The laboratory is interested in the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and evasion of the immune system by human retroviruses, human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). The role of the regulatory genes of HTLV-I in initiating T cell leukemogenesis is being studied. These studies are assisted by defective retroviral vectors based on HIV-1 that are being developed to deliver genes efficiently to primary hematopoietic cells.

The HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins are being studied for their role in virus entry, cytopathic effects, and elicitation of neutralizing antibodies. The structural features on the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins that modify interactions with the target cell and with the immune system are being defined. New primate animal models of AIDS are being developed to explore the in vivo role of HIV-1 proteins in CD4 lymphocyte depletion and as targets for protective immune responses. Optimization of immune responses to provide protection against a variety of HIV-1 geographic strains is a goal of the research.

M.D., 1980, Jefferson Medical College