Areas of interest

The research in our laboratory uses molecular and cell biology methods to investigate key questions at the interface of virology, pathogenesis, and the human cellular immune response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Ongoing studies aim to understand the impact of viral immune escape mutations on HIV protein function and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) recognition, to assess the role of HIV accessory proteins in establishment and maintenance of viral latency, and to employ new assays to identify patient-derived T cell receptors (TCR) that display enhanced ability to recognize HIV-infected cells.

Education

  • B.A., Beloit College 
  • Ph.D., Harvard University

Selected Publications

  • Datwani S, Kalikawe R, et al. (2023) Dynamics of T-cell Responses Following COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination and Breakthrough Infection in Older Adults. Pathogens and Immunity. 8(1):117-135. doi: 10.20411/pai.v8i1.613.
  • Mwimanzi F, et al. (2023) Impact of Age and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Breakthrough Infection on Humoral Immune Responses After Three Doses of Coronavirus Disease 2019 mRNA Vaccine. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 10(3):ofad073. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofad073.
  • Umviligihozo G, et al. (2022) Attenuated HIV-1 Nef But Not Vpu Function in a Cohort of Rwandan Long-Term Survivors. Frontiers in Virology. 2:917902. doi: 10.3389/fviro.2022.917902.
  • Bansal A, et al. (2021). HLA-E-restricted HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses in natural infection. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 16;131(16). doi: 10.1172/JCI148979.
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