first pre-clinical macaque model of HIV infection in
adolescents that can delineate infection susceptibility, correlates of infection, and potential mechanisms
underlying altered female genital tract in adolescents. These studies will be a critical advance in understanding
of the increased susceptibility of adolescents to HIV infection, and provide the first model for testing
interventions in young adults.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9842395
- **Project number:** 5R01AI128782-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Nichole Rose Klatt
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $3,375
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-01-17 → 2020-01-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9842395

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9842395, Mucosal mechanisms of altered HIV susceptibility in adolescents (5R01AI128782-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9842395. Licensed CC0.

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