Disease Focus: Infectious Disease
Site-specific gene editing in hematopoietic stem cells as an anti-HIV therapy
The overall goal of this proposal is to develop new methods and technologies to improve our ability to engineer hematopoietic stem cells. These are the adult stem cells found in the bone marrow that give rise to all of the components of the blood and immune systems. Being able to engineer these cells provides potential […]
Stem Cells: A New Avenue of HIV Research and New Approaches to HIV Treatment
A Phase I, Open-Label Study To Assess The Safety, Feasibility and Engraftment of Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFN) CCR5 Modified Autologous CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells (SB-728MR-HSPC) with Escalating Doses of Busulfan In HIV-1 (R5) Infected Sub…
The HIV-1 virus enters cells by binding to a protein called CCR5 on the cell surface. A naturally occurring mutation in CCR5, CCR5d32, has been shown to provide protection from HIV-1 infection and AIDS. All individuals carry two copies of the CCR5 gene, and those with both copies of CCR5 mutated are highly resistant to […]
Generation of a functional thymus to induce immune tolerance to stem cell derivatives
Stem cell research offers the promise of replacing missing or damaged tissues in the treatment of disease. Stem-cell-derived transplants still face problems with rejection as in traditional organ transplants. Several drugs can prevent rejection but also suppress the immune system, leaving patients vulnerable to infections and cancer. To avoid rejection without using drugs requires re-educating […]
Development of a humanized mouse model for testing anti-HIV HSPC gene therapy strategies in HIV-1 infected mice.
Stem Cell Programming With Chimeric Antigen Receptors to Eradicate HIV Infection
The AIDS virus infects and destroys cells of the immune system such that the bodies of infected individuals cannot fight infections or some cancers. If untreated HIV infection leads to death. Current therapies to stop virus replication in the body are expensive and can have side effects. They also do not eliminate the virus from […]
iPSC-derived Hepatocytes as Platforms for Research in Viral Hepatitis and Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis
Hepatitis C and fatty liver disease are the two most common liver diseases in California. Individuals from different backgrounds are susceptible to these liver diseases, but they have unique genetic profiles that may influence the severity of disease and the response to specific therapies. Technology now makes it possible to generate stem cells from a […]
Stem Cell Gene Therapy for HIV in AIDS Lymphoma Patients
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is still a major health problem. In both developed and underdeveloped nations, millions of people are infected with this virus. HIV infects cells of the immune system, becomes part of the cell’s genetic information, stays there for the rest of the life of these cells, and uses these cells as […]
Viral-host interactions affecting neural differentiation of human progenitors
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the major cause of birth defects, almost all of which are neuronal in origin. Approximately 1% of newborns are infected, and of the 13% that are symptomatic at birth, 50% will have severe permanent hearing deficits, vision loss, motor impairment, and mental retardation. At least 14% of asymptomatic infants also will […]
Development of RNA-based approaches to stem cell gene therapy for HIV
Despite significant advances in treatment and prevention programs, HIV infection with progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is still prevalent in California. The CDC Estimates >56,000 new cases of HIV infection each year in the US with over 148,000 cumulative cases reported in California alone (as of 2009). Multi-drug therapy has been helpful in reducing […]