1 Understanding the high incidence of autoantibodies in HIV patients Christine BUNDELL 1 , Samantha J. BRUNT 2 , Lucette A. CYSIQUE 3,4,5, Anna BRUSCH 1 , Bruce J. BREW 3,4,5 , Patricia PRICE 6 . 1. Clinical Immunology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, Australia 2. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia 3. Peter Duncan Neurosciences Unit, St. Vincent’s Applied Medical Research Centre, Sydney, Australia 4. Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia 5. Neurology Department, St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, Australia 6. School of Biomedical Science, Curtin University, Perth, Australia Corresponding Author: A/Professor Patricia Price School of Biomedical Science, Curtin University Bentley, Western Australia Tel 618-92669716 Email: patricia.price@curtin.edu.au Funded by: This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia, the Medical Research Foundation (WA) and the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Research Fund. Short title: Autoantibodies in HIV patients