The central nervous system (CNS) is recognized as a reservoir for HIV persistence, but studying CNS latent reservoir presents a challenge due to difficulty obtaining brain samples from infected subjects.
We use the non-human primate model to address CNS infection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and relevant cell types, including microglial cells and perivascular macrophages which have been shown to harbor viral infection, even under antiretroviral therapy.
The lab’s current studies include the role of myeloid cells as cellular reservoirs and the potential source of viral rebound in the CNS. Moreover, the lab employs novel technologies such as the CRISPR-Cas9 editing system to test the potential for prevention of infection in the CNS compartment and/or eradication of the virus from the brain.