The work in this laboratory focuses on the definition of pathogenic mechanisms of viral diseases, particularly HIV-1 disease. This focus has spanned a range of fields, from understanding critical structural determinants of infectivity (McCune et al., Cell 1988), to devising a small animal model (the SCID-hu Thy/Liv mouse) to study HIV pathogenesis and to prioritize antiretroviral compounds against HIV (McCune et al., Science 1988a, 1988b, 1990), to studying mechanisms of T cell depletion and repletion in vivo (Bonyhadi et al., Nature 1993; Su et al., Immunity 1995; Komanduri et al., Nature Medicine 1998; Hellerstein et al., Nature Medicine
1998; Stoddart et al., Nature Medicine 2001; McCune Nature 2001). This body of work has involved hypothesis-driven, patient-oriented research engaging collaborative teams of basic scientists, translational researchers, and clinicians. Most recently, attention has been devoted to understanding the correlates of protective immunity against HIV, with the specific intent to work with others to develop an effective vaccine. This change of focus has now been materialized by the creation of the Division of Experimental Medicine, of which Dr. McCune is the Chief.