JUDY A. MIKOVITS, Ph.D.
mikovits@ncifcrf.gov
Dr. Mikovits obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
from George Washington University. Her doctoral research focused on HIV-1
latency under the direction of Francis Ruscetti. Dr. Mikovits performed
postdoctoral work on the molecular genetics of HTLV-1 under David Derse
at the National Cancer Institute-FCRDC.
The mechanisms by which human retroviruses alter the function of the immune
system and other host responses resulting in pathogenesis are not well
understood. The current focus of our studies is to define viral and cellular
factors involved in pathogenesis. Specifically, we have examined viral
and cellular factors involved in regulating HIV infectivity and expression,
cell death and mechanisms of immune dysfunction. In this regard, we and
others have shown that HIV-1 expression in monocytes and helper T lymphocytes
can be silenced and that this latency can be overcome by both immune activation
and hypomethylation. Studies of SIV and HIV infection in the lymph nodes
indicate that the capacity of the host to control viral load is predictive
of disease progression. The importance of latent reservoirs is underscored
by recent studies showing patients in which plasma virus is reduced to
undetectable levels following highly active triple drug antiretroviral
therapy, however soon after cessation of therapy high viral titers are
again detected, suggesting long lived reservoirs of latent virus exist.
Therefore, we have focused our efforts on examining infectivity of HIV-1
and HTLV-1 and defining cytokines and other cellular mechanisms involved
in maintaining a balance between human retroviral expression and latency.
Recent Publications:
Last revised on October 26, 1998 by D.
Dixon.
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