Strategies against persistent HIV-1 reservoirs(SAPHIR) (SAPHIR)

SAPHIR aims to contribute to the cure of HIV-1.

Specific goals to be achieved by SAPHIR:

- gain insight into the impact of the HIV integration site on the transcriptional status of the virus in order to better understand HIV persistence,

-validation of a 'block and lock' strategy by adjusting virus integration sites in a pre-clinical model system,

- gain insight into the impact of HIV integration on clonal expansion in cells expressing immune checkpoint markers,

-validation of at least one long non-coding RNA-protein interaction as a new target for the elimination of the HIV-1 reservoir,

-validation of long non-coding RNAs both in cell culture and in relevant patient samples that can be used as a biomarker to determine the reactivability of the reservoir,

-validation of at least one EV-based marker that measures the elimination of the HIV-1 reservoir in cell culture and in relevant patient samples

HIV-1 SAPHIR's long-term goal is to develop medication and the associated diagnostics to cure HIV infection.