At the Population Council’s Center for Biomedical Research, scientists are advancing knowledge of the biological mechanisms of HIV transmission, pathogenesis and disease progression. Our research has clarified the role dendritic cells can play in promoting beneficial immune responses, as well as in driving HIV infection. This knowledge allows us to develop effective HIV prevention technologies. In addition, Council scientists study how other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human papilloma virus (HPV) are acquired and progress.

Council scientists are determining the role of integrins in HIV transmission across the mucosa. Researchers are also evaluating how herpes viruses augment mucosal HIV transmission. Finally, scientists are evaluating the impct of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones on mucosal HIV transmission.

Featured Work

Determining the Role of Integrins in HIV Transmission Across the Mucosa

Council researchers are studying the role of integrin alpha-4 beta-7, a molecule expressed on immune cells in mucosal tissues, in vaginal and rectal HIV infection.

Thomas Zydowsky Director of Biomedical Research and Pharmaceutical Development, HIV and AIDS, Center for Biomedical Research
Pavimol Angsantikul Pharmaceutical Development Scientist, Center for Biomedical Research

Journal Articles (139)

Anti-α4β7 monoclonal antibody–conjugated nanoparticles block integrin α4β7 on intravaginal T cells in rhesus macaques
Authors: Sidi Yang, Geraldine Arrode-Bruses, Ines Frank, Brooke Grasperge, James Blanchard, Agegnehu Gettie, Elena Martinelli, Emmanuel A. Ho. Science Advances Publication Date: 2020
Taking the daily grind out of HIV prevention
Author: Thomas Zydowsky. EBioMedicine Publication Date: September 2020
Topical formulations to prevent sexually transmitted infections: Are we on track?
Authors: José Fernández-Romero, Maria Gabriela Paglini, Thomas Zydowsky. Future Virology Publication Date: 2019
A tat/rev induced limiting dilution assay to measure viral reservoirs in non-human primate models of HIV infection
Authors: Ines Frank, Arpan Acharya, Nanda K. Routhu, Meropi Aravantinou, Justin L. Harper, Stephanie Maldonado, Maria Sole Cigoli, Stanka Semova, Svetlana Mazel, Mirko Paiardini, Nina Derby, Siddappa Byrareddy, Elena Martinelli. Scientific Reports Publication Date: August 2019
Delayed vaginal SHIV infection in VRC01 and anti-α4β7 treated rhesus macaques
Authors: Giulia Calenda, Ines Frank, Geraldine Arrode-Bruses, Amarendra Pegu, Keyun Wang, James Arthos, Claudia Cicala, Kenneth A. Rogers, Lisa Shirreff, Brooke Grasperge, James L. Blanchard, Stephanie Maldonado, Kevin Roberts, Agegnehu Gettie, Francois Villinger, Anthony S. Fauci, John R. Mascola, Elena Martinelli. PLoS Pathogens Publication Date: 2019
New subtype B containing HIV-1 circulating recombinant of sub-Saharan Africa origin in Nigerian men who have sex with men
Authors: Erik Billings, Gustavo H. Kijak, Eric Sanders-Buell, Nicaise Ndembi, Anne Marie O’Sullivan, Sylvia Adebajo, Afoke Kokogho, Mark Milazzo, Kara Lombardi, Stefan Baral, Rebecca G. Nowak, Habib O. Ramadhani, Robert Gramzinski, Merlin L. Robb, Nelson L. Michael, Manhattan E. Charurat, Julie Ake, Trevor A. Crowell, Sodsai Tovanabutra, for the MHRP Viral Sequencing Core and the TRUST/RV368 Study Group. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes Publication Date: August 2019
Development of a vaginal fast-dissolving insert combining griffithsin and carrageenan for potential use against sexually transmitted infections
Authors: Manjari Lal, Manshun Lai, Shweta Ugaonkar, Asa Wesenberg, Larisa Kizima, Aixa Rodriguez, Keith Levendosky, Olga Mizenina, José Fernández-Romero, Thomas Zydowsky. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Publication Date: October 2018
Griffithsin carrageenan fast dissolving inserts prevent SHIV HSV-2 and HPV infections in vivo
Authors: Nina Derby, Manjari Lal, Meropi Aravantinou, Larisa Kizima, Patrick Barnable, Aixa Rodriguez, Manshun Lai, Asa Wesenberg, Shweta Ugaonkar, Keith Levendosky, Olga Mizenina, Kyle Kleinbeck, Jeffrey D. Lifson, M. Melissa Peet, Zachary Lloyd, Michael Benson, Walid Heneine, Barry R. O’Keefe, Melissa Robbiani, Elena Martinelli, Brooke Grasperge, James Blanchard, Agegnehu Gettie, Natalia Teleshova, José Fernández-Romero, Thomas Zydowsky. Nature Communications Publication Date: September 2018
Select gp120 V2 domain specific antibodies derived from HIV and SIV infection and vaccination inhibit gp120 binding to α4β7
Authors: Sakaorat Lertjuthaporn, Claudia Cicala, Donald Van Ryk, Matthew Liu, Jason Yolitz, Danlan Wei, Fatima Nawaz, Allison Doyle, Brooke Horowitch, Chung Park, Shan Lu, Yang Lou, Shixia Wang, Ruimin Pan, Xunqing Jiang, Francois Villinger, Siddappa Byrareddy, Philip J. Santangelo, Lynn Morris, Constantinos Kurt Wibmer, Kristin Biris, Rosemarie D. Mason, Jason Gorman, Joseph Hiatt, Elena Martinelli, Mario Roederer, Dai Fujikawa, Giacomo Gorini, Genoveffa Franchini, Anush Arakelyan, Aftab A. Ansari, Kovit Pattanapanyasat, Xiang-Peng Kong, Anthony S. Fauci, James Arthos. PLoS Pathogens Publication Date: August 2018
MAdCAM costimulation through Integrin-α_4β_7 promotes HIV replication
Authors: Fatima Nawaz, Livia R. Goes, Jocelyn C. Ray, Ronke Olowojesiku, Alia Sajani, Aftab A. Ansari, Ian Perrone, Joseph Hiatt, Donald Van Ryk, Danlan Wei, Mia Waliszewski, Marcelo A. Soares, Katija Jelicic, Mark Connors, Stephen A. Migueles, Elena Martinelli, Francois Villinger, Claudia Cicala, Anthony S. Fauci, James Arthos. Mucosal Immunology Publication Date: June 2018

Biology of HIV

Featured Work

Determining the Role of Integrins in HIV Transmission Across the Mucosa

Projects (1)

Key Staff (2)

Journal Articles (139)

Research Publications (1)

News & Views (4)

Books (2)