Le vendredi 27 juin 2025, Madame Céline FOMBELLIDA-LOPEZ, titulaire d'un Master en Sciences biomédicales à finalité approfondie et d’un Certificat de formation à la recherche en sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques, sous la direction de Monsieur Gilles DARCIS et de Monsieur Alexander PASTERNAK (Amsterdam UMC)

Cette épreuve consistera en la défense publique d'une thèse intitulée : «Impact of antiretroviral treatment on HIV-1 latent reservoirs and on ongoing viral replication».

Le jury sera composé de :

Nathalie JACOBS (Présidente), Anne VAN DEN BROEKE (ULB) (Secrétaire)Gilles DARCIS, Marie-Angélique DE SCHEERDER (UGent), Marie-Pierre HAYETTE, Olivier LAMBOTTE (Univ. Paris Sarclay), Michel MOUTSCHEN, Alexander PASTERNAK (Amsterdam UMC)

Résumé de la thèse

HIV is a chronic infection of the immune system that can be managed with antiretroviral therapy (ART), which suppresses viremia and prevents AIDS. However, ART is not curative, and stopping treatment leads to a rapid viral rebound. The main obstacle to a cure is the persistence of HIV latent reservoirs, but residual viral replication despite ART could also contribute. This replication might occur in tissues where drug levels are insufficient. It remains debated whether all ART regimens are equally effective at suppressing HIV.

Two studies have been designed to address this. The first, the EDIT study, examines the effect of increasing dolutegravir (an integrase inhibitor) dosage to prevent ongoing viral replication in tissues with low drug penetration. The second study, IDOLTIB, assesses whether the simplified dual therapy dolutegravir/lamivudine is safe and effective, in particular regarding the impact on HIV residual replication and HIV reservoirs. These studies also provide a chance to explore the complex relationship between HIV reservoirs, immune activation, and inflammation.