Bruce W. Chesebro, M.D., Chief
The Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases (LPVD) studies persistent active or latent viral or prion disease infections. Investigators place particular emphasis on persistent infections of the nervous system and of the hematopoietic and lymphoid systems. The laboratory is also studying the roles of persistent infection in the development of retrovirus-induced immunosuppression. Models being examined include prion diseases of various species, murine and human retroviruses.
The major research goals of the laboratory are to understand basic pathogenic mechanisms induced by these infections, to study immune or other defense mechanisms used by infected individuals against infections, and to develop drug therapies capable of reducing or eliminating such infections.