HIV Research

Overview

The AIDS Unit is the largest Unit at the NICD and is primarily focused on research into the virology and pathogenesis of HIV. Members of the Unit continue to play a leading role in HIV research both within South Africa and internationally. Major activities within the Unit during the year have contributed towards the immunological evaluation of candidate HIV vaccines, addressing issues of HIV drug resistance in mother-to-child prevention programs, and understanding mechanisms of mother-to-child transmission. The Unit trains junior scientists and has a number of post-graduate students and also contributes to training local scientists and those from other African countries through laboratory-based training and workshops. Members of the Unit are involved in a number of networks including the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), WHO Regional HIV/AIDS Public Health Laboratory Network and the WHO Global HIV Drug Resistance Network. Funding of research is largely through grants from the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI), National Department of Health, National Institutes of Health including CIPRA (Collaborative International Program for Research on AIDS), RO1’s, USAID and HVTN, The Wellcome Trust, The Fogarty International Centre, Bristol Myers Squibb Secure-the-Future and the Doris Duke Human Pathogenesis Program.

Contact Us

Staff

Publications

Contact us

Please direct any queries via one of the following:

For the Cell Biology Laboratory:

Tel: +27 (011) 011 386 6367
e-mail:

For the Virology Laboratory:

Laboratory enquiries:
Tel: +27 (011)386 6341
e-mail:

For administration queries:
Tel: +27 (011)386 6362
e-mail:

For the Immunology Laboratory:

Tel: +27 (011) 386 6494
e-mail:

Staff

Virology Laboratory

Prof. Lynn Morris DPhil,
Head: Aids Unit, Chief Specialist Scientist

Sheila Doig, PA Secretary
Sue Hermann, Admin. Assistant
Sarah Cohen, Laboratory Manager, B. Tech Laboratory Management
Moore PL, PhD, Senior Medical Scientist
Basson A, PhD, Senior Medical Scientist
Hunt G, PhD, Senior Medical Scientist
Lambson B, PhD, Senior Medical Scientist
Gray E, PhD, Research Scientist
Alexandré KB, MSc, Medical Scientist
Bhiman J, MSc, Student
El-Khatib Z, MSc, International Student
Ledwaba J, MSc, Medical Scientist
Madiga M, MSc, Medical Scientist
Nhlabatsi N, BSc (Hons), Student
Phoswa M, Laboratory Technician
Rakgotho MP, MSc, Medical Scientist
Ranchobe N, BTech, Laboratory Assistant
Sacks D, BSc (Hons), Student
Wibmer K, BSc (Hons), Student

Cell Biology Laboratory

A/Prof C Tiemessen, Principal Medical Scientist, Head

Dr S Meddows-Taylor, Senior Scientist
Dr S Shalekoff, Senior Scientist
Dr M Paximadis, Scientist
D Schramm, Laboratory Manager/MSc Student
S Lalsab, Project Manager
B Mathebula, Junior Scientist
D Schramm, PhD Student
J Mans, PhD Student
S Smit, MSc Student
S Donninger, MSc Student

Immunology Laboratory

Prof CM Gray, Chief Medical Scientist, Head

K Ihlenfeldt, Personal Assistant
Dr A Masemola, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr V Morafo, Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr D Barkhan, Postdoctoral Fellow
G Khoury, Operations Manager
S Nyoka, Chief Medical Technician/QC QA
S Xaba, Laboratory Manager
P Mokgotho, Repository Manager
H Maila, Research Assistant
P Mohube, Research Assistant
P Sangweni, Research Assistant
M Mlotshwa, Research Assistant
N Malatsi, Research Assistant
K Mufhandu, Research Assistant

Publications

Recent publications by members of staff

Agenbach, E, Tiemessen CT and Venter M. Amino acid variation within the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus subtype subtype A and B strains during annual epidemics in South Africa. Virus genes In press.

Bessong P, Obi L, Cilliers T, Choge I, Phoswa M, Pillay C, Papathanasopoulos M and Morris L. Characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from a previousl yunexplored region of South Africa with a high HIV-1 prevalence. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2005; 21 (1): 103-109.

Cilliers T, Patience T, Pillay C, Papathanasopoulos M and Morris L. Sensitivity of HIV type 1 subtype C isolates to the entry inhibitor T-20. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2004, 20: 477-482.

Day JH, Grant AD, Fielding KL, Morris L, Moloi V, Charalambous S, Puren A, ChaissonRE, de Cock KM, Hayes RJ, Churchyard GJ. Does tuberculosis increase HIV viralload? J Inf Dis. 2004; 1677-1684.

Filter R, Xia X, Gray CM. Dynamic HIV/AIDS parameter estimation with application to avaccine readiness study in South Africa. IEEE Trans Autom Control. In press.

Gray CM. Williamson C, Puren A, Bredell H, Paximadis M, Xia X, Filter R, Zijenah L,Cao H, Morris L, Vardas E, Colvin M, Gray G, McIntyre J, Musonda R, Allen S, KatzensteinD, Mbizo M, Kumwemda N, Taha T, Abdool-Karim S, Flores J, Sheppard HW. Viraldynamics and CD4 counts in subtype C human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infectedindividuals from southern Africa. AIDS Res Hum Retro. In press.

Grobler J, Gray CM, Rademeyer C, Seoighe C, Ramjee G, Abdool-Karim S, Morris L,Williamson C. Incidence of HIV-1 dual infection and its association with increased viralload set point in a cohort of HIV-1 subtype C-infected female sex workers. J Inf Dis.2004, 190: 1355-9.

Kantor R, Katzenstein DA, Efron B, Carvalho AP, Wynhoven B, Cane P, Clarke J,Sirivichayakul S, Soares MA, Snoeck J, Pillay C, Rudich R, Rodrigues R, Holguin A,Ariyoshi K, Weidle P, Bouzas MB, Cahn P, Sugiura W, Soriano V, Brigido LF, GrossmanZ, Morris L, Vandamme A-M, Tanuri A, Phanuphak P, Weber J, Pillay D, P Harrigan R,Camacho R, Schapiro JM , Shafer RW. Impact of HIV-1 Subtype and Antiretroviral Therapyon Protease and Reverse Transcriptase Genotype: Results of a Global Collaboration.PLoS. In press.

Masemola A, Mashishi T, Khoury G, Mohube P, Mokgotho P, Vardas E, Colvin M, ZijenahL, Katzenstein D, Musonda R, Allen S, Kumwenda N, Taha T, Gray G, McIntyre J, AbdoolKarim S, Sheppard HW, Gray CM. Hierarchical Targeting of subtype C human immuno-deficiency virus type 1 proteins by CD8(+) T cells: correlation with viral load. J Virol 2004; 78: 3233-43.

Masemola AM, Mashishi TN, Khoury G, Bredell H, Paximadis M, Mathebula T, BarkhanD, Puren A, Vardas E, Colvin M, Zijenah L, Katzenstein D, Musonda R, Allen S, KumwendaN, Taha T, Gray G, McIntyre J, Abdool Karim S, Sheppard HW, Gray CM. Novel andpromiscuous cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes in conserved regions of Gag targeted byindividuals with early subtype C human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection fromsouthern Africa. J Immunol 2004; 173: 4607-17.

Meddows-Taylor S, Gray GE, Tiemessen CT. Age-related maturation of poly-morphonuclear neutrophil degranulation responses in infants born to human immuno-deficiency virus type-1 seropositive mothers. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2004; 15: 172-182.

Meddows-Taylor S, Papathanosopolous MA, Kuhn L, Meyers TM, Tiemessen CT (2004).Detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope peptide-stimulated T-helpercell responses and variations in the corresponding regions of viral isolates among verticallyinfected children. Virus genes 2004; 28: 311-318.

Moore PL, Cilliers T, Morris L. Predicted genotypic resistance to the novel entry inhibitor,BMS-378806, among HIV-1 isolates of subtypes A to G, AIDS. 2004; 18 (17) 2327-2330.

Shalekoff S, Gray GE, Tiemessen CT. Age-related changes in the expression of CXCR4and CCR5 on peripheral blood leukocytes from uninfected infants born to humanimmunodeficiency virus-1-infected mothers. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2004; 11: 229-234.

Stein L, Carrara H, Norman R, Alagiozoglou L, Morris L, Sitas F. Antibodies againsthuman herpesvirus 8 in South African renal transplant recipients and blood donors. Transplant Inf Dis. 2004; 6: 69-73.

Wallis CL, Mahomed I, Morris L, Chidarikire T, Stevens G, Rekhviashvili N and StevensW. Evaluation of an oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) for detection of mutations inHIV-1 subtype C individuals who have high level resistance to nucleoside reversetranscriptase inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. J Clin Micro. In Press

Morris Lab : Publications – 2005

Bessong P, Obi L, Cilliers T, Choge I, Phoswa M, Pillay C, Papathanasopoulos M and Morris L. Characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 from a previously unexplored region of South Africa with a high HIV-1 prevalence. AIDS Res Hum Retro. 2005, 21: 103-109.

Gray CM. Williamson C, Puren A, Xia X, Filter R, Zijenah L, Cao H, Morris L, Vardas E, Colvin M, Gray G, McIntyre J, Musonda R, Allen S, Katzenstein D, Mbizo M, Kumwemda N, Taha T, Abdool-Karim S, Flores J and Sheppard HW. HIV-1 subtype C viral dynamics in Africa. AIDS Res. Hum. Retro. 2005, 21: 285-291

Wallis CL, Mahomed I, Morris L, Chidarikire T, Stevens G, Rekhviashvili N and Stevens W. Evaluation of an Oligonucleotide Ligation Assay (OLA) for detection of mutations in HIV-1 subtype C individuals who have high level resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. J Clin. Methods. 2005; 125: 99-109.

Kantor R, Katzenstein DA, Efron B, Carvalho AP, Wynhoven B, Cane P, Clarke J, Sirivichayakul S, Soares MA, Snoeck J, Pillay C, Rudich H, Rodrigues R, Holguin A, Ariyoshi K, Weidle P, Bouzas MB, Cahn P, Sugiura W, Soriano V, Brigido LF, Grossman Z, Morris L, Vandamme AM, Tanuri A, Phanuphak P, Weber J, Pillay D, Harrigan PR, Camacho R, Schapiro JM and Shafer RW. Impact of HIV-1 Subtype and Antiretroviral Therapy on Protease and Reverse Transcriptase Genotype: Results of a Global Collaboration. PLoS Med. 2005; 2: 325-337.

Johnson JA, Li JF, Morris L, Martinson N, Gray G, McIntyre J and Heneine W. Emergence of drug-resistant HIV-1 following intrapartum single-dose nevirapine is substantially underestimated. J Inf Dis. 2005: 192 : 16-23

Morris L and Cilliers T. Viral structure, replication, tropism, pathogenesis and natural history. Chapter 5 in book HIV/AIDS in South Africa. Cambridge University Press. June 2005

Mascola JR, D’Souza P, Gilbert P, Hahn B, Haigwood NL, Morris L, Petropoulos CJ, Polonis VR, Sarzotti-Kelsoe M, and Montefiori DC. Recommendations for the design and use of standard virus panels to assess the neutralizing antibody response elicited by candidate human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vaccines. J Virol 2005, 79 10103-10107.

Cilliers T, Willey S, Sullivan MW, Patience T, Pugach P, Coetzer M, Papathanasopoulos M, Moore JP, Trkola A, Clapham P and Morris L. Use of alternate coreceptors on primary cells by two HIV-1 isolates. Virology 339 (2005) 136-144

Cilliers T, Moore P, Coetzer M and Morris L. In vitro generation of HIV-1 subtype C isolates resistant to enfuvirtide. AIDS Res. Hum. Retro. 2005: 21: 776-783

Publications – 2006

Rhee SY, Kantor R, Katzenstein DA, Camacho R, Morris L, Sirivichayakul S, Jorgensen L, Brigido LF, Schapiro JM, and Schafer R for Int. Non-Subtype B HIV-1 working group. HIV-1 pol mutation frequency by subtype and treatment experience: Extension of the HIV seq program to seven non-B subtypes. AIDS 2006, 20 : 643-651

Moore PL, Crooks ET, Porter L, Zhu P, Cayanan CS, Corcoran P, Zwick MB, Franti M, Morris L, Roux KH, Burton DR and Binley JM. The nature of non-functional envelope proteins on the surface of HIV-1. J. Virol. 80 (2006): 2515-2528.

Choge I, Cilliers T, Walker P, Taylor N, Phoswa M, Meyers T, Viljoen J, Violari A, Gray G, Moore P, Papathanosopoulos M and Morris L. Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of viral isolates from HIV-1 subtype C infected children with slow and rapid disease progression. AIDS Res. Hum. Retro (In press)

Cave E, Weinberg MS, Cilliers T, Morris L and Arbuthnot P. Silencing of R5 and X4 Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype C Isolates by Expressed shRNAs Targeted to gag. AIDS Res. Hum. Retro. (In press)

Snoeck J, Kantor R, Shafer RW, Van Kaethem K, Deforche K, Carvalho AP, Wynhoven B, Soares MA, Cane P, Clarke J, Pillay C, Sinvichayakul S, Ariyoshi K, Holguin A, Rudich H, Rodrigues R, Bouzas MB, Brun-Vézinet F, Reid C, Cahn P, Brigido LF, Grossman Z, Soriano V, Sugiura W, Phanuphak P, Morris L, Weber J, Pillay D, Tanuri A, Harrigan RP, Camacho R, Schapiro JM, Katzenstein D and Vandamme AM. Discordances between interpretation algorithms for genotypic resistance to protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors of the Human Immunodificiency Virus are subtype dependent. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. (In press)

Loubser S, Balfe P, Sherman G, Hammer S, Kuhn L and Morris L. Loss of the nevirapine resistance mutation K103N in blood leukocyte DNA and plasma RNA after single-dose therapy for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission. AIDS (In press)

Jensen MA, Coetzer M, van’t Wout AB, Morris L and Mullins JI. A reliable phenotype predictor for HIV-1 subtype C based on envelope V3 sequences. J. Virol 2006 (In press)

Gray ES, Meyers T, Gray G, Montefiori D and Morris L. Insensitivity of paediatric HIV-1 subtype C viruses to broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies raised against subtype B. PLoS Medicine (In press)

Coetzer M, Cilliers T, Swanstrom R and Morris L. What genetic changes in V3 are associated with CXCR4 usage in HIV-1 subtype C isolates? (Submitted)

Palmer S, Boltz V, Martinson N, Maldarelli F, Gray G, McIntyre J, Mellors J, Morris L and Coffin J. Persistence of nevirapine-resistant HIV-1 in women after single-dose nevirapine for prevention of maternal to fetal transmission. (Submitted)

Walker PR, Cilliers T, Choge IA, Cohen SS and Morris L. High specificity of V3 serotyping amongst immunodeficiency virus type-1 subtype C infected patients with varying disease status and viral phenotype. (Submitted)