Mechanisms behind HIV-1 latency and rebound - Peter Svensson's group
In the lab we study interactions between viruses and the host cell. By understanding how these interact we hope to gain insights into both cellular processes and the viral replicative cycle. We focus on HIV-1 and HTLV-1 and how they make use of the host chromatin and transcription machinery.
HIV infection is a devastating disease affecting 35 million people worldwide. Current anti-retroviral treatment is highly effective and has made the HIV infection chronic. However, despite more effective treatments, the prospects of a cure are distant. We are involved in efforts to eradicate HIV from patients.
The problem for an HIV cure is that, even though the virus particles are eradicated, the infected cells maintain the information of remake the virus. This information is integrated in the host cell as a provirus. The provirus switches between active and inactive states. Thereby, the infected cells evade both the immune system and death associated with massive viral production.
Our research group is interested in the molecular mechanisms behind the epigenetic state reversal of the HIV-1 provirus. The focus of our research group is to investigate the establishment, maintenance and reversal of epigenetic states of the HIV-1 provirus. This circuitry of HIV-1 latency is modelled and tested in cell lines, as well as primary cells from both HIV- and HIV+ donors. By characterising the composition of proviral chromatin and how it connects with transcription and viral production, we have identified several new aspects of how the virus evades the host mechanisms of elimination. Recently, we found that the reactivable portion of the latent reservoir act as an enhancer.
We view epigenetic state reversal of proviral chromatin as a general model to understand the activation and silencing of other loci important for e.g. development and cancer.
Selected Publications
- Chromatin maturation of the HIV-1 provirus in primary resting CD4+ T cells.
Lindqvist B, Svensson Akusjärvi S, Sönnerborg A, Dimitriou M, Svensson JP. Plos Pathogens 2020 Jan;16(1):e1008264
- Distinct chromatin functional states correlate with HIV latency reactivation in infected primary CD4+ T cells.
Battivelli E, Dahabieh MS, Abdel-Mohsen M, Svensson JP, Tojal Da Silva I, Cohn LB, et al
Elife 2018 05;7:
- The mTOR Complex Controls HIV Latency.
Besnard E, Hakre S, Kampmann M, Lim HW, Hosmane NN, Martin A, et al
Cell Host Microbe 2016 Dec;20(6):785-797
Group members
Peter Svensson
Group leaderBirgitta Lindqvist
Laboratory ManagerLuca Love
PhD studentBianca Jütte
Post-docPossibilities for students
Motivated students are welcome to do short or longer degree project in the lab.
Contact Peter Svensson for more information.