L. M. Simons

Release of P-TEFb from the Super Elongation Complex promotes HIV-1 latency reversal

This paper shows that inhibiting the Super Elongation Complex (SEC) with KL-2 increases HIV-1 transcription and reactivates latent virus, especially when combined with other latency reversing agents.

Exploiting rodent cell blocks for intrinsic resistance to HIV-1 gene expression in human T cells

This paper edits human T cells to mimic rodent host factors, creating resistance to HIV-1 and related lentiviruses by disrupting key viral protein interactions.

Rab11-FIP1C is dispensable for HIV-1 replication in primary CD4+ T cells but its role is cell-type-dependent in immortalized human T-cell lines

This study shows FIP1C is not essential for HIV-1 replication in primary CD4+ T cells but has cell-type-dependent effects in T-cell lines.

Bioengineering multifunctional extracellular vesicles for targeted delivery of biologics to T cells

This paper develops methods to engineer extracellular vesicles for targeted delivery of biologics to T cells, demonstrating efficient cargo delivery using Cas9-sgRNA complexes.

Blockade of TGF-β signaling reactivates HIV-1/SIV reservoirs and immune responses in vivo

This study shows that blocking TGF-β signaling increases HIV-1 and SIV reactivation and boosts immune responses in infected individuals on ART.

An immunoPET probe to SARS-CoV-2 reveals early infection of the male genital tract in rhesus macaques

This paper uses immunoPET to track SARS-CoV-2 infection in rhesus macaques, revealing infection of the male genital tract and differences in lung pathology between SARS-CoV-2 variants.

TRIM5α restriction of HIV-1-N74D viruses in lymphocytes is caused by a loss of cyclophilin A protection

This study shows that HIV-1-N74D viruses lose infectivity in CD4+ T cells due to reduced protection from cyclophilin A against TRIM5hu restriction.