The Laboratory of Human Retrovirology and Immunoinformatics conducts basic and clinical research to better understand the immunopathological effects of infectious diseases and how those effects are influenced by genetics. 

Basic and translational research group 

We support and collaborate with National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases investigators in applied research and clinical trials. Our laboratory approaches HIV, HSV-1, HSV-2, KHSV, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 studies from basic and translational research perspectives.  

Laboratory-developed digital resources

Bioinformatics resource and research information tracking systems for clinical trial support

Our laboratory developed and now maintains DAVID, a bioinformatics resource system, and the VIGILANT: HIV, SARS-CoV-2 research information tracking system.

Case study links inflammation to HIV persistence in specific scenarios

A years-long case study has potentially identified another factor with which HIV treatment efforts must contend: Inflammation could be a linchpin in the virus’ overexpression in some people…

Our groups and expertise

Basic Research Group 

Our group evaluates novel reagents for potential anti-HIV activity against multi-class drug-resistant HIV mutants. 

  • Assess the role of interleukin-27 on reactive oxygen species and autophagy induction, and macrophage, T-cell, and dendritic cell differentiation 

  • Examine the mechanism of the novel, Ku70-mediated innate immune response in human cells 

  • Investigate antiviral mechanisms of novel antiviral microRNAs 

Clinical and Translational Research Group 

Our group provides HIV and SARS-CoV-2 viral protein detection services to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases investigators in support of clinical trials. 

  • Characterize the role of novel mutations in patient-derived HIV on viral replication fitness and drug susceptibility 

  • Perform cell-image analyses using confocal and fluorescence microscopy and the CellStream® flow cytometry system 

Bioinformatics Group 

Our group conducts bioinformatics analyses in support of basic and translational research. We maintain DAVID and respond to user queries. 

  • Genome-wide association studies 

  • Next-generation sequencing data analyses