Peter Svensson

Peter Svensson

Principal Researcher | Docent
Telephone: +46852481051
Visiting address: ,
Postal address: H7 Medicin, Huddinge, H7 CIM P Svensson, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • The research of the group into the HIV cure field is focused on chromatin,
    and especially how transcription and chromatin states transitions
    interconnect.
    Docent (associate professor) in functional genomics at the Department of
    Biosciences and Nutrition.
    I completed my Ph.D. at Leiden University Medical Center and Uppsala
    University in 2006. After that I did a post-doc in the lab of Leona Samson at
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2010, I became a PI at Karolinska
    Institutet. Between 2015 and 2017 I was at the Gladstone Institute of
    Virology and Immunology (San Fransisco) as a Visiting scientist.

Research

  • 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.
    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.
    In my lab we characterize the composition of proviral chromatin and how it
    connects with transcription and viral production. We are interested in the
    fate of the HIV-1 provirus from the time of infection until latency has
    been firmly established in resting primary CD4+T-cells. Whereas the
    proviruses encompassed in heterochromatin are refractory to activation, we
    have shown that latent proviruses with “enhancer” characteristics are
    readily activated. Our studies have provided key insights as to detect the
    remaining HIV-1 infected cells capable of reseeding the infection and the
    mechanisms whereby they are maintained.

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2025 - 31 December 2028
    The research project’s purpose is to explore the intricate dynamics of host-virus interactions. The primary aim is to understand how viral DNA, once integrated into the human genome, is regulated at the transcriptional level. This understanding is crucial for chronic infections like HIV-1, where the virus becomes a part of the host’s genetic material. Although HIV-1 is the primary focus of this project, we seek to generalize our finding to other viruses, such as HPV and HBV that also can integrate into the genome.The research will be carried out using state-of-the-art techniques, allowing precise mapping of viral DNA, visualization of chromatin microenvironment at the single cell level, and functional modifications of enginereed proteins. These techniques will provide unprecedented insights into the dynamics of host-virus interactions. Contingency plans exist to optimize the possibilities for success.The project is organized around a team of experts in virology, immunology, and epigenetics. We will collaborate with clinicians at Karolinska University Hospital  (Sweden) and Mass Gen Hospital (US). The project will span over four years, allowing for thorough investigation and analysis.This research has potential to significantly advance our understanding of viral infections and their long-term impact. By exploring manipulation of epigenetic control mechanisms, the research could pave the way for novel treatment strategies in precision medicine.
  • VINNOVA
    1 April 2024 - 31 March 2026
    Purpose and goal: The project aims to develop a diagnostic product to monitor the individual need for antiviral treatment against HIV. By using a new method, CAD-seq, we can detect HIV-infected cells that are capable of producing new virus, the so-called "reservoir". This product also has potential to be used for early detection of virus-induced cancer, such as HPV-induced cervical cancer. Expected results and effects: Our solution offers a new type of HIV monitoring that does not exist today. Advantages in healthcare are that we will provide a better analysis in a cheap and simple way, without modifying routines. Expected effects are to improve health and efficiency in healthcare by offering an innovative solution for monitoring and treating HIV. By using the CAD-seq method, we can detect HIV-infected cells that are capable of producing new virus, which makes it possible to individualize the treatment based on individual needs and conditions. Approach and implementation: The project involves four partners from different sectors: Karolinska Institutet (KI), Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Huddinge (KUS), Karolinska Universitetslaboratoriet (KUL) and Noaks Ark (patient organization). The expected results at the end of the project are a validated diagnostic product, a regulatory strategy and a business plan to sustainably meet the global societal challenge that the HIV epidemic still poses.
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2020 - 31 December 2022
  • Swedish Research Council
    1 January 2016 - 31 December 2018

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-

Degrees and Education

  • Docent, Karolinska Institutet, 2012

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