AIDS and Oral Manifestations of Immunosuppression Program
Infectious Diseases and Immunology Branch
Division of Basic and Translational Sciences
We are seeking Concept Clearance for a Program Announcement with set-aside funds (PAS) that will stimulate oral AIDS/HIV research in a simian macaque model. The macaque is closely related genetically and biologically to humans, and provides an excellent, albeit expensive and complex, research model to study human infectious diseases. The natural history, transmission, infection, immune response and medical complications of AIDS in macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) infection parallels that seen in humans. These simian models are useful in mother-to-infant transmission studies, evaluation of novel vaccine approaches, and identification of immunologic events following SIV/SHIV infection.
Because of their utility, almost 90 researchers supported by NIH grants are currently using these models to study the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of SIV/HIV infection in a controlled environment. Although 4 investigators are using these models to study oral SIV transmission, unfortunately, no investigators are using ongoing studies to study oral lesions and infectious complications of immune suppression associated with AIDS. Anecdotal reports show that infectious viral complications, oral ulcers and oral lymphomas similar to those found in humans occur in SIV-infected macaques. Consequently, we are missing an opportunity to study what is going on in the oral cavity of SIV/SHIV-infected macaques. For example, ongoing therapeutic vaccine projects could be used to show what effects these treatments have on the outcome of oral mucosal lesions.
This PAS will solicit research studies that will increase our knowledge of the basic biology, pathogenic mechanisms, and oral complications of HIV/AIDS in simian macaque models. Investigators will be expected to establish collaborations in ongoing macaque projects in order to effectively leverage NIDCR funds with the substantial existing investment in simian AIDS research. The projects will be expected to fully utilize state of the art technologies such as genomics, proteomics bioimaging and gene silencing to achieve their goals.