Professor of Microbiology and Immunology

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Address: Department of Immunobiology (Microbiology and Immunology), College of Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 N Campbell LSN 644
PO Box 245049
Tucson, AZ 85724
Phone: (520) 626-7022
E-Mail: nafees@u.arizona.edu

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Research Interests

The main focus of my laboratory is understanding the molecular mechanisms of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vertical transmission, immunopathogenesis of pediatric AIDS (HIV-1 infection in children), and differential HIV-1 replication and gene expression in neonatal and adult mononuclear cells . Areas of investigation include: Molecular and biological characterization of HIV-1 involved in vertical transmission; Genetic variability of HIV-1 following mother-to-infant transmission; Viral determinants, including viral heterogeneity, functional conservation/divergence of various HIV-1 genes, presence/absence of motifs in HIV-1 genes, replication efficiency, cell tropism, cytopathic effects, and coreceptor utilization associated with HIV-1 maternal-fetal transmission; Viral and host factors associated with pathogenesis and disease progression in infected infants and children; HIV-1 evolution, replication efficiency, cytopathic effects and coreceptor usage in infected infants during the course of infection leading to disease progression; Molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 infection in immature and mature mononuclear cells; Kinetics of HIV-1 replication in immature hosts (infants) primary lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages; Mechanisms of HIV-1 infection in immature and mature mononuclear cells, including entry and post-entry events, HIV-1 gene expression and T-cell development. Cellular gene expression profile of neonatal (cord) and adult blood mononuclear cells, Identification of cellular factors in neonatal cells that influence HIV-1 replication and gene expression, HIV-1 integration and gene expression,

Other areas: HIV-1 infection and T-cell development, Mechanisms of HIV-1 neuropathogenesis in cord blood stem cell-derived neuro-glial cell, Biological activity of anti-HIV agents

Selected Publications

Mehta R, Ramakrishnan R, Doktor K, Sundaravaradan V, Ahmad N. Mar 2008. Genetic characterization of HIV type 1 long terminal repeat following vertical transmission. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses, 24:437-45

Mehta R, Sundaravaradan V, Ahmad N. May 2008. Mutations generated in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat during vertical transmission correlate with viral gene expression. Virology, 375:170-81