College of Medicine

Current focus of research is on the study of the HIV mechanisms of infection in cell lines, CD4 T-cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. We study the intracellular innate immunity mechanisms, cellular responses and cellular adaptations to incoming viral particles. We have special interest in proteins that are regulated by Interferon (Interferon Stimulated Genes) and how their expression promotes or blocks infectivity. We use multiple techniques such as long live-cell fluorescence imaging, high and super resolution fixed immunofluorescence (3D-SIM), biochemistry, biophysical, quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, and functional assays to study lentiviral infections of HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIVs from multiple non-human primates.