Erica C. Larson, PhD

  • Research Assistant Professor

Education & Training

  • PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Utah, 2018
  • BS in Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Davis, 2009

Research Interests

My primary research interest is in host-pathogen interactions of HIV. Our main focus is to better understand metabolic programs utilized by T cells during HIV infection. T cells play a critical role in HIV pathogenesis and control. Metabolic programs mediate cell development, fate, and function. However, during HIV infection, these pathways become dysregulated. We use nonhuman primates (NHP) to model HIV infection and dissect metabolic mechanisms over the course of SIV infection, a simian surrogate of HIV. We are interested in exploring therapeutics that target various aspects of metabolism to reprogram dysfunctional T cells, improve host immunity, and, ultimately, enhance efforts toward HIV cure. We also have interests in understanding immune dysfunction related to HIV co-infections. We work closely with Dr. Chuck Scanga in the TB Research Group who has several studies investigating HIV/Mtb co-infection using NHP.

Publications

Moriarty RV, Rodgers MA, Ellis AL, Balgeman AJ, Larson EC, Hopkins F, Chase MR, Maiello P, Fortune SM, Scanga CA and O’Connor SL. 2022. Spontaneous control of SIV replication does not prevent T cell dysregulation and bacterial dissemination in animals co-infected with M. tuberculosis. Microbiol Spectr. 10: e0172421. | View abstract

Lim AL, Moos P, Pond CD, Larson EC, Martins LJ, Szaniawski MA, Planelles V and Barrows LR. HIV-1 provirus transcription and translation in macrophages differs from pre-integrated cDNA complexes and requires E2F transcriptional programs. Virulence. 13: 386-413. | View abstract

Larson EC, Ellis-Connell A, Rodgers MA, Balgeman AJ, Moriarty RV, Ameel CL, Baranowski TM, Tomko JA, Causgrove CM, Maiello P, O’Connor SL and Scanga CA. 2021. Pre-existing Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Increases T Cell Markers Associated with Activation During Early Mycobacterium tuberculosis Coinfection and Impairs TNF Production in Granulomas. J Immunol. 207: 175-188. | View abstract

Larson EC, Lim AL, Pond CD, Craft M, Cavuzic M, Waldrop GL, Schmidt EW and Barrows LR. 2020. Pyrrolocin C and equisetin inhibit bacterial acetyl-CoA carboxylase. PLoS One. 15: e0233485. | View abstract

Ellis AL, Balgeman AJ, Larson EC, Rodgers MA, Ameel C, Baranowski T, Kannal N, Maiello P, Juno JA, Scanga CA and O’Connor SL. 2020. MAIT cells are functionally impaired in a Mauritian cynomolgus macaque model of SIV and Mtb co-infection. PLoS Pathog. 16: e1008585. | View abstract

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