Rahman Lab Research

Role of Progenitors in Shaping Anti-Viral T Cell Responses: The compromised function quality of anti-viral T cells upon HIV infection poses a significant challenge in HIV cure efforts. The success of T cell-driven therapeutic strategies for HIV cure relies on the functional properties of the T cells.  In this direction, the impact of HIV infection and ART treatment on the pathways of T cell genesis is ill-defined and thereby compromises the current efforts in T cell-based therapeutic approaches for HIV cure. We aim to fill significant knowledge gaps with the potential for a better T cell response, ultimately shaping potent anti-viral responses.

HIV Latent Reservoirs under ART: A significant obstacle in curing HIV is the presence of rare HIV-infected cells that harbor latent proviral genomes. These reservoirs, primarily within memory CD4 T cell compartments, can reignite viral replication if ART is interrupted, leading to viral rebound and disease progression. Whether other infected cellular compartments act as latent reservoirs is ill-defined or unknown. Here, we investigate distinct cellular compartments to understand better the cellular and molecular basis of latency establishment mechanisms, helping develop strategies for latency reversal tailored to the diverse cellular populations involved.