Program Overview

Introduction to the HIV Pathogenesis Programme

The HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP) has been involved in studies of HIV-1 immunopathogenesis for over 20 years. The laboratory has undertaken ground-breaking work on the role of human leukocyte antigens in the control of HIV-1 infection and on immune responses associated with partial control of HIV-1 replication.

Vision and Mission

The vision of the HPP is "African-led research excellence and capacity building to end the HIV epidemic and improve health".

Laboratory and Research Facilities

The HPP laboratory is based in the Doris Duke Medical Research Institute building at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine. The laboratory serves as both a facility for exploratory pathogenesis and translational research into HIV and TB, as well as a sample repository for all HPP's study samples. The laboratory has capabilities to perform various tests and procedures, including:

• Viral loads
• CD4+ T cell counts
• Diagnostic assays
• Polymerase chain reaction assays
• Processing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
• Advanced flow cytometry
• Tissue culture
• Gene expression assays
• Recombinant DNA technology procedures

Research Capacity

The laboratory has exploratory research capacity, including:

• PBMC isolation, freezing, and storage from whole blood, cord blood, and leukapheresis samples
• Genital mucosal sample processing and storage
• Lymph node excision, processing, and storage
• DNA isolation
• Western blotting
• Amplification
• Cloning
• Qualitative and quantitative PCR
• Sequencing
• Fluorescent microscopy
• Luminescence
• ELISA
• ELISpot
• Polychromatic flow cytometry
• High- and low-resolution genetic testing of select genes

Partnerships

The laboratory has a partnership with Neuberg Global, a large clinical and accredited laboratory, to perform high-volume viral load and CD4+ T cell count testing, with overnight turnaround times for these assays.

History and Establishment

HPP is a research initiative established in 2002 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, USA, and the University of Oxford, UK. The collaborative programme was initially funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, but now attracts funding from various other international and local funding agencies.