Expertise
Research in the Stevenson lab is aimed at understanding how HIV-1 persists in the face of antiretroviral suppression. While antivirals can control viral replication, they don’t eliminate the virus and identifying how the virus persists is key to developing strategies to cure the infection. The lab is also trying to harness the antiviral activity of cellular factors known as antiviral restrictions. Several host proteins have been identified that potently suppress HIV-1 replication. However, the virus has evolved counter defenses that neutralize these antiviral restrictions. We are developing small molecules that neutralize viral defenses so as to allow the antiviral restrictions to neutralize the virus.
Dr. Stevenson’s research is aimed at uncovering the functions of viral accessory genes, mechanisms of viral persistence and immunopathogenicity as well as cellular factors influencing virus-host cell interplay.