Epitope Specificity & Polyfunctional CD4+ Responses In Majengo cohort

A long standing study of low social economic status commercial sex workers, in the Majengo cohort of Nairobi has demonstrated variable susceptibility to HIV-1, where some of the highly exposed subjects remain persistently seronegative, indicative of resistance to HIV -1. There has been intense interest in understanding the mechanism responsible for this phenomenon.This study evaluated the protective immunity in light of polyfunctional immune responses due to specific selective peptide recognition by in vitro stimulation of the subjects. The immune responses were measured. The Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells were obtained, stimulated and the responses measured for pro-inflammatory cytokines production at day three and for proliferation at day six of incubation at 37oC and 5% CO2. The resistant group showed significant levels of IFNGamma, TNF - , IL-2 production and proliferation, especially in response peptide pools 1, 12, 13 and 14 (Env, P24, P31 and P2P7P1, P6 P7, Protease and REV peptide pools).Future directions include breaking down the specific peptide pools with unique responses confirming polyfuctionality due to epitope specificity.

Auteur

Dr Marion Kiguoya-Njau is a researcher in HIV/AIDS with Phd in Virology from university of Kwazulu Natal South Arica. Her Master of science degree in Immunology which this book is bases on was from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and technology. She is a wife and mother of two who has passion for science especially in HIV research.