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Research Interests:

My laboratory is interested in the study of the HIV/SIV diversity and pathogenesis. The AIDS pandemic is produced by two different viruses, HIV-1 and HIV-2. These two viruses resulted from cross-species transmission of SIVs, viruses that naturally infect more than 40 species of non-human primates (NHPs) in Africa . Two of these SIVs were involved in the emergence of HIVs. The first one, SIVcpz naturally infects chimpanzees and cross-species transmissions to humans occurred in at least 3 instances in West-Central Africa , generating HIV-1 ggroup M, group N and group O. In West Africa , cross-species transmission of SIVsmm from sooty mangabeys resulted in the emergence of HIV-2. At least 8 cross-species transmissions of SIVsmm occurred to date.

Our major concern is whether or not the remaining viruses infecting other species of African NHPs pose a major threat for humans. In Central Africa monkeys are hunted and bush meat consumption is fairly common. Some authors suggested that this is the major risk behind emergence of new HIV strains (and implicitly new pandemic waves). However, our studies revealed that cross-species transmission of SIVs to humans are not the only requirement for the emergence on new virus strains and suggested that viral adaptation in the new host may play a decisive role for this event.

Therefore, using monkey models, we are currently seeking to study the mechanisms of viral adaptation in new hosts and the events associated with viral emergence. Also, in order to better understand the AIDS pathogenesis, we are using various models of SIV infection in natural hosts. In African monkeys SIV are not pathogenic in the vast majority of cases. My group is involved in the study of all currently available models (sooty mangabeys, African green monkeys and mandrills) and generated significant results by characterizing a very active viral replication in the absence of significant deleterious effects. However, we defined a new paradigm showing that African NHP can get AIDS under certain conditions. We consider that these investigations may help us to control HIV infection in patients. Since no vaccinal strategy currently developed seems to be effective, these alternative approaches may be essential in the control of AIDS pandemic.