Faculty

Velpandi Ayyavoo, PhD Associate Professor and Director of IDM MS Program E-mail: velpandi@pitt.edu Phone: 412-624-3070 Fax: 412-624-5612 Address: 439 Parran Hall 130 DeSoto Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Education

PhD; Madurai Kamaraj University, India, 1991
Postdoctoral Fellow; The Wistar Institute, 1991-1993
Postdoctoral Fellow; The University of Pennsylvania, 1994-1998

Research Interests

Immunopathogenesis : Our laboratory is involved in the study of the molecular pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection, focusing specifically on the role of HIV-1 accessory genes. Human Immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is known for its ability to infect immune cells, leading to serious immunological and neurological complications and disease progression. HIV-1 viral proteins are known to play a key role in modulating both the adaptive and innate immune responses. Our research focuses on defining how HIV-1 accessory protein, Vpr, dysregulates host cellular functions at both the molecular and cellular signaling levels.

Virus-Host protein-protein interaction: Viruses including HIV-1 are known to interact with host cellular proteins to aid their replication and to overcome immune attack. We have identified several cellular proteins that are differentially regulated during HIV-1 infection. Recently we have shown that the interaction of Vpr with these proteins alter their normal function, thereby helping the virus to successfully escape the immune system as well as thrive in the host. Our structural and functional analysis of protein-protein interaction studies on Vpr and its interacting cellular partners are not only aimed at understanding the mechanisms involved in these pathways but also on the development of new compounds able to block these interactions, thereby preventing viral replication and disease progression.

Recent Publications

• Majumder B, Janket ML, Schafer EA, Kan-Mitchell J, Huang X, Rinaldo CR, and Ayyavoo V. (2005). Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr impairs dendritic cell maturation and T cell activation: implications in viral immune escape. J Virol.  79:7990-8003.
• Miles MC, Janket ML, Wheeler EA, Chattopadhyay A , Majumder B, Schafer EA, and Ayyavoo V.  (2005) Molecular and functional characterization of a novel splice variant of ANKHD1 that lacks the KH domain and its role in cell survival and apoptosis.  FEBS J, 272: 4091-4102.
• Wheeler ED, Achim, CL, and Ayyavoo, V. (2006). Immunodetection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr in brain tissue of HIV-1 encephalitic patients. J. NeuroVirol. J Neurovirol. 12:200-10.
• Schafer EA, Venkatachari NJ, and Ayyavoo V. (2006). Antiviral Effects of Mifepristone on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (HIV-1): Targeting Vpr and its cellular partner, Glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Antiviral Res. 72:224-32.
• Cui J, Tungaturthi PK, Ayyavoo V, Ghafouri M, Ariga H, Khalili K, Srinivasan A, Amini S, Sawaya BE. (2006). The role of Vpr in the regulation of HIV-1 gene expression. Cell Cycle. 5: 2626-2638.
• Venkatachari NJ, Majumder B, Ayyavoo V. (2007).  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 Vpr induces differential regulation of T cell costimulatory molecules: direct effect of Vpr on T cell activation and immune function.  Virology 358:347-56.
• Janket ML, DeRicco JS, Borowski L, Ayyavoo V. (2007). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) Vpr induced downregulation of NHE1 induces alteration in intracellular pH and loss of ERM complex in target cells. Virus Res. 126:76-85.
• Majumder B, Venkatachari NJ, Schafer EA, Janket ML, Ayyavoo V. (2007). Dendritic cells infected with vpr-positive human immunodeficiency virus type 1 induce CD8+ T-cell apoptosis via upregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha. J Virol. 81:7388-99.
• Venkatachari NJ, Buchanan WG, Ayyavoo V. (2008). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection selectively downregulates PD-1 expression in infected cells and protects the cells from early apoptosis in vitro and in viv. Virology 376:140-153
• Majumder B, Venkatachari NJ, O'Leary S, Ayyavoo V. (2008). Vpr positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) infection impairs NK cell function indirectly through cytokine dysregulartion of infected target cells. J Virol. 82:7189-7200

Dr. Ayyavoo's Lab

Staff

Li, Yaming; Post Doctoral Fellow

416 Parran Hall; 624-3062; yamingli6@gmail.com

Students

Venkatachari, Jayanth; 416 Parran Hall; 624-3062; njv5@pitt.edu

Dempsey, Timothy; 416 Parran Hall; tmd16@pitt.edu

Undergraduate Summer Interns

Walker, Leah; University of Norte Dame, IN

Le, Thien; University of Pittsburgh, PA

Alumni

Vanitharani Ramachandran, PhD (Post doctoral fellow). Current position: Assistant Specialist, University of California Riverside, CA.

Benjamin Gray, DMD, MPH (Dental Fellow; MPH student). Current Position: Dental officer, USS Frank Cable.

Ramesh K. Ramalingam, PhD (postdoctoral fellow). Current position: Research Fellow, University of Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN.

Dineshkumar Thotala, PhD (postdoctoral fellow). Current Position: Post doctoral Fellow, University of Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN.

Melissa C. Miles (MS, 2004). Current position: Instructor, United States Army, West Point, NY.

Michelle L. Janket (PhD, 2005). Current position: MD Student, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.

Elizabeth A. Schafer (MS, 2005). Current position: Microbiologist, Department of Agricultural Research Services, USDA, Plum Island, NY.

Elizabeth Wheeler (MS, 2005). Current position: Unknown.

Danielle McKeithen (MPH, 2006). Current position: Research Specialist, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA.

Krisztina Baglyas (MS, 2008). Current position: Senior Microbiology Lab Technician, Battelle Biomedical Research Center, Columbus, OH.

Shaylee O’Leary (MS, 2008). Current position: Product Development Associate, Cook MyoSite Incorporated, Pittsburgh, PA

Biswanath Majumder, PhD (Research Associate). Current position: Senior Scientist, Mitra Life Sciences India Pvt Ltd, India.