Summary
I have been involved in HIV-1 clinical research alongside large epidemiological cohort studies for over 20 years. My current project involves establishing 'The HIVQuant Project' - www.hivquant.com; updating and field-testing an ambient-temperature HIV-1 quantification kit for early infant-diagnosis, treatment-monitoring and research. The kit is specifically designed for resource-constrained settings. I have undertaken an extensive market discovery excerise through the ICURe program and I am pursing various partnership and licensing options for the venture. I am also actively applying for funding to continue this work in collaboration with various partners.
My research activities include the molecular characterization of the HIV Infection event and profiling of CD8-mediated killing. I am developing and optimizing ultra-sensitive HIV-1 total nucleic acid and integrated DNA qPCR assays and integration-site profiling protocols.
One of the specific studies I have worked on related to transmitted founder infectious molecular clones with defined replicative capacity, that have been shown to define early HIV-1 pathogenesis. Using a qualitative viral inhibition assay (VIA), a negative correlation had been deciphered between viral replicative capacity and CD8 T cell mediated viral inhibition. I hypothesized that high replicative capacity is associated with higher HIV RNA kinetics and a transcriptomic profile that would indicate greater viral success in hijacking host replicative cellular functions and suppression of host immune recognition. I am also investigating the differences in integration site profiles between clones with different replicative capacities and between donors with differential responses in the VIA.
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Malisa J, Manak M, Michelo C, et al. , 2023, Use of laboratory-developed assays in global HIV-1 treatment-monitoring and research, Scientific Reports, Vol:13, ISSN:2045-2322, Pages:1-7
Kibirige C, Manak M, King D, et al. , 2022, Development of a Sensitive, Quantitative Assay with Broad Subtype Specificity for Detection of Total HIV-1 Nucleic Acids in Plasma and PBMC, Scientific Reports, Vol:12, ISSN:2045-2322
Makinde J, Nduati EW, Freni-Sterrantino A, et al. , 2021, A novel sample selection approach to aid the identification of factors that correlate wth the control of HIV-1 infection, Frontiers in Immunology, Vol:12, ISSN:1664-3224, Pages:1-12
N Kibirige C, 2016, White elephants and donor-funded clinical research in developing countries, Journal of Aids & Clinical Research, Vol:07, ISSN:2155-6113
Kibirige C, 2014, Translating Burkitt’sl ymphoma research into viable solutions for developing countries, Austin Journal of Clinical Immunology, Vol:1, ISSN:2381-9138
Kibirige CN, Menendez FA, Zhang H, et al. , 2014, Late-emerging strains of HIV induce T-cell homeostasis failure by promoting bystander cell death and immune exhaustion in naive CD4 and all CD8 T-cells, Medical Hypotheses, Vol:83, ISSN:0306-9877, Pages:69-73
Jagodzinski LL, Liu Y, Hack HR, et al. , 2014, Discrepant amplification results during the development of an assay leads to reclassification of two AIDS reagent repository HIV-2 isolates HIV-1, PLOS One, Vol:9, ISSN:1932-6203, Pages:e96554-e96554
Kibirige C, 2013, The use of ultra-sensitive molecular assays in HIV cure-related reserach, Journal of Aids & Clinical Research, Vol:04, ISSN:2155-6113
Conference
Makinde J, Nduati EW, Sterrantino AF, et al. , 2021, Analysis of the early responses to HIV-1 in matched treatment naive individuals reveals early soluble proteins that are associated with <i>in vivo</i> virus control, JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD
Makinde J, Nduati EW, Kibirige C, et al. , 2018, Classification of HIV Controllers in an Acute Infection Cohort to Enable Systems Investigation of Signatures Associated With Control of Infection, HIV Research for Prevention Meeting (HIVR4P) - AIDS Vaccine, Microbicide and ARV-Based Prevention Science, MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC, Pages:377-377, ISSN:0889-2229
Kibirige C, McGowan E, Hayes P, et al. , 2018, Correlating HIV RNA Levels, Viral Replicative Capacity and Immune Control Within an Assay to Measure CD8 T Cell Mediated HIV-1 Inhibition In Vitro, HIV Research for Prevention Meeting (HIVR4P) - AIDS Vaccine, Microbicide and ARV-Based Prevention Science, MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC, Pages:176-176, ISSN:0889-2229