"My research is focused on understanding HIV host interactions and the impact these have on disease progression, by deciphering mechanisms behind protective and pathogenic immune responses in HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections. The goal is to contribute to optimized treatment and provide clues to how an effective HIV vaccine or cure should be designed."
" The overarching goal of my Ph.D. is to study the mechanisms underlying the difference in HIV-1 and HIV-2 pathogenicity. By creating chimeric HIV viruses we will be able to dissect the influence of viral genetic factors on viral pathogenicity. Ex vivo infections of human tonsil tissue explants with chimeric viruses will likely provide valuable insight into key virus-host interactions that distinguish HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections.."
Projects
Development of HIV-1 and HIV-2 gene-specific chimeric viruses
Analysis of infectivity and replicative capacity of HIV-1 and HIV-2 isolates and chimeric viruses in lymphoid cells and tissue
Identification of mechanisms behind HIV-2 interference with HIV-1 replication in dual infections of lymphoid cells and tissue
Characterization of HIV-2 cell tropism and reservoirs, compared to HIV-1, in lymphoid tissue
" HIV research has always been very intriguing to me and this contributes to my long-term interest in the field. Working as a lab technician for three different groups gives me the opportunity to work with several projects with different aims and approaches. This equips me with a wide array of techniques and skills. I also have the privilege to train students with different academic backgrounds."
My research is focused on studying the mechanisms underlying differences in HIV disease progression. During my Ph.D. I investigated the influence of viral genetics on HIV-1 and HIV-2 disease progression and since 2020, my research is instead focused on the immunological aspects of HIV infection. More specifically, I’m investigating how the immune response is shaped by HIV-1 and HIV-2 and how this translates to differences in disease progression.
Projects:
- Resolving the immune cell landscape in HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection using single-cell RNA sequencing
- Characterizing the virus-specific T cell population in HIV-1 and HIV-2 infected individuals.
- Investigating the innate immune response to HIV-1 and HIV-2 in vitro.
"HIV-2 research has always been my main interest. I was previously focused on HIV-1 and HIV-2 dual infection, HIV-2 mono-infection and in vitro characteruization of HIV-2 Protease.
My new goal is to characterize HIV-2 elite controllers, a unique group of HIV-2 infected individuals. This research will provide better understanding of HIV-2 infection, and will show a promising potential in the fight against HIV."
