Population Council Research that makes a difference

Melissa Robbiani, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist and Director, Biomedical HIV Research

In Vitro and In Vivo Testing of Microbicides (more)
Council research is advancing microbicide strategies to prevent dendritic cell–driven infection of HIV across the body surfaces.
(1/2005 - ongoing)
Topics: HIV biomedical research
Countries: United States

Nonclinical Laboratory Studies: Microbicide Formulation and Delivery (more)
Population Council laboratory scientists are developing vaginal rings and water-based gels to deliver microbicide formulations.
(1/2004 - ongoing)
Topics: HIV biomedical research; Microbicides
Countries: United States

Nonclinical Laboratory Studies: PC-1005 Gel (Carrageenan with Added MIV-150 and Zinc Salts) (more)
Council scientists are investigating microbicide gels containing carrageenan, MIV-150, and zinc salts that might block acquisition and transmission of HIV.
(1/2004 - ongoing)
Topics: HIV biomedical research; Microbicides
Countries: United States

Nonclinical Laboratory Studies: PC-700 Series Gels (Carrageenan with Zinc Salts) (more)
Council researchers are studying microbicide gels containing carrageenan and zinc salts that might block acquisition and transmission of herpes and HIV.
(1/2000 - ongoing)
Topics: HIV biomedical research; Microbicides
Countries: United States

Nonclinical Laboratory Studies: Vaginal Rings Loaded with MIV-150 (more)
Council scientists are conducting studies of vaginal rings releasing MIV-150 that might provide continuous protection from acquisition and transmission of HIV for at least one month.
(1/2007 - ongoing)
Topics: HIV biomedical research; Microbicides
Countries: United States

Transmission of Immunodeficiency Viruses: Dendritic Cells and Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses (more)
Understanding how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is transmitted during sexual intercourse and how co-pathogens impact HIV spread is a focus of Council research.
(1/2005 - ongoing)
Topics: HIV biomedical research
Countries: United States

Role of Integrins in HIV/SIV Transmission Across the Cervico-Vaginal Mucosa (more)
Council researchers are studying the earliest stages of vaginal HIV infection in rhesus macaques.
(3/2012 - 3/2017)
Topics: HIV biomedical research
Countries: United States

A Novel DARPins Strategy for Combating HIV (more)
Council researchers are exploring the use of DARPins to limit HIV replication in vitro and provide the first tests of this novel antiviral strategy in vivo.
(7/2008 - 6/2014)
Topics: HIV biomedical research
Countries: Switzerland, United States

Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy on Mucosal Immunity (more)
Council researchers are investigating the potential influence of long-term antiretroviral therapy on oral immune function.
(1/2005 - 6/2012)
Topics: HIV biomedical research
Countries: United States

Melissa Robbiani, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist and Director, Biomedical HIV Research

In search of the optimal delivery method for anti-HIV microbicides: Are intravaginal rings the way forward?  (abstract) (HTML) 
Derby,Nina R.; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Robbiani,Melissa
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy 11(1): 5-8
Publication date: 2013

Simian immunodeficiency virus interactions with macaque dendritic cells  (HTML) 
Teleshova,Natalia; Derby,Nina R.; Martinelli,Elena; Pugach,Pavel; Calenda,Giulia; Robbiani,Melissa; Wu,Li; Schwartz,Olivier
from "HIV interactions with dendritic cells: Infection and immunity," Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology 762, pp. 155-181
Publication date: 2013

A single dose of a MIV-150/zinc acetate gel provides 24 h of protection against vaginal simian human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase infection, with more limited protection rectally 8-24 h after gel use  (abstract) (HTML) 
Kenney,Jessica; Singer,Rachel; Derby,Nina R.; Aravantinou,Meropi; Abraham,Ciby J.; Menon,Radhika; Seidor,Samantha; Zhang,Shimin; Gettie,Agegnehu; Blanchard,James; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Robbiani,Melissa
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 28(11): 1476-1484
Publication date: 2012

An intravaginal ring that releases the NNRTI MIV-150 reduces SHIV transmission in macaques  (abstract) (HTML) 
Singer,Rachel; Mawson,Paul; Derby,Nina R.; Rodriguez,Aixa; Kizima,Larisa; Menon,Radhika; Goldman,Daniel; Kenney,Jessica; Aravantinou,Meropi; Seidor,Samantha; Gettie,Agegnehu; Blanchard,James; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Robbiani,Melissa; Zydowsky,Thomas M.
Science Translational Medicine 4(150)
Publication date: 2012

Characterization of peripheral and mucosal immune responses in rhesus macaques on long-term tenofovir and emtricitabine combination antiretroviral therapy  (abstract) (HTML) 
Jasny,Edith; Geer,Suzanne; Frank,Ines; Vagenas,Panagiotis; Aravantinou,Meropi; Salazar,Andres M.; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Gettie,Agegnehu; Blanchard,James L.; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 61(4): 425-435
Publication date: 2012

Non-specific microbicide development: Then and now  (abstract) (HTML) 
Romano,Joseph W.; Robbiani,Melissa; Doncel,Gustavo F.; Moench,Thomas
Current HIV Research 10(1): 9-18
Publication date: 2012

The nonnucleoside reverse transcription inhibitor MIV-160 delivered from an intravaginal ring, but not from a carrageenan gel, protects against simian/human immunodeficiency virus-RT infection  (abstract) (PDF) 
Aravantinou,Meropi; Singer,Rachel; Derby,Nina R.; Calenda,Giulia; Mawson,Paul; Abraham,Ciby J.; Menon,Radhika; Seidor,Samantha; Goldman,Daniel; Kenney,Jessica; Villegas,Guillermo; Gettie,Agegnehu; Blanchard,James; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Teleshova,Natalia; Robbiani,Melissa
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 28(11): 1467-1475
Publication date: 2012

Zinc acetate/carrageenan gels exhibit potent activity in vivo against high dose HSV-2 vaginal and rectal challenge  (abstract) (PDF) 
Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Abraham,Ciby J.; Rodriguez,Aixa; Kizima,Larisa; Jean-Pierre,Ninochka; Menon,Radhika; Begay,Othell; Seidor,Samantha; Ford,Brian E.; Gil,Pedro I.; Peters,Jennifer; Katz,David; Robbiani,Melissa; Zydowsky,Thomas M.
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 56(1): 358-368
Publication date: 2012

An antiretroviral/zinc combination gel provides 24 hours of complete protection against vaginal SHIV infection in macaques  (abstract) (PDF) 
Kenney,Jessica; Aravantinou,Meropi; Singer,Rachel; Hsu,Mayla; Rodriguez,Aixa; Kizima,Larisa; Abraham,Ciby J.; Menon,Radhika; Seidor,Samantha; Chudolij,Anne; Gettie,Agegnehu; Blanchard,James; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Robbiani,Melissa
PLoS ONE 6(1): E15835-
Publication date: 2011

Attachment and fusion inhibitors potently prevent DC-driven infection  (abstract) (PDF) 
Frank,Ines; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 56(3): 204-212
Publication date: 2011

HSV-2 infection of dendritic cells amplifies a highly susceptible HIV-1 cell target  (abstract) (PDF) 
Martinelli,Elena; Tharinger,Hugo; Frank,Ines; Arthos,James; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Blanchard,James; Gettie,Agegnehu; Robbiani,Melissa
PLoS Pathogens 7(6): e1002109. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1002109-
Publication date: 2011

Identification of personal lubricants that can cause rectal epithelial cell damage and enhance HIV-1 replication in vitro  (abstract) (HTML) 
Begay,Othell; Jean-Pierre,Ninochka; Abraham,Ciby J.; Chudolij,Anne; Seidor,Samantha; Rodriguez,Aixa; Ford,Brian E.; Henderson,Marcus; Katz,David; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Robbiani,Melissa; Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 27(9): 1019-1024
Publication date: 2011

Myeloid dendritic cells in HIV-1 infection  (abstract) (HTML) 
Derby,Nina R.; Martinelli,Elena; Robbiani,Melissa
Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS 6(5): 379-384
Publication date: 2011

The nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor MIV-150 in carrageenan gel prevents rectal transmission of simian/human immunodeficiency virus infection in macaques  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Singer,Rachel; Derby,Nina R.; Rodriguez,Aixa; Kizima,Larisa; Kenney,Jessica; Aravantinou,Meropi; Chudolij,Anne; Gettie,Agegnehu; Blanchard,James; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Virology 85(11): 5504-5512
Publication date: 2011

In vivo binding and retention of CD4-Specific DARPin 57.2 in macaques  (abstract) (PDF) 
Pugach,Pavel; Krarup,Anders; Gettie,Agegnehu; Kuroda,Marcelo; Blanchard,James; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Trkola,Alexandra; Robbiani,Melissa
PLoS ONE 5(8): e12455 (1)-e12455 (9)
Publication date: 2010

A tonsillar polyICLC/AT-2 SIV therapeutic vaccine maintains low viremia following antiretroviral therapy cessation  (abstract) (PDF) 
Vagenas,Panagiotis; Aravantinou,Meropi; Williams,Vennansha G.; Jasny,Edith; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Salazar,Andres M.; Blanchard,James; Gettie,Agegnehu; Robbiani,Melissa
PLoS ONE 5(9): e12891 (1)-e12891 (13)
Publication date: 2010

A macaque model to study vaginal HSV-2/immunodeficiency virus co-infection and the impact of HSV-2 on microbicide efficacy  (abstract) (HTML) 
Crostarosa,Federica; Aravantinou,Meropi; Akpogheneta,Onome J.; Jasny,Edith; Shaw,Andrew; Kenney,Jessica; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Teitelbaum,Aaron; Hu,Lieyu; Chudolij,Anne; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Blanchard,James; Gettie,Agegnehu; Robbiani,Melissa
PLoS ONE 4(11): e8060 (1)-e8060 (14)
Publication date: 2009

Double-stranded RNA analog poly(I:C) inhibits human immunodeficiency virus amplification in dendritic cells via type I interferon-mediated activation of APOBEC3G  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Trapp,Susanna; Derby,Nina R.; Singer,Rachel; Shaw,Andrew; Williams,Vennansha G.; Turville,Stuart G.; Bess Jr.,Julian W.; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Virology 83(2): 884-895
Publication date: 2009

Tonsillar application of AT-2 SIV affords partial protection against rectal challenge with SIVmac239  (abstract) (HTML) 
Vagenas,Panagiotis; Williams,Vennansha G.; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Bess Jr.,Julian W.; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Blanchard,James; Gettie,Agegnehu; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 52(4): 433-529
Publication date: 2009

Candida albicans-induced DC activation reduces HIV amplification by DCs while increasing DC-to-T-cell spread of HIV  (abstract) (HTML) 
Vachot,Laurence; Williams,Vennansha G.; Bess Jr.,Julian W.; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 48(4): 398-407
Publication date: 2008

A fusion inhibitor prevents spread of immunodeficiency viruses, but not activation of virus-specific T cells, by dendritic cells  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Frank,Ines; Stoessel,Hella; Gettie,Agegnehu; Turville,Stuart G.; Bess Jr.,Julian W.; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Sivin,Irving; Romani,Nikolaus; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Virology 82(11): 5329-5339
Publication date: 2008

CD4-specific Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins are novel potent HIV entry inhibitors with unique characteristics  (abstract) (PDF) 
Schweizer,Andreas; Rusert,Peter; Berlinger,Livia; Ruprecht,Claudia R.; Mann,Axel; Corthesy,Stephanie; Turville,Stuart G.; Aravantinou,Meropi; Fischer,Marek; Robbiani,Melissa; Amstutz,Patrick; Trkola,Alexandra
PLoS Pathogens 4(7): e1000109-
Publication date: 2008

Efficacy of Carraguard-based microbicides in vivo despite variable in vitro activity  (abstract) (PDF) 
Turville,Stuart G.; Aravantinou,Meropi; Miller,Todd; Kenney,Jessica; Teitelbaum,Aaron; Hu,Lieyu; Chudolij,Anne; Zydowsky,Thomas M.; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Bess Jr.,Julian W.; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Blanchard,James; Gettie,Agegnehu; Robbiani,Melissa
PLoS ONE 3(9): e3162-
Publication date: 2008

Feline immunodeficiency virus dendritic cell infection and transfer  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Sprague,Wendy S.; Robbiani,Melissa; Avery,Paul R.; O'Halloran,Kevin P.; Hoover,Edward A.
Journal of General Virology 89(3): 709-715
Publication date: 2008

Microbicides  (HTML) 
Kaldor,John; Robbiani,Melissa
Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS 3(5)
Publication date: 2008

Resolution of de novo HIV production and trafficking in immature dendritic cells  (abstract) (HTML) 
Turville,Stuart G.; Aravantinou,Meropi; Stoessel,Hella; Romani,Nikolaus; Robbiani,Melissa
Nature Methods 5(1): 75-85
Publication date: 2008

Carrageenan/MIV-150 (PC-815), a combination microbicide  (abstract) (HTML) 
Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Thorn,Mitchell; Turville,Stuart G.; Titchen,Kanani; Sudol,Kristin M.; Li,Jifan; Miller,Todd; Robbiani,Melissa; Maguire,Robin A.; Buckheit Jr.,Robert W.; Hartman,Tracy L.; Phillips,David M.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 34(1): 9-14
Publication date: 2007

Current concepts of HIV transmission  (abstract) (HTML) 
Morrow,Gavin; Vachot,Laurence; Vagenas,Panagiotis; Robbiani,Melissa
Current HIV/AIDS Reports 4(1): 29-35
Publication date: 2007

CpG-C ISS-ODN activation of blood-derived B cells from healthy and chronic immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Teleshova,Natalia; Kenney,Jessica; Williams,Vennansha G.; Van Nest,Gary; Marshall,Jason; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Sivin,Irving; Dufour,Jason; Bohm,Rudolf; Gettie,Agegnehu; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Leukocyte Biology 79(2): 257-267
Publication date: 2006

Dendritic cells and HIV infection: Activating dendritic cells to boost immunity  (abstract) (HTML) 
Teleshova,Natalia; Kenney,Jessica; Robbiani,Melissa
Advances in Dental Research 19(1): 36-41
Publication date: 2006

Local and systemic effects of intranodally injected CpG-C immunostimulatory-oligodeoxyribonucleotides in macaques  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Teleshova,Natalia; Kenney,Jessica; Van Nest,Gary; Marshall,Jason; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Sivin,Irving; Dufour,Jason; Bohm,Rudolf; Gettie,Agegnehu; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Immunology 177(12): 8531-8541
Publication date: 2006

Lymphocyte-dendritic cell interactions and mucosal acquisition of SIV/HIV infection  (abstract) (HTML) 
Turville,Stuart G.; Peretti,Silvia; Pope,Melissa
Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS 1(1): 3-9
Publication date: 2006

Slamming the door on unwanted guests: Why preemptive strikes at the mucosa may be the best strategy against HIV  (abstract) (PDF) 
Trapp,Susanna; Turville,Stuart G.; Robbiani,Melissa
Journal of Leukocyte Biology 80(5): 1076-1083
Publication date: 2006

Sleeping with the enemy: The insidious relationship between dendritic cells and immunodeficiency viruses 
Vachot,Laurence; Turville,Stuart G.; Trapp,Susanna; Peretti,Silvia; Morrow,Gavin; Frank,Ines; Pope,Melissa; Lutz,Manfred B.; Romani,Nikolaus; Steinkasserer,Alexander
from Handbook of Dendritic Cells: Biology, Diseases and Therapies, pp. 773-797
Publication date: 2006

Culture and comparison of feline myeloid dendritic cells vs. macrophages  (abstract) (HTML) 
Sprague,Wendy S.; Pope,Melissa; Hoover,Edward A.
Journal of Comparative Pathology 133(2-3): 136-145
Publication date: 2005

Elimination of retroviral infectivity by N-ethylmaleimide with preservation of functional envelope glycoproteins  (abstract) (HTML) 
Morcock,David R.; Thomas,James A.; Gagliardi,Tracy D.; Gorelick,Robert J.; Roser,J.David; Chertova,Elena N.; Bess Jr.,Julian W.; Ott,David E.; Sattentau,Quentin J.; Frank,Ines; Pope,Melissa; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Henderson,Louis E.; Crise,Bruce J.
Journal of Virology 79(3): 1533-1542
Publication date: 2005

Immunomodulatory effects of HSV-2 infection on immature macaque dendritic cells modify innate and adaptive responses  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Peretti,Silvia; Shaw,Andrew; Blanchard,James; Bohm,Rudolf; Morrow,Gavin; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Gettie,Agegnehu; Pope,Melissa
Blood 106(4): 1305-1313
Publication date: 2005

Blockade of attachment and fusion receptors inhibits HIV-1 infection of human cervical tissue  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Hu,Qinxue; Frank,Ines; Williams,Vennansha G.; Santos,John J.; Watts,Patricia; Griffin,George E.; Moore,John P.; Pope,Melissa; Shattock,Robin J.
Journal of Experimental Medicine 199(8): 1065-1075
Publication date: 2004

CpG-C ISS-ODN activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells in rhesus macaques to augment the activation of IFN-γ-secreting SIV-specific T cells  (abstract) (HTML) 
Teleshova,Natalia; Kenney,Jessica; Jones,Jennifer; Marshall,Jason; Van Nest,Gary; Dufour,Jason; Bohm,Rudolf; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Gettie,Agegnehu; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Immunology 173(3): 1647-1657
Publication date: 2004

Early dendritic cell-driven events governing the mucosal transmission of HIV: Targets for vaccines and microbicides  (HTML) 
Pope,Melissa
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative Report 8(2): 1-5
Publication date: 2004

Immunodeficiency virus uptake, turnover, and 2-phase transfer in human dendritic cells  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Turville,Stuart G.; Santos,John J.; Frank,Ines; Cameron,Paul U.; Wilkinson,John; Miranda-Saksena,Monica; Dable,Joanne; Stoessel,Hella; Romani,Nikolaus; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Pope,Melissa; Cunningham,Anthony L.
Blood 103(6): 2170-2179
Publication date: 2004

Induction of neutralising antibodies restricts the use of human granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor for vaccine studies in rhesus macaques  (abstract) (HTML) 
Eisenblatter,Martin; Stahl-Hennig,Christiane; Kuate,Seraphin; Stolte,Nicole; Jasny,Edith; Hahn,Helmut; Pope,Melissa; Tenner-Racz,Klara; Racz,Paul; Steinman,Ralph M.; Uberla,Klaus; Ignatius,Ralf
Vaccine 22(25-26): 3295-3302
Publication date: 2004

Macaque dendritic cells infected with SIV-recombinant canarypox ex vivo induce SIV-specific immune responses in vivo  (abstract) (HTML) 
Villamide-Herrera,Loreley; Ignatius,Ralf; Eller,Michael A.; Wilkinson,Kelly; Griffin,Catherine; Mehlhop,Erin; Jones,Jennifer; Han,Seol-Young; Lewis,Mark G.; Parrish,Stephanie; VanCott,Tom C.; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Schlesinger,Sarah; Mascola,John R.; Pope,Melissa
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 20(8): 871-884
Publication date: 2004

Short-term Flt3L treatment effectively mobilizes functional macaque dendritic cells  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Teleshova,Natalia; Jones,Jennifer; Kenney,Jessica; Purcell,Jeanette; Bohm,Rudolf; Gettie,Agegnehu; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Leukocyte Biology 75(6): 1102-1110
Publication date: 2004

Nefarious abuse  (abstract) (HTML) 
Pope,Melissa
Nature Immunology 4 (8): 729-730
Publication date: 2003

Dendritic cells as a conduit to improve HIV vaccines  (abstract) (HTML) 
Pope,Melissa
Current Molecular Medicine 3(3): 229-242
Publication date: 2003

Entry inhibitors SCH-C, RANTES, and T-20 block HIV type 1 replication in multiple cell types  (abstract) (HTML) 
Ketas,Thomas J.; Klasse,Per Johan; Spenlehauer,Catherine; Nesin,Mirjana; Frank,Ines; Pope,Melissa; Strizki,Julie M.; Reyes,Gregory R.; Baroudy,Bahige M.; Moore,John P.
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 19(3): 177-186
Publication date: 2003

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 attachment, coreceptor, and fusion inhibitors are active against both direct and trans infection of primary cells  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Ketas,Thomas J.; Frank,Ines; Klasse,Per Johan; Sullivan,Brian M.; Gardener,Jason P.; Spenlehauer,Catherine; Nesin,Mirjana; Olson,William C.; Moore,John P.; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Virology 77(4): 2762-2767
Publication date: 2003

Immunodeficiency virus exploitation of dendritic cells in the early steps of infection  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Teleshova,Natalia; Frank,Ines; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Leukocyte Biology 74(5): 683-690
Publication date: 2003

Presentation of exogenous whole inactivated simian immunodeficiency virus by mature dendritic cells induces CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses  (abstract) (HTML) 
Frank,Ines; Santos,John J.; Mehlhop,Erin; Villamide-Herrera,Loreley; Santisteban,Christine; Gettie,Agegnehu; Ignatius,Ralf; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 34(1): 7-19
Publication date: 2003

Prevention of virus transmission to macaque monkeys by a vaginally applied monoclonal antibody to HIV-1 gp120  (abstract) (HTML) 
Veazey,Ronald S.; Shattock,Robin J.; Pope,Melissa; Kirijan,J.Christian; Jones,Jennifer; Hu,Qinxue; Ketas,Thomas J.; Marx,Preston A.; Klasse,Per Johan; Burton,Dennis R.; Moore,John P.
Nature Medicine 9(3): 343-346
Publication date: 2003

The interaction of immunodeficiency viruses with dendritic cells 
Steinman,Ralph M.; Granelli-Piperno,Angela; Pope,Melissa; Trumpfheller,Christine; Ignatius,Ralf; Arrode,Geraldine; Racz,Paul; Tenner-Racz,Klara; Steinkasserer,Alexander
from Dendritic Cells and Virus Infection, vol. 276, pp. 1-30
Publication date: 2003

Transmission, acute HIV-1 infection and the quest for strategies to prevent infection  (abstract) (HTML) 
Pope,Melissa; Haase,Ashley T.
Nature Medicine 9(7): 847-852
Publication date: 2003

Vaginal application of anti-gp120 monoclonal antibody b12 prevents SHIV162P vaginal transmission in macaques 
Veazey,Ronald S.; Klasse,Per Johan; Shattock,Robin J.; Pope,Melissa; Kirijan,J.Christian; Jones,Jennifer; Ketas,Thomas J.; Marx,Preston A.; Burton,Dennis R.; Moore,John P.; Vicari,Marissa; Dodet,Betty; Girard,Marc
from Proceedings of XIII Colloque des "Cent Gardes", pp. 51-57
Publication date: 2003

Endogenously expressed nef uncouples cytokine and chemokine production from membrane phenotypic maturation in dendritic cells  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Messmer,Davorka; Jacque,Jean-Marc; Santisteban,Christine; Bristow,Cynthia L.; Han,Seol-Young; Villamide-Herrera,Loreley; Mehlhop,Erin; Marx,Preston A.; Steinman,Ralph M.; Gettie,Agegnehu; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Immunology 169(8): 4172-4182
Publication date: 2002

Enhanced in vitro stimulation of rhesus macaque dendritic cells for activation of SIV-specific T cell responses  (abstract) (HTML) 
Mehlhop,Erin; Villamide-Herrera,Loreley; Frank,Ines; Gettie,Agegnehu; Santisteban,Christine; Messmer,Davorka; Ignatius,Ralf; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Immunological Methods 260(1-2): 219-234
Publication date: 2002

Exploiting dendritic cells to improve vaccine efficacy  (HTML) 
Steinman,Ralph M.; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Clinical Investigation 109(12): 1519-1526
Publication date: 2002

Expression of a functional eotaxin (CC chemokine ligand 11) receptor CCR3 by human dendritic cells  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Beaulieu,Sylvie; Robbiani,Davide F.; Du,Xixuan; Rodrigues,Elaine; Ignatius,Ralf; Wei,Yang; Ponath,Paul; Young,James W.; Pope,Melissa; Steinman,Ralph M.; Mojsov,Svetlana
Journal of Immunology 169(6): 2925-2936
Publication date: 2002

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Nef mediates activation of STAT3 in immature dendritic cells  (abstract) (HTML) 
Messmer,Davorka; Bromberg,Jacqueline F.; Devgan,Geeta; Jacque,Jean-Marc; Granelli-Piperno,Angela; Pope,Melissa
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 18(14): 1043-1050
Publication date: 2002

Increased macrophage infection upon subcutaneous inoculation of rhesus macaques with simian immunodeficiency virus-loaded dendritic cells or T cells but not with cell-free virus  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Ignatius,Ralf; Tenner-Racz,Klara; Messmer,Davorka; Gettie,Agegnehu; Blanchard,James; Luckay,Amara; Russo,Christine; Smith,Stephen; Marx,Preston A.; Steinman,Ralph M.; Racz,Paul; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Virology 76(19): 9787-9797
Publication date: 2002

Infectious and whole inactivated simian immunodeficiency viruses interact similarly with primate dendritic cells (DCs): Differential intracellular fate of virions in mature and immature DCs  (abstract) (PDF) 
Frank,Ines; Piatak Jr.,Michael; Stoessel,Hella; Romani,Nikolaus; Bonnyay,David; Lifson,Jeffrey D.; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Virology 76(6): 2936-2951
Publication date: 2002

Rhesus macaque dendritic cells efficiently transmit primate lentiviruses independently of DC-SIGN  (abstract) (PDF) 
Wu,Li; Bashirova,Arman A.; Martin,Thomas D.; Villamide-Herrera,Loreley; Mehlhop,Erin; Chertov,Andrei O.; Unutmaz,Derya; Pope,Melissa; Carrington,Mary; KewalRamani,Vineet N.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 99(3): 1568-1573
Publication date: 2002

The enigma of dendritic cell-immunodeficiency virus interplay  (abstract) (HTML) 
Frank,Ines; Pope,Melissa
Current Molecular Medicine 2(3): 229-248
Publication date: 2002

Consequences of dendritic cell (DC)-immunodeficiency virus interactions: Chemically inactivated virus as a model for studying antigen presentation and virus transmission by primate DCs  (abstract) (HTML) 
Frank,Ines; Pope,Melissa
Immunobiology 204(5): 622-628
Publication date: 2001

Dendritic cells during infection with HIV-1 and SIV 
Ignatius,Ralf; Steinman,Ralph M.; Granelli-Piperno,Angela; Messmer,Davorka; Stahl-Hennig,Christiane; Tenner-Racz,Klara; Racz,Paul; Frank,Ines; Zhong,Lei; Schlesinger-Frankel,Sarah; Pope,Melissa; Lotze,Michael T.; Thomson,Angus W.
from Dendritic Cells, pp. 487-504
Publication date: 2001

The decreased replicative capacity of SIVmac239delta nef is manifest in cultures of immature dendritic cells and T cells  (abstract) (PDF) (HTML) 
Messmer,Davorka; Ignatius,Ralf; Santisteban,Christine; Steinman,Ralph M.; Pope,Melissa
Journal of Virology 74(5): 2406-2413
Publication date: 2000

Melissa Robbiani, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist and Director, Biomedical HIV Research

Testing Carraguard-based microbicides  
Invited participant, USAID primate workshop, Washington DC, January
Robbiani,Melissa
Publication date: 2008

Biology of transmission: Dendritic cells  
Plenary speaker, 2nd International Workshop on HIV Transmission: Principles of Intervention, Washington DC, August
Robbiani,Melissa
Publication date: 2007

Carrageenan and MIV-150 block uptake and transmission of HIV-1 by primary cervico ectoepithelial cells (abstract)  
Poster presentation at Microbicides 2006, Cape Town, 23-26 April
Fernandez-Romero,Jose A.; Turville,Stuart G.; Miller,Todd; Frank,Ines; Robbiani,Melissa; Titchen,Kanani; Maguire,Robin A.; Phillips,David M.
Publication date: 2006

Strategies to prevent dendritic cell-driven infection across the mucosa  
Invited speaker, International Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, August/September
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2005

Dendritic cells and HIV infection: Activating DCs to boost mucosal immunity  
Plenary speaker, 5th World Workshop on Oral Health and Disease in AIDS, Phuket, Thailand, 6-10 July
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2004

Exploiting dendritic cells for improved vaccines  
Invited speaker, Keystone Symposium, Rational Design of Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, Keystone, Colorado, 6-11 January
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2004

Mechanisms of sexual transmission of HIV  
Plenary speaker at Microbicides 2004, London, 28-31 March
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2004

Overcoming the exploitation of dendritic cells to boost anti-HIV immunity  
Invited seminar, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, May
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2004

Aspects of dendritic cells that influence virus spread over immune activation  
Invited speaker, International Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology, Baltimore, October
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2003

Factors influencing virus fate in dendritic cells  
Invited speaker, HIV Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutics Symposium, Palm Springs, CA, March; invited seminar, UCLA AIDS Institute, Los Angeles, CA, March; invited seminar, Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute and Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, March
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2003

How HIV exploits dendritic cells to drive infection  
Invited seminar, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, January
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2003

Selective modulation of dendritic cells by nef  
Invited workshop participant and presenter, HIV-1 nef Protein: No End of Conformations and Functions, Praiano, Italy, May
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2003

T-cell activation vs. virus dissemination by virus-bearing dendritic cells  
Invited speaker, UCSF-Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology Center for AIDS Research Symposium, San Francisco, October
Pope,Melissa
Publication date: 2003

Melissa Robbiani, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist and Director, Biomedical HIV Research

Curriculum Vitae