Basic Virology

Our researchers are interested in several chronic viral infections. Basic studies in HIV are supported by the CFAR laboratory of retrovirology that provides viral load testing, CD4/CD8 T lymphocyte enumeration and drug resistance assays for all research studies.

Active areas of research interest include the proteomic and nucleic acid determinants of HIV-1 acquisition and disease progression and the impact of drug and alcohol abuse on HIV infection.

Division researchers are supported by core facilities that offer state-of-the-art proteomic and transcriptome analysis; a repository of specimens (tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cell) obtained from patients infected with HIV, HBV, HCV, human papillomavirus (HPV) or Helicobacter pylori; and support for prospective studies of alcohol abuse and HIV natural history.