We are focusing on the restoration of T-cell functions to boost the immune response against SIV/HIV infection. Loss of T cell immune functions due to their exhaustion after chronic HIV infection is a well-known phenomenon.
The “shock and kill” viral eradication strategy remains to be improved partly due to dysfunctional CD8+ T cells.
Our lab seeks to identify the different mechanisms involved in CD8+ T cell anergy to develop an approach to restore their functions, which in turn will make different therapeutic strategies more effective.