Sereti Research Group

HIV Pathogenesis Section

My group studies the inflammatory complications in people with HIV either in the form of acute Inflammatory immune reconstitution syndrome (IRIS) or in chronic treated HIV, focusing among other topics on the role of inflammasome, microbiome, genetics and immune senescence. We are also working on pathogenesis, genetics and potential treatments of Idiopathic CD4 lymphopenia including mouse models to assist in understanding the disease pathogenesis and possible therapeutic targets. We have recently established projects on COVID-19 to evaluate the role of inflammasome in pathogenesis, immune responses to vaccine and disease in people with HIV or ICL and also the possible role of immune-based therapies.

Irini Sereti M.D., M.H.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Senior Investigator, Chief HIV Pathogenesis Section

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Specialty(s): Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine
Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center

Education:

M.D., National Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece

M.H.S., Duke University

Dr. Sereti is the Chief of the HIV Pathogenesis Section in the Laboratory of Immunoregulation at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). She received her Medical Degree at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece and did her Internal Medicine residency and Chief residency at Northwestern University in Chicago. She completed an MHS from Duke University and her Infectious Diseases fellowship at NIAID and stayed at NIAID as clinical investigator receiving tenure in 2015.

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Katherine M. Bricker, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis, Emory University
B.S., Biological Sciences & Chemistry, The University of New Orleans

Katherine joined the lab as an IRTA postdoctoral fellow in the fall of 2022 after completing her Ph.D. in immunology at Emory University. Her research interests include understanding how HIV pathogenesis is influenced by factors such as the microbiome and age.

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Ainhoa Pérez Díez, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Associate Scientist

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Education:

Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de Navarra, Spain

Pharm.D., Universidad de Navarra, Spain

Languages Spoken: Basque, Spanish

Ainhoa studies the cellular and molecular characteristics of the immune system in ICL (Idiopathic CD4 Lymphopenic) patients.

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Brian Patrick Epling, M.D. (He/Him/His)

Clinical Fellow

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Education:

M.D., University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Brian joined Dr. Sereti’s group as an infectious diseases clinical fellow in 2021. His research interests include understanding the interplay of infections and the immune response in immunocompromised patients, and the subsequent effects on morbidity and mortality.

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Silvia Lucena Lage, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Research Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., 2015, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Master's, 2011, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Bachelor's, Biomedical Sciences, 2008, Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Languages Spoken: Portuguese

Silvia joined the lab as a Visiting Fellow on August 1, 2016, and converted to a Research Fellow in January, 2022. Her research is mainly focused on understanding how the inflammasome and complement pathways are activated and their impact in the progression of different inflammatory conditions, including Tuberculosis (TB) immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), Kaposi sarcoma...

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Xiangdong Liu, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Biologist

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Languages Spoken: Mandarin

Generated humanized mouse models, compared immune system development and function in NRG mice either transplanted with hematopoietic stem cells or transferred with PBMC from ICL patients or healthy controls. Characterized the presence of anti-lymphocyte antibodies in ICL patients, as well as the antibody functional capability of inducing antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)...

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Joseph M. Rocco, M.D. (He/Him/His)

Infectious Disease Fellow

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Education:

M.D., University of Pittsburgh
Internal Medicine Residency/Chief Residency, University of Pittsburgh

During the pandemic, I have been primarily involved in clinical-translational research projects involved in defining the pathophysiology and host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 including those with immunocompromising conditions. My primary research interests are in hyperinflammatory syndromes including those related to people with HIV/AIDS and others with immune dysregulation.

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Peiying Ye, Ph.D.

Biologist

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Languages Spoken: Chinese

Mapping the host determinants of HPV-related diseases in immunocompromised hosts (EPIC). Development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies for severe HPV-related disease (NEPTUNE).

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