| Shweta Kaushik - Postdoctoral Fellow Shweta's main project in Dr. Levy's laboratory involves the elucidation of the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) in HIV pathogenesis. These cells are the main producers of type I interferons and thus, important in the innate immune defense against HIV. She is focussing on the mechanism of interferon induction in PDCs by HIV and HIV-infected cells and the role of Toll-like receptors in mediating this process. Additionally, she aims to investigate the effect of PDCs on NK cell function. | |
| Carmela Sidrauski - Postdoctoral Fellow Carmela's research is focused on identifying the CD8+ cell antiviral factor, or CAF, which is responsible, in part, for the CD8+ cell non-cytotoxic anti-HIV response. She is using a variety of biochemical, molecular and proteomics strategies to further characterize this factor. | |
| Fernando Teque - Staff Research Associate Fernando Teque works with Dr. Levy on approaches to identify CAF. His research involves virology, immunology, and molecular biology. He is also examining the potential function of CAF in blocking viral transcription. In particular, the possible inhibition of PTEF b (the positive transcriptional elongation factor b) by CAF is being evaluated. | |
| Scott Killian - Postodoctoral Fellow Dr. Scott Killian is currently investigating several exciting aspects of HIV pathogenesis. His projects include investigating the effect of structured treatment interruption on the CD8+ cell non-cytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR), assessments of the impact of HIV infection on plasmacytoid dendritic cells in subjects undergoing primary infection, and development of a rapid assay for measuring CNAR. Also, Dr. Killian is evaluating the use a lentiviral vector for delivering short interfering RNA (siRNA) against HIV to primary cells as a theraputic approach. | |
| Carl Johnson - Staff Research Associate
Carl works with Dr. Killian and Levy examining the role of the CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR) in HIV infection. He is evaluating CNAR in subjects acutely infected with the virus; those that have been exposed but were not infected; and, in particular, individuals who have maintained very strong control of HIV infection without receipt of antiviral drugs. His studies also involve determining a particular CD8+ cell subset that is responsible for CNAR and CAF production. | |
| Sue Fujimura - Staff Research Associate Sue is the Flow Cytometry specalist and substitute phlebotomist for the lab. | |
| Kaylynn Peter - Administrative Assistant Kaylynn is the administrator in the office who works with the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine in grant preparation. She also assists Dr. Levy in his role as Editor in Chief of the journal AIDS. | |
| Dr. Barbara Schmidt, M.D. - Visiting Scientist Barbara has been working with the lab of Dr. Levy as a visiting scientist and now as a co-investigator at her own laboratory at the University of Erlangen-Nuernberg in Germany . The focus of their research project is to elucidate the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) in the innate immune defense against HIV. These cells have recently been identified as the main producers of type I interferons. Our group reported that PDC numbers decline in AIDS patients, suggesting an important role in HIV pathogenesis. We are studying whether this decline can be explained by HIV infection of PDC or other immunologic mechanisms. Using a longitudinal cohort of nearly 100 HIV-infected individuals, we are currently evaluating the role of antiretroviral therapy in restoration of PDC counts. Most importantly, we are focusing on the mechanism of interferon induction by HIV and HIV-infected cells and the role of Toll-like receptors in this process. | |
Carl Mackewicz, Ph.D. - Research Immunologist Carl's research activities have been directed towards a better understanding of the CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR). It involves the characterization of an antiviral factor produced by CD8+ T cells that blocks HIV replication in vitro. This CD8+ cell antiviral factor, termed CAF, mediates, at least in part, the noncytotoxic anti-HIV activity of CD8+ cells from HIV-infected individuals. CAF is a low molecular weight protein that is produced in small amounts by activated CD8+ T cells. It has broad specificity, being active against all HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV strains tested. Unlike other known antiviral cytokines, CAF appears to specifically block viral transcription. | |
| Erin Bufalini - Lab Helper Erin takes care of the basic lab upkeep tasks that keep the lab running smoothly. | |
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 | Lian Xing Liu - Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow Lian Xing Liu is visiting from Dr. Shao's Lab in the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. His research is focused on the CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR) to different clades and tropisms of the HIV virus. He is also reviewing CAF candidate proteins for HIV suppression. | |
 | Lin Wang - Visiting Scholar Lin's research is focused on the interactions between CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR) and various popular HIV anti-retrovirals. | |
  | Araceli Gutierrez - Administrative Assistant Araceli helps Dr. Levy in grant preperation and in his role as Editor in Chief of the journal AIDS. | |
