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Cristian Apetrei, M.D., Ph.D.
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Associate Professor
9044 BST3
3501 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261
Phone: (412) 624-3235
Fax: (412) 624-4440
E-mail: apetreic@pitt.edu
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Research
Dr. Apetrei laboratory focuses on the study of the HIV/SIV diversity and pathogenesis. By using monkey models, we are currently studying the mechanisms of viral adaptation in new hosts and the events associated with viral emergence. We identified and characterized new SIVsmm strains that harbor a genetic diversity that is similar to that of HIV-1 group M subtypes and thus can be used in rhesus macaques to improve the currently available animal models. To better understand the correlates of immune protection in HIV infection, we are using various models of SIV infection in natural African nonhuman primate hosts. In these species, SIVs are not pathogenic in the vast majority of cases. Since no vaccine strategy currently developed seems to be effective, these alternative approaches may be essential in the control of AIDS pandemic.
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Selected Publications
- Sodora DL, Allan JS, Apetrei C, Brenchley JM, Douek DC, Else JG, Estes JD, Hahn BH, Hirsch VM, Kaur A, Kirchhoff F, Muller-Trutwin M, Pandrea I, Schmitz JE, Silvestri G. 2009. "Toward an AIDS vaccine: lessons from natural simian immunodeficiency virus infections of African nonhuman primate hosts"Nat Med. 15:861-5. | Abstract
- Gaufin T, Pattison M, Gautam R, Stoulig C, Dufour J, Macfarland J, Mandell D, Tatum C, Marx MH, Ribeiro RM, Montefiori D, Apetrei C, Pandrea I. 2009. "Effect of B Cell Depletion on Viral Replication and Clinical Outcome of SIV Infection in A Natural Host" J Virol. in press. | Abstract
- Paiardini M, Pandrea I, Apetrei C, Silvestri G. 2009. "Lessons learned from the natural hosts of HIV-related viruses" Annu Rev Med. 60:485-95. | Abstract
- Beaumier CM, Harris LD, Goldstein S, Klatt NR, Whitted S, McGinty J, Apetrei C, Pandrea I, Hirsch VM, Brenchley JM. 2009. "CD4 downregulation by memory CD4+ T cells in vivo renders African green monkeys resistant to progressive SIVagm infection" Nat Med. 15:879-85. | Abstract
- Gautam R, Gaufin T, Butler I, Gautam A, Barnes M, Mandell D, Pattison M, Tatum C, Macfarland J, Monjure C, Marx PA, Pandrea I, Apetrei C. 2009. "Simian immunodeficiency virus SIVrcm, a unique CCR2-tropic virus, selectively depletes memory CD4+ T cells in pigtailed macaques through expanded coreceptor usage in vivo" J Virol. 83:7894-908. | Abstract
- Schmökel J, Li H, Bailes E, Schindler M, Silvestri G, Hahn BH, Apetrei C, Kirchhoff F. 2009. "Conservation of Nef function across highly diverse lineages of SIVsmm" Retrovirology 6:36. | Abstract
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