Visualising initial HIV transmission interactions

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-09-21 01:00

Australia; NSW

Researchers led by Professor Harman from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research have developed technology and an analysis pipeline to not only visualise HIV transmission, but also to accurately quantify it. Furthermore, by developing partnerships with surgeons at Westmead Hospital, our researchers can infect human tissues (in our laboratories) within 15 minutes of their removal from the human body. This is a great example of how collaboration between frontline clinicians and medical researchers can generate unique insights, in this case the creation of a map of early HIV transmission.

Media release

From: The Westmead Institute for Medical Research

Because viruses are so small, nobody has been able to directly visualise the first moments of HIV transmission. This is a big knowledge gap as, to develop a vaccine and a cure, we need to understand the first cells of the immune system to interact with this virus.

Researchers led by Professor Harman from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research have developed technology and an analysis pipeline to not only visualise HIV transmission, but also to accurately quantify it. Furthermore, by developing partnerships with surgeons at Westmead Hospital, our researchers can infect human tissues (in our laboratories) within 15 minutes of their removal from the human body. This is a great example of how collaboration between frontline clinicians and medical researchers can generate unique insights, in this case the creation of a map of early HIV transmission.

For media inquiries, please contact Audrey McLeod

Journal/
conference: Cell Reports

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney

Funder: This work was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council Establishment c Ideas grant (GNT1181482). The authors would like to acknowledge the West- kine-induced ct mead Cell Imaging and Flow Cytometry Core Facilities, supported by the 107. 16934-169 Westmead Institute, Westmead Research Hub, Cancer Institute New South Wales.

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