New thesis: HIV-1 restriction in Human Dendritic cells
Venkatramanan Mohanram, member of Anna-Lena Spetz group at CIM, is about to take his doctorate on 13 January.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I am from Madurai, India. I did my M.Sc Biochemical Technology at Madurai Kamaraj University, after that I worked as an R&D Assistant at JNCASR, Bangalore.
Which is the title of your thesis?
On HIV-1 restriction in Human Dendritic cells and Peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Why did you choose to do your thesis about that?
My research interest is to investigate the diseases associated with viral infection and designing the best strategies to combat these viruses.
What is your main result?
We have showed that activated apoptotic lymphocytes and pro-inflammatory mediators can induce maturation in DCs and reduce HIV-1 infection, at least in part by inducing APOBEC3 molecules. Low quantities of IFN-±2b restricted HIV-1 replication in DCs while keeping an immature phenotype.
We also identified some of the molecules and signaling pathways involved in DC response to activated apoptotic cells. Finally, proteasome inhibitors inhibit HIV-1 replication in PBMCs by targeting host factors essential for HIV-1 replication.
In what ways may your results be useful?
These finding can be employed in therapeutic and/or prevention strategies.
What motivates you?
Stimulating environment at CIM and my interest in virology.
What are your future plans?
To work as a post doctoral fellow.
