Understanding the progression of HIV infection in the Italian and immigrant population.
Immigrants residing in Italy are often infected with HIV subtypes different from subtype B which is predominant in our country. The identification of viral or immunological "markers" able to predict the evolution of the disease in the general population compared to the immigrant population is a key aspect to set up more effective therapeutic strategies. CNAIDS is committed to identifying these aspects in immigrants who have a different genetic, immunological, and virological background.
In this context, people of different ethnicities may, in fact, represent key populations to understand which viral and immunological markers are important for disease progression. A number of immune activation markers have been associated with morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected persons. Cytokines and chemokines play a central role in the immune response to HIV infection, and proviral DNA (measurement of viral reservoirs) is considered a key marker for monitoring infection. As HIV strains may differ in terms of pathogenicity, thus influencing disease progression, CNAIDS is committed to identify possible relationships among biomarkers of inflammation, immunological status, and virological status in ART patients.
The study may, therefore, provide important data for the clinical management of patients, including effective therapeutic strategies in controlling the progression of HIV infection.