HIV And Parasitic Infection (HAPI) Study

Summary

The overall goal of this study is to determine if periodic de-worming of persons living with HIV in intestinal parasite-endemic regions will lead to decreased morbidity and mortality associated with HIV by reducing immune activation and intestinal damage associated with these diseases. The hypothesis for this project is that intestinal parasitic infections contribute to a modifiable pro-inflammatory state in persons living with HIV (PLWH). Aim 1: Determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in PLWH receiving care at an HIV-treatment center in Lilongwe, Malawi using a highly sensitive multi-parallel stool PCR test. Hypothesis: highly sensitive stool PCR testing will demonstrate that disease burden of parasitic infection in PLWH in Malawi is higher than historically reported based on stool microscopy. Aim 2: Determine the impact of parasitic infection on intestinal damage and immune activation by measuring sCD14, sCD163, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) in PLWH. Hypothesis: plasma biomarkers reflecting intestinal damage and immune activation are elevated in those with HIV and parasitic co-infection compared with parasite-negative participants with HIV. Aim 3: Determine the impact of eradication of parasitic infection on intestinal damage and immune activation by measuring sCD14, sCD163, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) in PLWH before and after treatment of parasitic co-infection. Hypothesis: plasma biomarkers reflecting intestinal damage and immune activation are elevated in those with HIV and parasitic co-infection, and these biomarkers decrease with anti-parasitic treatment.

Timeline

Start

2022-05-02

Primary completion

2023-08-04

Completion

2023-08-04

Publications

• Background Sandler NG, Wand H, Roque A, Law M, Nason MC, Nixon DE, Pedersen C, Ruxrungtham K, Lewin SR, Emery S, Neaton JD, Brenchley JM, Deeks SG, Sereti I, Douek DC; INSIGHT SMART Study Group. Plasma levels of soluble CD14 independently predict mortality in HIV infection. J Infect Dis. 2011 Mar 15;203(6):780-90. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiq118. Epub 2011 Jan 20.
• Background Knudsen TB, Ertner G, Petersen J, Moller HJ, Moestrup SK, Eugen-Olsen J, Kronborg G, Benfield T. Plasma Soluble CD163 Level Independently Predicts All-Cause Mortality in HIV-1-Infected Individuals. J Infect Dis. 2016 Oct 15;214(8):1198-204. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiw263. Epub 2016 Jun 28.
• Background Cheru LT, Park EA, Saylor CF, Burdo TH, Fitch KV, Looby S, Weiner J, Robinson JA, Hubbard J, Torriani M, Lo J. I-FABP Is Higher in People With Chronic HIV Than Elite Controllers, Related to Sugar and Fatty Acid Intake and Inversely Related to Body Fat in People With HIV. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018 Nov 5;5(11):ofy288. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofy288. eCollection 2018 Nov.

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Indications