Expertise
The Desrosiers laboratory is principally interested in how individual viral genes contribute to viral pathogenesis. We are also investigating novel approaches toward a vaccine against HIV/AIDS. We principally use two different viruses for these studies, both viruses previously discovered by the Desrosiers laboratory: the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a close monkey homolog of the human AIDS virus (HIV), and rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV), a close monkey homolog of the human Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus. Vaccine/prevention approaches currently under investigation include: AAV vector-mediated delivery of potent broadly-neutralizing antibodies; replication-competent, recombinant, persisting herpesviruses.
- Immunology Research
- Vaccine Research
- Cancer Biology Research
- Genomics Research
- Stem Cell Biology Research
- Diagnostic Research
Oncogenic herpesviruses; The Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV); Mechanisms of viral persistence, immune evasion, and pathogenesis; Use of recombinant herpesviruses toward development of a protective vaccine against HIV/AIDS.