• Immunology Core of the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) at HMS (http://aids.med.harvard.edu/cfar/cores/immunology.htm)
• Multiparameter Cell Sorting Core Facility for Biohazardous Specimens at MGH (http://www.massgeneral.org/aids/Flow_index.asp).
• Harvard Immunology Program (http://www.hms.harvard.edu/dms/immunology/fac/Altfeld.html)

• Detailed characterization of the immunodominance pattern of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell responses in Acute HIV-1 Infection
• Demonstration that HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell proliferation in vitro depends on the support of CD4+ T helper cells
• Demonstration that reconstitution of HIV-1-specific T cell help in vivo by immunotherapeutic interventions can restore HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell proliferation
• First description of superinfection with an HIV-1 clade B strain in an HIV-1 clade B infected subject
• Demonstration of significant impairment of Natural Killer cells in HIV-1 infection
• Identification of several TLR7/8 ligands within the ssRNA of HIV-1

• Characterization of the mechanisms responsible for the immunodominance pattern of HIV-1-specific T cell responses during Acute HIV-1 Infection
• Assessment of the changes in HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell function during primary HIV-1 infection and the impact of therapeutic immunization on HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell function
• Characterization of the role of Natural Killer cells in the control of HIV-1 infection
• Characterization of the impact of Toll-like receptor ligation on the function of innate and adaptive immunity

1. Altfeld M, Rosenberg ES, Shankarappa R, Mukherjee JS, Hecht F, Eldridge RL, Addo MM, Poon SH, Phillips MN, Robbins GK, Sax PE, Boswell S, Kahn JO, Brander C, Goulder PJ, Levy JA, Mullins JI, Walker BD: Cellular Immune Responses and Viral Diversity in Individuals treated During Acute and Early HIV-1 Infection. J Exp Med 2001, 193(2):169-180.
2. Altfeld M, Lunzen J, Frahm N, Yu X, Schneider C, Eldridge R, Meyer-Olson D, Stellbrink H-J and Walker B. Expansion of pre-existing, lymph node-localized CD8+T cells during supervised treatment interruptions in chronic HIV-1 Infection. Journal of Clinical Investigation 2002, 109:837-843
3. Altfeld M, Allen TM, Yu XG, Johnston MN, Agrawal D, Korber BT, Montefiori DC, O'Connor DH, Davis BT, Lee PK, Maier E, Harlow J, Goulder PJR, Brander C, Rosenberg ES, Walker BD. HIV-1 superinfection despite broadly directed CD8+ T cell responses containing replication of the primary virus. Nature 2002, 420:434-439
4. Lichterfeld M, Kaufmann DE, Yu XG, Mui SK, Addo MM, Johnston MN, Cohen D, Robbins GK, Pae E, Alter G, Wurcel A, Stone D, Rosenberg ES, Walker BD, Altfeld M. Loss of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cell proliferation after acute HIV-1 infection and restoration by vaccine-induced HIV-1-specific CD4+ T cells. J Exp Med. 2004. 20;200(6):701-12
5. Alter G, Teigen N, Davis BT, Addo MM, Suscovich TJ, Waring MT, Streeck H, Johnston MN, Staller KD, Zaman MT, Yu XG, Lichterfeld M, Basgoz N, Rosenberg ES, Altfeld M. Sequential deregulation of NK cell subset distribution and function starting in acute HIV infection. Blood. 2005 Nov 15;106(10):3366-9.
6. Alter G, Teigen N, Ahern R, Streeck H, Meier A, Rosenberg ES, Altfeld M. Evolution of Innate and Adaptive Effector Cell Functions during Acute HIV-1 Infection. J Infect Dis. 2007 May 15;195(10):1452-60.

For additional information contact:

Marcus Altfeld, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor in Medicine
Partners AIDS Research Center
Massachusetts General Hospital
Harvard Medical School
Bldg. 149, 13th Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
Phone 617 724-2461
Fax 617 724-8586
maltfeld@partners.org