Mucosal mechanisms of altered HIV susceptibility in adolescents

In the first 2 years of the project the team at Northwestern University will conduct an analysis of vaginal biopsies and determine SIV target cell density and localization and define the characteristics of the epithelial barrier. In years 3 and 4 we will work with the University of Washington Primate Center to conduct high dose vaginal challenges with SIV, followed by necropsy 48 hours later. This represents a larger amount of work as indicated by the increased effort of the PI, Postdoctoral fellow, and supplies. Using our established methods we will identify foci of infection and determine the location and phenotype of SIV infected cells to identify any differences between adults and adolescents.