Wednesday, December 13th, 2006
Room 1305, Oak Park Research Building
2700 Stockton Blvd (corner of 2nd Ave)

From 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.
Visualizing the assembly and transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus

Professor Benjamin Chen, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Pharmacology | Immunobiology Center
MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1215
New York, NY  10029
ben.chen@mssm.edu

The production of infectious virus particles involves the coordinated trafficking of viral components to specific membrane compartments within the cell. For the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) the assembly process is largely driven by a single viral protein--Gag. To study HIV assembly and transmission, we have developed novel replication competent HIV clones that carry the green fluorescent protein within Gag.  Recent work has defined the progression of Gag localization patterns in virus-producing cells and reveals regions of low and high intensity Gag oligomerization.  To better understand cell-to-cell transmission of HIV, we are studying the transfer of fluorescent virus particles between immunocytes and found that adhesive contacts between T cells can greatly facilitate viral spread.  We will discuss the importance of regulated assembly and cell-contact in the dissemination of HIV.

Pizza lunch will be provided