AzTrials
AzTrials

HIV InfectionISS OBS T-004NCT01359800

Study to Assess the Seroprevalence of Anti-Tat Antibodies in HIV-infected Patients

An observational study of HIV Infection, run by Barbara Ensoli, MD at 2 sites in South Africa.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Tat is a key HIV regulatory protein produced very early after infection, prior to virus integration, and necessary for viral gene expression, cell-to-cell virus transmission and disease progression. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 45 years
Conditions the study is for
HIV Infection
How many people
531 participants
Where
2 sitesSouth Africa
Study dates
Oct 2010to Jul 2013
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 45 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Study population: HIV positive, ARV-treated and treatment-naïve participants.

Who may be able to join

  • HIV-infected individuals Aged 18-45 years Participants enrolled into the ARV-treated group must have been on treatment for not less than 3 months.

Who cannot join

  • Unwillingness to consent to study inclusion

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

South Africa2 sites
  • Mecru Clinical Research Unit (MeCRU)

    Medunsa, Gauteng

  • Walter Sisulu University HIV Vaccine Research Unit

    Mthatha, Eastern Cape

Other trials in South Africa

About this study

Official title: A Multicentre, Observational, Cross-sectional Study to Assess the Seroprevalence of Anti-Tat Antibodies in HIV-infected Patients in Selected Areas of Gauteng and Eastern Cape

Tat is a key HIV regulatory protein produced very early after infection, prior to virus integration, and necessary for viral gene expression, cell-to-cell virus transmission and disease progression. Previous studies in natural HIV infection, indicated that the presence of a Tat-specific immune response correlates with a lower incidence and reduced risk of progression to AIDS as compared to anti-Tat negative individuals suggesting that an immune response to Tat may exert a protective role and control the progression to AIDS in vivo.

On the basis of the above mentioned consideration, the present study was directed at investigating the seroprevalence of anti-Tat antibodies in HIV-infected South African patients.

Read the detailed description

This is an observational, cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the frequency, magnitude and quality of the anti-Tat antibody response in both antiretroviral (ARV)-treated and treatment-naïve HIV-infected South African adults, and at exploring the correlation between the presence of anti-Tat antibody response and the immunological status of participants as well as with the presence of co-infections such as HBV, syphilis and HPV (the latter only for female participants).

The study has involved 531 participants and provided important information for the planning, design and conduction of future therapeutic clinical trials with the Tat-based HIV vaccine in South African individuals.

This study is conducted in the frame of the Government-to-Government cooperation program N. AID 8421, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Directorate General for Development Cooperation (MAE-DGCS) and jointly implemented by the Italian Istituto Superiore di Sanita' (ISS) and the South African Department of Health in collaboration with the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative of the Medical Research Council (MRC-SAAVI)

Conditions
HIV Infection
Keywords
HIV, HAART
Medical subject headings
HIV Infections

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT01359800
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Treatment-naive HIV+ subjectsNot described
HAART-treated HIV+ subjectsNot described

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Anti-Tat Antibody Responses

    Assessment of serum anti-Tat antibodies. Anti-Tat humoral immune response will include the determination of serum IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies against both clade B- and C-derived Tat proteins and titration of IgM, IgG and IgA anti-Tat antibodies.

    Measured: Up to 14 months

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Virological status of anti-Tat positive and negative participants

    HIV viral load and clinical status on anti-Tat+ versus anti-Tat- participants. The effect of ARV treatment non-compliance on viral load in anti-Tat+ versus anti-Tat- participants has been evaluated within the ARV-treated study group on the basis of the relevant available information.

    Hepatitis B, Syphilis, HPV co-infections Assessment.

    Measured: Up to 14 months

  2. Immunological status of anti-Tat positive and negative participants

    Assessment of CD4 T cell counts. Exploratory immunological assays may be performed on available residual samples for a more in-depth characterisation of the immune response.

    Measured: Up to 14 months

  3. Immune activation status of anti-Tat positive and negative participants

    Assessment of Immune-activation markers on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells (CD25+, CD38+ and HLA-DR+).

    Measured: Up to 14 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted25 May 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2010
  3. Primary completionFeb 2013
  4. Study completionJul 2013

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrolment
531 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01359800
Sponsor's protocol ID
ISS OBS T-004
Acronym
ISS OBS T-004
Status last verified
Mar 2016
First submitted
17 May 2011
Last updated
4 Mar 2016
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Ensoli B, Fiorelli V, Ensoli F, Lazzarin A, Visintini R, Narciso P, Di Carlo A, Tripiciano A, Longo O, Bellino S, Francavilla V, Paniccia G, Arancio A, Scoglio A, Collacchi B, Ruiz Alvarez MJ, Tambussi G, Tassan Din C, Palamara G, Latini A, Antinori A, D'Offizi G, Giuliani M, Giulianelli M, Carta M, Monini P, Magnani M, Garaci E. The preventive phase I trial with the HIV-1 Tat-based vaccine. Vaccine. 2009 Dec 11;28(2):371-8. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.10.038. Epub 2009 Oct 29.

    PubMed 19879233
  • Longo O, Tripiciano A, Fiorelli V, Bellino S, Scoglio A, Collacchi B, Alvarez MJ, Francavilla V, Arancio A, Paniccia G, Lazzarin A, Tambussi G, Din CT, Visintini R, Narciso P, Antinori A, D'Offizi G, Giulianelli M, Carta M, Di Carlo A, Palamara G, Giuliani M, Laguardia ME, Monini P, Magnani M, Ensoli F, Ensoli B. Phase I therapeutic trial of the HIV-1 Tat protein and long term follow-up. Vaccine. 2009 May 26;27(25-26):3306-12. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.01.090. Epub 2009 Feb 7.

    PubMed 19208456
  • Ensoli B, Bellino S, Tripiciano A, Longo O, Francavilla V, Marcotullio S, Cafaro A, Picconi O, Paniccia G, Scoglio A, Arancio A, Ariola C, Ruiz Alvarez MJ, Campagna M, Scaramuzzi D, Iori C, Esposito R, Mussini C, Ghinelli F, Sighinolfi L, Palamara G, Latini A, Angarano G, Ladisa N, Soscia F, Mercurio VS, Lazzarin A, Tambussi G, Visintini R, Mazzotta F, Di Pietro M, Galli M, Rusconi S, Carosi G, Torti C, Di Perri G, Bonora S, Ensoli F, Garaci E. Therapeutic immunization with HIV-1 Tat reduces immune activation and loss of regulatory T-cells and improves immune function in subjects on HAART. PLoS One. 2010 Nov 11;5(11):e13540. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0013540.

    PubMed 21085635
  • Bellino S, Francavilla V, Longo O, Tripiciano A, Paniccia G, Arancio A, Fiorelli V, Scoglio A, Collacchi B, Campagna M, Lazzarin A, Tambussi G, Din CT, Visintini R, Narciso P, Antinori A, D'Offizi G, Giulianelli M, Carta M, Di Carlo A, Palamara G, Giuliani M, Laguardia ME, Monini P, Magnani M, Ensoli F, Ensoli B. Parallel conduction of the phase I preventive and therapeutic trials based on the Tat vaccine candidate. Rev Recent Clin Trials. 2009 Sep;4(3):195-204. doi: 10.2174/157488709789957529.

    PubMed 20028332
  • Ensoli B, Fiorelli V, Ensoli F, Lazzarin A, Visintini R, Narciso P, Di Carlo A, Monini P, Magnani M, Garaci E. The therapeutic phase I trial of the recombinant native HIV-1 Tat protein. AIDS. 2008 Oct 18;22(16):2207-9. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e32831392d4.

    PubMed 18832884
  • Ensoli B, Fiorelli V, Ensoli F, Cafaro A, Titti F, Butto S, Monini P, Magnani M, Caputo A, Garaci E. Candidate HIV-1 Tat vaccine development: from basic science to clinical trials. AIDS. 2006 Nov 28;20(18):2245-61. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0b013e3280112cd1. No abstract available.

    PubMed 17117011
  • Butto S, Fiorelli V, Tripiciano A, Ruiz-Alvarez MJ, Scoglio A, Ensoli F, Ciccozzi M, Collacchi B, Sabbatucci M, Cafaro A, Guzman CA, Borsetti A, Caputo A, Vardas E, Colvin M, Lukwiya M, Rezza G, Ensoli B; Tat Multicentric Study Group. Sequence conservation and antibody cross-recognition of clade B human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 Tat protein in HIV-1-infected Italians, Ugandans, and South Africans. J Infect Dis. 2003 Oct 15;188(8):1171-80. doi: 10.1086/378412. Epub 2003 Sep 30.

    PubMed 14551888
  • Rezza G, Fiorelli V, Dorrucci M, Ciccozzi M, Tripiciano A, Scoglio A, Collacchi B, Ruiz-Alvarez M, Giannetto C, Caputo A, Tomasoni L, Castelli F, Sciandra M, Sinicco A, Ensoli F, Butto S, Ensoli B. The presence of anti-Tat antibodies is predictive of long-term nonprogression to AIDS or severe immunodeficiency: findings in a cohort of HIV-1 seroconverters. J Infect Dis. 2005 Apr 15;191(8):1321-4. doi: 10.1086/428909. Epub 2005 Mar 14.

    PubMed 15776379
  • Bellino S, Tripiciano A, Picconi O, Francavilla V, Longo O, Sgadari C, Paniccia G, Arancio A, Angarano G, Ladisa N, Lazzarin A, Tambussi G, Nozza S, Torti C, Foca E, Palamara G, Latini A, Sighinolfi L, Mazzotta F, Di Pietro M, Di Perri G, Bonora S, Mercurio VS, Mussini C, Gori A, Galli M, Monini P, Cafaro A, Ensoli F, Ensoli B. The presence of anti-Tat antibodies in HIV-infected individuals is associated with containment of CD4+ T-cell decay and viral load, and with delay of disease progression: results of a 3-year cohort study. Retrovirology. 2014 Jun 24;11:49. doi: 10.1186/1742-4690-11-49.

    PubMed 24961156
  • Ensoli B, Cafaro A, Monini P, Marcotullio S, Ensoli F. Challenges in HIV Vaccine Research for Treatment and Prevention. Front Immunol. 2014 Sep 8;5:417. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2014.00417. eCollection 2014.

    PubMed 25250026
  • Ensoli F, Cafaro A, Casabianca A, Tripiciano A, Bellino S, Longo O, Francavilla V, Picconi O, Sgadari C, Moretti S, Cossut MR, Arancio A, Orlandi C, Sernicola L, Maggiorella MT, Paniccia G, Mussini C, Lazzarin A, Sighinolfi L, Palamara G, Gori A, Angarano G, Di Pietro M, Galli M, Mercurio VS, Castelli F, Di Perri G, Monini P, Magnani M, Garaci E, Ensoli B. HIV-1 Tat immunization restores immune homeostasis and attacks the HAART-resistant blood HIV DNA: results of a randomized phase II exploratory clinical trial. Retrovirology. 2015 Apr 29;12:33. doi: 10.1186/s12977-015-0151-y.

    PubMed 25924841
  • Cafaro A, Tripiciano A, Sgadari C, Bellino S, Picconi O, Longo O, Francavilla V, Butto S, Titti F, Monini P, Ensoli F, Ensoli B. Development of a novel AIDS vaccine: the HIV-1 transactivator of transcription protein vaccine. Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2015;15 Suppl 1:S13-29. doi: 10.1517/14712598.2015.1021328. Epub 2015 Jun 22.

    PubMed 26096836

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of HIV Infection, run by Barbara Ensoli, MD at 2 sites in South Africa.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 2016. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in South Africa. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Anti-Tat Antibody Responses (time frame: Up to 14 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01359800, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Mar 2016.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in