DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Cancer Immunology

Research Abstract

Dr. Letvin uses nonhuman primates for studying the immune response to AIDS virus infections. Dr. Letvin and his co-workers have defined an AIDS-like disease of monkeys, demonstrated that it is induced by the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a close relative of the human AIDS virus, and have used this disease process as an animal model for the study of AIDS. They are also using it as a model for exploring vaccination strategies for protection against infection with the AIDS virus. In particular, they are assessing the use of plasmid DNA, live vector systems and peptide formulations to elicit AIDS virus-specific CTL. Dr. Letvin is also utilizing the SIV-induced disease of monkeys as a model for studying how cells of the immune system contain the spread of the AIDS virus in the infected individual. These studies have demonstrated the crucial role played by the CD8+ lymphocyte in controlling AIDS virus replication. Finally, he has utilized this disease in monkeys as a model system for examining novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of AIDS.

Publications

• Greenland JR, Geiben R, Ghosh S, Pastor WA, Letvin NL.Plasmid DNA vaccine-elicited cellular immune responses limit in vivo vaccine antigen expression through Fas-mediated apoptosis.J Immunol 2007 May 1;178(9):5652-8.
  17442948
• Greenland JR, Letvin NL.Chemical adjuvants for plasmid DNA vaccines.Vaccine 2007 May 10;25(19):3731-41.
  17350735
• Fischer W, Perkins S, Theiler J, Bhattacharya T, Yusim K, Funkhouser R, Kuiken C, Haynes B, Letvin NL, Walker BD, Hahn BH, Korber BT.Polyvalent vaccines for optimal coverage of potential T-cell epitopes in global HIV-1 variants.Nat Med 2007 Jan;13(1):100-
  17187074
• Huang D, Qiu L, Wang R, Lai X, Du G, Seghal P, Shen Y, Shao L, Halliday L, Fortman J, Shen L, Letvin NL, Chen ZW.Immune gene networks of mycobacterial vaccine-elicited cellular responses and immunity.J Infect Dis 2007 Jan 1;195(1):55-69.
  17152009
• Schmitz JE, Kuroda MJ, Santra S, Sasseville VG, Simon MA, Lifton MA, Racz P, Tenner-Racz K, Dalesandro M, Scallon BJ, Ghrayeb J, Forman MA, Montefiori DC, Rieber EP, Letvin NL, Reimann KA.Control of viremia in simian immunodeficiency virus infection by CD
  9933172