Bartels – Employment: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Eileen Z. Zhang – Employment: Vertex; Stock Shareholder: Vertex Andrew Davis – Employment: Vertex Mark I. Friedman – Employment: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated; Stock Shareholder: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated Tara L. Kieffer – Employment: Vertex; Stock Shareholder: Vertex Jeroen Aerssens – Employment: Janssen Infectious Diseases bvba; Stock Shareholder: Johnson & Johnson Sandra De Meyer – Employment: Janssen Infectious Diseases bvba (J&J); Stock Shareholder: J&J James C. Sullivan – Employment: Vertex PLX4032 mw Pharmaceuticals

Incorporated; Stock Shareholder: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated The following people have nothing to disclose: Anne Ghys, Elizabeth Van Rossem Background: The reported high frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection in pegIFN-treated HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) suggests that treatment-induced viral clearance does not lead to sterilizing immunity against HCV. We longitudinally investigated the presence, breadth and persistence of neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses in HIV-infected MSM with acute HCV infection and sustained viral response (SVR) following treatment. Methods: Eleven peglFN-treated HIV-infected MSM with documented primary HCV-1a

infection were selected Selleckchem BAY 80-6946 for this study. All patients received peglFN and ribavirin treatment

for 24 weeks, achieved SVR and remained HCV RNA negative for a median of 2 years (IQR, 1-5). Presence of nAbs against different genotypes was tested using a panel of 12 HCVpseudo-particles (HCVpp) consisting of genotypes 1b, −2a, 2b, −3a, −4a, – 4d and 6 HCV-1a strains, of which 5 were derived from locally circulating viruses. The presence of nAbs was investigated at the first RNA positive timepoint, start of treatment, last RNA positive sample and at 3 and 6 months after last RNA positive sample. Results: NAbs against Dehydratase one or more HCVpps were present in 8 of 11 patients during follow up. In 7 of 8 patients nAbs were already present at the first RNA positive timepoint. Breadth of response, indicated by the number of HCVpps neutralized, peaked at 3 months after viral clearance. Six months after viral clearance the number of HCVpps neutralized was strongly reduced. The number of HCVpps neutralized was strongly correlated with CD4+ count at the time of HCV acquisition. Interestingly, we observed a strong trend for the presence of nAbs against HCV-genotype 1 compared to non-1 genotypes (p = 0, 056). Conclusion: Although limited by small numbers, our results suggest the presence of partial immunity against HCV, mainly directed at the primary infecting genotype. In addition, breadth of nAb responses in HIV-infected individuals is correlated with the CD4+ count.