Area of Research: HIV/AIDS Dr. Novembre is studying a vaccine for simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) in monkeys that combines a DNA primer with live attenuated virus. He also is involved in research into oral transmission of SIV among rhesus macaques, aiming to identify the cells targeted by the virus and the subsequent pattern of viral spread. Dr. Novembre is a Research Associate Professor in the Division of Microbiology and Immunology of the Yerkes National Primate Research Center of Emory University. He received his Ph.D. in microbiology from Rutgers University and did his post-doctoral training at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgetown University, and the National Institutes of Health. Research
The main focus of our laboratory is on the molecular pathogenesis of HIV/SIV in susceptible hosts. We utilize the HIV-infected chimpanzee and SIV-infected macaque as models to investigate the basis of lentiviral-induced immunodeficiency. Four major projects in our laboratory address pathogenesis and vaccine development. The first project is directed at understanding the acute phase of SIV/HIV infection. This work utilizes the acutely pathogenic SIV variant SIVsmmPBj14, which differs dramatically from typical SIV and HIV isolates by inducing a rapidly lethal disease in pigtailed macaques. Currently, we are investigating the interactions of PBj14 with macrophages, which appears to be important for disease development. The second project is directed at investigating the pathogenesis of a neuropathogenic isolate of SIV, termed SIVsmmFGb. This virus induces neuropathogenic effects in a large proportion of infected pigtailed macaques. These animals also display clear neurologic dysfunction. This virus provides a valuable model for investigating the basis for HIV-induced dementia. Using the models from projects one and two, we will assess innate immune responses for the purpose of evaluating the role of the innate immune response in acute SIV infection. The third project is directed at examining a combination DNA and live attenuated virus immunization for SIV infection in macaques. Our goal is to investigate if prior DNA immunization can increase the level of immune response and protection induced by live attenuated SIV administration.
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