Jay Levy, MD
Professor Emeritus
Medicine
School of Medicine

Biologic, serologic, and molecular characterization of several HIV-1 and HIV-2 strains has revealed their extensive heterogeneity and how viruses can evolve differently in the same individual in the immune system, bowel, and the brain. A major emphasis in the laboratory has been on anti-HIV innate immune responses. The research group is evaluating the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC), the main producers of type 1 interferons. Studies are directed at understanding how HIV-infected cells induce interferon production from PDC and what cell surface molecules, including toll-like receptors (TLR), are involved in this process. An important potent innate response we have discovered is the ability of CD8+ lymphocytes to suppress HIV replication without killing the cells. This novel CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR) is mediated by an as yet unidentified, natural CD8+ cell antiviral factor (CAF) that blocks HIV transcription. In summary, the Levy laboratory has been conducting studies to identify CAF through RNA Seq procedures, to determine the best strategy for an AIDS vaccine and to use genetically modified stem cell approaches towards a potential HIV cure.

• Genetically-edited induced pluripotent stem cells derived from HIV-1-infected patients on therapy can give rise to immune cells resistant to HIV-1 infection.
  AIDS (London, England) 2020 Teque F, Ye L, Xie F, Wang J, Morvan MG, Kan YW, Levy JA
• A randomized, controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction in HIV infection.
  Brain, behavior, and immunity 2018 Hecht FM, Moskowitz JT, Moran P, Epel ES, Bacchetti P, Acree M, Kemeny ME, Mendes WB, Duncan LG, Weng H, Levy JA, Deeks SG, Folkman S
• Schwab M (ed.) Encyclopedia of Cancer
  Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 2017 Levy JA, Murphy EL
• The CD8+ cell non-cytotoxic antiviral response affects RNA polymerase II-mediated human immunodeficiency virus transcription in infected CD4+ cells.
  The Journal of general virology 2015 Blazek D, Teque F, Mackewicz C, Peterlin M, Levy JA
• Discovery of another anti-HIV protein in the search for the CD8+ cell anti-HIV Factor.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2015 Levy JA
• Dispelling myths and focusing on notable concepts in HIV pathogenesis.
  Trends in molecular medicine 2015 Levy JA
• Conserved epitopes on HIV-1, FIV and SIV p24 proteins are recognized by HIV-1 infected subjects.
  Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics 2015 Roff SR, Sanou MP, Rathore MH, Levy JA, Yamamoto JK
• Seamless modification of wild-type induced pluripotent stem cells to the natural CCR5Δ32 mutation confers resistance to HIV infection.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2014 Ye L, Wang J, Beyer AI, Teque F, Cradick TJ, Qi Z, Chang JC, Bao G, Muench MO, Yu J, Levy JA, Kan YW
• Chemically modified peptides based on the membrane-proximal external region of the HIV-1 envelope induce high-titer, epitope-specific nonneutralizing antibodies in rabbits.
  Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI 2014 Venditto VJ, Wieczorek L, Molnar S, Teque F, Landucci G, Watson DS, Forthal D, Polonis VR, Levy JA, Szoka FC
• Evolutionarily conserved epitopes on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and feline immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptases detected by HIV-1-infected subjects.
  Journal of virology 2013 Sanou MP, Roff SR, Mennella A, Sleasman JW, Rathore MH, Yamamoto JK, Levy JA
• Nevirapine inhibits the anti-HIV activity of CD8+ cells.
  Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2013 Liu L, Wang L, Huang L, Siu V, Teque F, Aweeka FT, Levy JA
• Plasmacytoid dendritic cell number and responses to Toll-like receptor 7 and 9 agonists vary in HIV Type 1-infected individuals in relation to clinical state.
  AIDS research and human retroviruses 2013 Kaushik S, Teque F, Patel M, Fujimura SH, Schmidt B, Levy JA
• AIDS and HIV Infection after Thirty Years.
  AIDS research and treatment 2013 Ippolito G, Levy JA, Sonnerborg A, Mugusi F, Dianzani F
• HIV-1 Vaccine Trials: Evolving Concepts and Designs.
  The open AIDS journal 2012 Sanou MP, De Groot AS, Murphey-Corb M, Levy JA, Yamamoto JK
• HIV infection: what should be considered in approaches for a cure?
  AIDS (London, England) 2012 Levy JA, Levy Y
• 25 Years of AIDS: recording progress and future challenges.
  AIDS (London, England) 2012 Levy JA, Autran B, Coutinho RA, Phair JP
• Differential transmission of HIV traversing fetal oral/intestinal epithelia and adult oral epithelia.
  Journal of virology 2011 Tugizov SM, Herrera R, Veluppillai P, Greenspan D, Soros V, Greene WC, Levy JA, Palefsky JM
• HIV/AIDS: 30 years of progress and future challenges.
  European journal of immunology 2011 Killian MS, Levy JA
• Transfection optimization for primary human CD8+ cells.
  Journal of immunological methods 2011 Liu L, Johnson C, Fujimura S, Teque F, Levy JA
• No evidence of murine-like gammaretroviruses in CFS patients previously identified as XMRV-infected.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011 Knox K, Carrigan D, Simmons G, Teque F, Zhou Y, Hackett J, Qiu X, Luk KC, Schochetman G, Knox A, Kogelnik AM, Levy JA
• Virus-host interactions in HIV pathogenesis: directions for therapy.
  Advances in dental research 2011 Levy JA
• Sex, race, and geographic region influence clinical outcomes following primary HIV-1 infection.
  The Journal of infectious diseases 2011 Meditz AL, MaWhinney S, Allshouse A, Feser W, Markowitz M, Little S, Hecht R, Daar ES, Collier AC, Margolick J, Kilby JM, Routy JP, Conway B, Kaldor J, Levy J, Schooley R, Cooper DA, Altfeld M, …
• Natural suppression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication is mediated by transitional memory CD8+ T cells.
  Journal of virology 2010 Killian MS, Johnson C, Teque F, Fujimura S, Levy JA
• HIV is inactivated after transepithelial migration via adult oral epithelial cells but not fetal epithelial cells.
  Virology 2010 Tugizov SM, Herrera R, Veluppillai P, Greenspan D, Soros V, Greene WC, Levy JA, Palefsky JM
• The major genetic determinants of HIV-1 control affect HLA class I peptide presentation.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010 International HIV Controllers Study, Pereyra F, Jia X, McLaren PJ, Telenti A, de Bakker PI, Walker BD, Ripke S, Brumme CJ, Pulit SL, Carrington M, Kadie CM, Carlson JM, Heckerman D, Graham RR, Plenge …
• IL-2 immunotherapy to recently HIV-1 infected adults maintains the numbers of IL-17 expressing CD4+ T (T(H)17) cells in the periphery.
  Journal of clinical immunology 2010 Ndhlovu LC, Sinclair E, Epling L, Tan QX, Ho T, Jha AR, Eccles-James I, Tincati C, Levy JA, Nixon DF, Hecht FM, Barbour JD
• The unexpected pleiotropic activities of RANTES.
  Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 2009 Levy JA
• Not an HIV cure, but encouraging new directions.
  The New England journal of medicine 2009 Levy JA
• High CD8+ T cell activation marks a less differentiated HIV-1 specific CD8+ T cell response that is not altered by suppression of viral replication.
  PloS one 2009 Barbour JD, Ndhlovu LC, Xuan Tan Q, Ho T, Epling L, Bredt BM, Levy JA, Hecht FM, Sinclair E
• CD8+ cell anti-HIV activity rapidly increases upon discontinuation of early antiretroviral therapy.
  Journal of clinical immunology 2009 Killian MS, Roop J, Ng S, Hecht FM, Levy JA
• HIV pathogenesis: 25 years of progress and persistent challenges.
  AIDS (London, England) 2009 Levy JA
• The spread, treatment, and prevention of HIV-1: evolution of a global pandemic.
  The Journal of clinical investigation 2008 Cohen MS, Hellmann N, Levy JA, DeCock K, Lange J
• Derivation of infectious HIV-1 molecular clones with LTR mutations: sensitivity to the CD8+ cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV response.
  Virology 2007 Bonneau KR, Ng S, Foster H, Choi KB, Berkhout B, Rabson A, Mackewicz CE, Levy JA
• A single amino acid of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 capsid affects its replication in the presence of cynomolgus monkey and human TRIM5alphas.
  Journal of virology 2007 Song H, Nakayama EE, Yokoyama M, Sato H, Levy JA, Shioda T
• Quantitative longitudinal analysis of T cell receptor repertoire expression in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral and interleukin-2 therapy.
  AIDS research and human retroviruses 2007 Sriram U, Wong M, Caillier SJ, Hecht FM, Elkins MK, Levy JA, Oksenberg JR, Baranzini SE
• Synergy or independence? Deciphering the interaction of HLA Class I and NK cell KIR alleles in early HIV-1 disease progression.
  PLoS pathogens 2007 Barbour JD, Sriram U, Caillier SJ, Levy JA, Hecht FM, Oksenberg JR
• Differential gene expression in CD8(+) cells from HIV-1-infected subjects showing suppression of HIV replication.
  Virology 2007 Martinez-Mariño B, Foster H, Hao Y, Levy JA
• The effects of early antiretroviral therapy and its discontinuation on the HIV-specific antibody response.
  AIDS research and human retroviruses 2006 Killian MS, Norris PJ, Rawal BD, Lebedeva M, Hecht FM, Levy JA, Busch MP
• Similar changes in plasmacytoid dendritic cell and CD4 T-cell counts during primary HIV-1 infection and treatment.
  AIDS (London, England) 2006 Killian MS, Fujimura SH, Hecht FM, Levy JA
• Sacral epithelioid angiosarcoma associated with a bleeding diathesis and spinal epidural hematoma: case report.
  Journal of neurosurgery. Spine 2006 Sanchez-Mejia RO, Ojemann SG, Simko J, Chaudhary UB, Levy J, Lawton MT
• Seroreversion in subjects receiving antiretroviral therapy during acute/early HIV infection.
  Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2006 Hare CB, Pappalardo BL, Busch MP, Karlsson AC, Phelps BH, Alexander SS, Bentsen C, Ramstead CA, Nixon DF, Levy JA, Hecht FM
• Variations in plasmacytoid dendritic cell (PDC) and myeloid dendritic cell (MDC) levels in HIV-infected subjects on and off antiretroviral therapy.
  Journal of clinical immunology 2006 Schmidt B, Fujimura SH, Martin JN, Levy JA
• HIV-infected cells are major inducers of plasmacytoid dendritic cell interferon production, maturation, and migration.
  Virology 2005 Schmidt B, Ashlock BM, Foster H, Fujimura SH, Levy JA
• Potential herpesvirus interaction during HIV type 1 primary infection.
  AIDS research and human retroviruses 2005 Lennette ET, Busch MP, Hecht FM, Levy JA
• A screening assay for detecting CD8+ cell non-cytotoxic anti-HIV responses.
  Journal of immunological methods 2005 Killian MS, Ng S, Mackewicz CE, Levy JA
• Differential effects of R5 and X4 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection on CD4+ cell proliferation and activation.
  The Journal of general virology 2005 Locher CP, Witt SA, Kassel R, Dowell NL, Fujimura S, Levy JA
• VCAM-1 expression on CD8+ cells correlates with enhanced anti-HIV suppressing activity.
  Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 2005 Diaz LS, Foster H, Stone MR, Fujimura S, Relman DA, Levy JA
• Registration of clinical trials.
  AIDS (London, England) 2005 Levy JA, Autran B, Coutinho R, Phair JP
• Low-level HIV infection of plasmacytoid dendritic cells: onset of cytopathic effects and cell death after PDC maturation.
  Virology 2004 Schmidt B, Scott I, Whitmore RG, Foster H, Fujimura S, Schmitz J, Levy JA
• Interleukin-2 therapy restores CD8 cell non-cytotoxic anti-HIV responses in primary infection subjects receiving HAART.
  AIDS (London, England) 2004 Martinez-Mariño B, Shiboski S, Hecht FM, Kahn JO, Levy JA
• Prospects for an AIDS vaccine: encourage innate immunity.
  AIDS (London, England) 2004 Levy JA
• Potential screening assay for undetectable viruses on the basis of their capacity to induce alpha interferon production.
  Journal of clinical microbiology 2004 Schmidt B, Ashlock B, Neipel F, Levy JA
• Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 DNA vaccine provides partial protection from acute baboon infection.
  Vaccine 2004 Locher CP, Witt SA, Ashlock BM, Polacino P, Hu SL, Shiboski S, Schmidt AM, Agy MB, Anderson DM, Staprans SI, zur Megede J, Levy JA
• Retraction. Clinical course of cardiomyopathy in HIV-infected patients with or without encephalopathy related to the myocardial expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide synthase.
  AIDS (London, England) 2004 Levy JA, Autran B, Coutinho R, Phair JP
• Immune activation set point during early HIV infection predicts subsequent CD4+ T-cell changes independent of viral load.
  Blood 2004 Deeks SG, Kitchen CM, Liu L, Guo H, Gascon R, Narváez AB, Hunt P, Martin JN, Kahn JO, Levy J, McGrath MS, Hecht FM
• Evaluation of genetic immunization adjuvants to improve the effectiveness of a human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) envelope DNA vaccine.
  DNA and cell biology 2004 Locher CP, Witt SA, Ashlock BM, Levy JA
• Mature dendritic cells can enhance CD8+ cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV responses: the role of IL-15.
  Blood 2003 Castelli J, Thomas EK, Gilliet M, Liu YJ, Levy JA
• Enhancement of a human immunodeficiency virus env DNA vaccine using a novel polycationic nanoparticle formulation.
  Immunology letters 2003 Locher CP, Putnam D, Langer R, Witt SA, Ashlock BM, Levy JA
• Influence of HLA-B57 on clinical presentation and viral control during acute HIV-1 infection.
  AIDS (London, England) 2003 Altfeld M, Addo MM, Rosenberg ES, Hecht FM, Lee PK, Vogel M, Yu XG, Draenert R, Johnston MN, Strick D, Allen TM, Feeney ME, Kahn JO, Sekaly RP, Levy JA, Rockstroh JK, Goulder PJ, Walker BD
• The search for the CD8+ cell anti-HIV factor (CAF).
  Trends in immunology 2003 Levy JA
• Virucidal efficacy of soap and water against human immunodeficiency virus in genital secretions.
  Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 2003 Li JZ, Mack EC, Levy JA
• alpha-Defensins can have anti-HIV activity but are not CD8 cell anti-HIV factors.
  AIDS (London, England) 2003 Mackewicz CE, Yuan J, Tran P, Diaz L, Mack E, Selsted ME, Levy JA
• Protection from HIV/AIDS: the importance of innate immunity.
  Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) 2003 Levy JA, Scott I, Mackewicz C
• Differential gene expression in CD8+ cells exhibiting noncytotoxic anti-HIV activity.
  Virology 2003 Diaz LS, Stone MR, Mackewicz CE, Levy JA
• Clinical course of cardiomyopathy in HIV-infected patients with or without encephalopathy related to the myocardial expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide synthase.
  AIDS (London, England) 2003 Levy JA, Autran B, Coutinho R, Phair JP, GISCA
• Lack of the CD8+ cell anti-HIV factor in CD8+ cell granules.
  Blood 2003 Mackewicz CE, Wang B, Metkar S, Richey M, Froelich CJ, Levy JA
• The CD8+ cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV response can be blocked by protease inhibitors.
  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2003 Mackewicz CE, Craik CS, Levy JA
• Is HIV superinfection worrisome?
  Lancet (London, England) 2003 Levy JA
• Expression patterns of phenotypic markers on lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus type 2-infected baboons.
  AIDS research and human retroviruses 2003 Locher CP, Fujimura S, Murthy KK, Brasky K, Leland M, Levy JA
• Increased virus replication and virulence after serial passage of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in baboons.
  Journal of virology 2003 Locher CP, Witt SA, Herndier BG, Abbey NW, Tenner-Racz K, Racz P, Kiviat NB, Murthy KK, Brasky K, Leland M, Levy JA
• Natural type 1 interferon producing cells in HIV infection.
  Human immunology 2002 Soumelis V, Scott I, Liu YJ, Levy J
• Enhancement of antibody responses to an HIV-2 DNA envelope vaccine using an expression vector containing a constitutive transport element.
  DNA and cell biology 2002 Locher CP, Witt SA, Ashlock BM, Levy JA
• HIV-1: hitching a ride on erythrocytes.
  Lancet (London, England) 2002 Levy JA
• Relationship of CD8(+) T cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV response to CD4(+) T cell number in untreated asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals.
  Blood 2002 Castelli JC, Deeks SG, Shiboski S, Levy JA
• Use of laboratory tests and clinical symptoms for identification of primary HIV infection.
  AIDS (London, England) 2002 Hecht FM, Busch MP, Rawal B, Webb M, Rosenberg E, Swanson M, Chesney M, Anderson J, Levy J, Kahn JO
• Sensitivity of human immunodeficiency virus infection to various alpha, beta and gamma chemokines.
  The Journal of general virology 1999 Greco G, Mackewicz C, Levy JA
• Limited transmission of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus in cultured cells.
  Journal of virology 1998 Renne R, Blackbourn D, Whitby D, Levy J, Ganem D
• Adaptation of craniofacial muscles in subjects with craniomandibular disorders.
  American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics : official publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, its constituent societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics 1990 Nielsen IL, McNeill C, Danzig W, Goldman S, Levy J, Miller AJ
• Effect of Foscarnet therapy on infection with human immunodeficiency virus in patients with AIDS.
  The Journal of infectious diseases 1988 Jacobson MA, Crowe S, Levy J, Aweeka F, Gambertoglio J, McManus N, Mills J
• Association of a [corrected] murine leukaemia virus from a mouse lymphoma (2731-L) associated [corrected] with reovirus type 3 infection.
  Nature 1970 Levy JA, Huebner RJ