IMMUNOLOGIC EVALUATIONS OF HIV-INFECTED PREGNANT WOMEN ON HAART

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This study will address the following questions regarding immune preservation and/or reconstitution of HIV-infected pregnant women: 1) Do immune responses of HIV-infected pregnant women on HAART differ enough from those of uninfected pregnant women to justify special immunization and/or other prophylactic strategies for this group of patients? 2) What is the toll of stopping HAART after delivery on the immune responses of HIV-infected women? To address the first question, we will compare Candida-specific cell-mediated immunity and responses to influenza vaccine among 40 HIV-infected pregnant women on HAART vs. 10 uninfected pregnant controls. The second question will be tackled by measuring HIV-specific and anti-microbial immunity during pregnancy and the first year after delivery. Significant differences in either of these comparisons will indicate that HAART should not be stopped in this setting and that we need to revise our current management of HIV-infected pregnant women.