Principal Investigators - Dr. Sikhulile Moyo, MSc, MPH, PhD | Dr. Catherine K. Koofhethile, PhD

Study Objectives:  This study has two main goals:

1. To assess proviral HIV reservoir, we will adopt the reporter cell-based assay (TZM-bl) to HIV-1C and develop viral sequencing analysis at the sequential steps of the TZM-bl assay.
2. Then, we will apply this novel approach to quantify proviral HIV reservoir in 20 adolescents who were infected with HIV at birth, started ART immediately after diagnosis and have been on ART for more than a decade. 

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study. The study will target the following groups of participants (10 - 19 years old): 

Cohort A: Children who initiated treatment early after mother to child transmission and have been on treatment for at least 10 years, were enrolled in the previous studies at the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute partnership.

Cohort B: Children who initiated treatment early after mother to child transmission and have been on treatment for at least 10 years enrolled in national treatment program.

Study Population and Size: Children who have been on ART for at least 10 years. A total of 40 participants will be recruited from the study clinics consecutively.

Study Duration: 9 months.

Sponsor: Southern African Network for TB and HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE).