According to the decision of the CNR-UNESCO Technical - Administrative Committee the following innovative research projects have been selected by an
indipendent Committee and financially supported for 1998-99:

“Development of in Vitro Tests for the Evaluation of HIV vaccine efficiency and Preliminary Studies on Candidate Vaccines”.
The Project was elaborated and implemented by the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention and Integrated Research Centres: CIRBS, Paris, Hospital St.Joseph and CIRBA, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Project Leader: Dr. A.Beretta - CIRBS, Paris, France

“Study of Efficacy of Natural Products of African Origin Against Human Immunodeficiency Virus”.
The Project was focused on the creation of a Network of Clinical Centres located in several African countries for the collection and evaluation of plant extracts
which might be effective against infections such as tuberculosis, plasmodia and schistosoma.
Project Leader: Prof. C.F. Perno, University of Rome “Tor Vergata” and “L. Spallanzani” Institute, Rome, Italy

“Role of CCR5, CCR2 and SDF-1 gene polymorphism in the natural history of HIV-1 infection in a population of seroconverted subjects”.
The project investigated the gene polymorphism of CCR5, CCR2 and SDF-1 genes and their role in disease progression. Correlation of the allelic status of CCR5, CCR2 and SDF-1 genes with the clinical stages (CDC classification), the analyses of plasma viremia and of CD4+ lymphocyte counts were considered. HIV-1 RNA levels are measured by three different standardised commercial methods and compared using appropriate correction factors.
Project Leader: Dr. C. Balotta, Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy

“Immunotherapy with non-peptidic antigens in SIV-infected macaques”
This project aimed to understand whether a vaccine that affects the gd T cell activity will positively or negatively influence the outcome of SIV infections. The
specific objectives were: a) measure in vitro cytotoxicity in gd T cells from nonpeptidic vaccine-treated rhesus monkeys versus controls; b) assess the capacity of
these gd T cells to expand in vitro in response to DAUDI, mycobacterial extracts, monoethyl-pyrophosphate and isopentenyl-pyrophosphate stimuli; c) to assess the
ability of nonpeptidic vaccines to influence the viral load in SIV-challenged animals in vivo and the pace of SIV disease progression.
Project Leader: Dr. F. Poccia, ICAERI

“Cellular factors involved in the induction of resistance to antiretroviral treatment of HIV-1 infection”.
This project studied the cellular drug-resistance during treatment of HIV-infection. Particularly, it was verified whether cellular factors contribute to the complete failure of treatment, or to the rebound of viral load during therapy in the absence of circulating drug-resistant HIV strains. Cells were selected for their resistance to different antiretroviral agents (ddI, 3TC, d4T and several HIV protease inhibitors) and analysed further.
Project Leader: Dr. O. Turrizziani, Institue of Virology, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy

“Characterization of T-cell functions in HIV-associated lymphomagenesis”.
Advances in antiretroviral therapy and more effective management of opportunistic infections have resulted in an increase in the incidence of HIV-associated lymphomas. The response of these lymphomas to chemotherapy is poor and the mortality rate is extremely high. Thus, these lymphomas represent a significant pathological consequence of HIV infection and are likely to represent an increasing medical care management challenge as HIV-infected individuals survive longer.
The causative factors in HIV-associated lymphomagenesis have not been elucidated. This project addressed specifically whether or not the HIV infection-
associated defect of gd T-cell functions is a contributing factor in HIV-associated lymphomagenesis.
Project Leader: Dr. Dominique Blanc, CIRBS, Paris, France