Accurate Staging of Immuno-virological Dynamics During Acute HIV Infection

Inclusion Criteria:

• Documented recent HIV-1 infection, early diagnosis: clinical symptoms of acuteseroconversion and incomplete Western Blot OR negative screening test within thepast 6 months and incomplete Western Blot OR risk contact within the 3 months andpresumable primo-infection with or without clinical symptoms and incomplete WesternBlot

• Able and willing to provide written informed consent

• Ability to attend the complete schedule of assessments and patient visits forpatients participating in option A schedule (described below), or ability to attenda partial schedule of assessments and patient visits for patients participating inoption B (described below).

• Ability and willingness to have blood and tissue samples collected and storedindefinitely and used for various research purposes.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous or current history of opportunistic infection (AIDS defining events asdefined in category C of the CDC clinical classification), consisting of chronicHIV-1 infection.

• Evidence of active HBV infection (Hepatitis B surface antigen positive or HBV viralload positive in the past and no evidence of subsequent seroconversion (=HBV antigenor viral load negative and positive HBV surface antibody).

• Evidence of active HCV infection: HCV antibody positive result within 60 days priorto study entry with positive HCV viral load or, if the HCV antibody result isnegative, a positive HCV RNA result within 60 days prior to study entry.

• Current or known history of cardiomyopathy or significant ischemic orcerebrovascular disease.

• Current history of cancer.

• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

• Any conditions, including psychiatric and psychological disorders, which will in theopinion of the investigator interfere with the trial conduct or safety of theparticipant.

• Previous participation in a trial evaluating an immune modulating agent

• Abnormal laboratory tests results at screening: confirmed Hemoglobin <11g/dl forwomen and <12 g:dl for men/ confirmed platelet count < 100000/l / confirmedneutrophil count <1000/μl/ confirmed AST and/or ALT > 3xULN

• Active drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the siteinvestigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.

• Acute or serious illness, in the opinion of the site investigator, requiringsystemic treatment and/or hospitalization within 60 days prior to entry.