On Thursday 18 June at 15:00, Giacomo Schmidt Frattari defends his PhD dissertation entitled “Mapping Poised T-Cell Responses in HIV-1 Post-Intervention Control at Single-Cell Resolution”.

Despite major advances in treatment, HIV remains a lifeong infection for nearly 40 million people worldwide. Current therapies effectively suppress the virus but require daily medication and do not eliminate the infection. Broadly neutralizing anti-HIV antibodies are among the most promising approaches currently being investigated to achieve long-term viral remission without lifelong treatment.

This PhD project investigated the immune mechanisms associated with HIV control following treatment with anti-HIV antibodies. By combining advanced single-cell technologies with samples from international clinical trials, the research identified specific immune cell states associated with sustained viral remission after treatment interruption. The findings suggest that individuals who maintain control of HIV possess T cells that are primed to respond rapidly and effectively when the virus re-emerges. Understanding how this state develops may help researchers design therapies that increase the likelihood of long-term remission without continuous treatment.

The research provides new insight into how anti-HIV antibodies interact with the immune system and contributes to ongoing efforts to develop a cure for HIV.

The summary is written by the PhD student.

The defence is public and takes place in the Merete Barker auditorium (1253-211), Aarhus University. Please see the press release for more information.

Contact

PhD student Giacomo Schmidt Frattari
Mail: gs.frattari@clin.au.dk 
Phone: 53835365

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