Researcher seeks to block HIV at its point of entry, the vagina

A new line of research is shedding light on how HIV interacts with the female genital tract. This work could inform the design of more effective HIV vaccines and prevention strategies.

Matrona Akiso, a doctoral student at the KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, Department of Medical Microbiology, at the University of Nairobi, hopes her findings will one day help protect women from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Women remain disproportionately affected by HIV worldwide. According to UNAIDS, in Sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls account for 62 per cent of new HIV infections.

Experts attribute this imbalance to a combination of biological and social factors. Biologically, the vaginal mucosa and the cervix serve as initial points of contact for the virus, making it easier for HIV to establish infection.

Akiso’s work focuses on understanding how the virus interacts with vaginal secretions at the mucosal surface. This understanding could lead to targeted interventions that enhance mucosal immunity.

“This research focuses on the environment where HIV first encounters the body,” she said, adding; “If we understand how the virus moves in vaginal secretions, we could inform the design of vaccines that trigger effective immune responses right at the point of entry.”

 She explained this process in simple terms. Her studies use fresh mucus samples collected from adult women. Then specialised microscopes are used to measure how fast the virus travels through the mucus. By examining this movement, she can determine how factors, such as hormones or immune responses affect HIV’s mobility.

HIV remains a global health challenge. Over four decades into the epidemic, an effective vaccine remains elusive. The virus mutates rapidly and presents many variants.

The complexity of the virus, coupled with the complexity of human mucosal immunity, makes vaccine design difficult. “You must first understand the environment where the virus thrives,”  Akiso said indirectly, explaining that her project aims at generating essential baseline data.

“We know that the vaginal environment is not uniform. Factors, such as sex hormones, local immune responses, and microbial communities can influence HIV transmission,” she added.

If scientists can understand how HIV interacts with the vaginal mucus, that knowledge could guide strategies to prevent other infections as well. “Strengthening mucosal immunity may have a broader benefit,” she said.

Funding scientific research is not easy. Laboratory work, especially studies involving viral analysis, comes with high costs. Reagents, assays, and specialised equipment require consistent financial support.

Akiso acknowledged that she faces many hurdles. She has applied for small grants, sought guidance from experienced faculty, and collaborated with partners abroad.

Her research has received support from a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant won by her supervisor and a U.S. collaborator. Still, there are always additional expenses. Laboratory assays are costly, and every extra test can deepen understanding.

Akiso received a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)-L’Oréal For Women in Science Award. She did not publicly reveal the amount, but the funding received will help her perform at least one more assay that she initially could not afford.

“This award gives me the confidence that my work matters,” she said. “It has been reviewed by experts and deemed worthy of support. That validation boosts my morale and shows me that my research can add value,”she continues.

She also appreciates that awards, such as these appreciates women’s contributions to science. Statistics show that women make up less than 30 per cent of researchers globally, and the figures are lower in fields, such as immunology and HIV research.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, women researchers face economic, social, and cultural barriers. Funding opportunities, mentorship, and institutional support are crucial to help women advance in their scientific careers.

Balancing personal life and work is another challenge Akiso understands well. She is a mother of four all under the age of 10 and appreciates her family’s support. “Without family support, it would have been even harder. Women in science need understanding supervisors and partners who see the value of their work,” she said.

Beyond her own household, she calls on academic institutions and supervisors to consider the unique challenges women face.

She believes policies should allow flexibility for researchers who are also caregivers. A supportive environment could include maternity leave policies that do not penalise academic progress and supervisors who understand personal responsibilities. The goal is not to lower standards but to enable women to meet them.

Akiso’s research is not about creating a final HIV vaccine. Rather, it sets the stage for better-informed vaccine design.

By understanding how HIV behaves in the vaginal environment, future studies can identify the best immune responses to induce.

This data might inform vaccine developers on what kind of mucosal immunity to target. “I am not directly making a vaccine. I am providing critical knowledge. With time, this understanding may improve interventions that protect women from HIV,” she clarified.