HIV, evolution of innate immunity to primate lentiviruses, virus adaptation to new hosts
Current Research:
The Emerman lab studies host-cell interactions of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and related viruses. We wish to understand the molecular and evolutionary basis of virus replication and pathogenesis. We study the evolution and function of host antiviral genes in order to determine how HIV adapted to humans, and how ancient viral infections influenced the susceptibility or resistance of humans to modern lentiviruses.