Chitra Upadhyay, PhD

My research focusses on understanding the antiviral functions of antibodies against the variable loops of HIV-1 and their mechanism of protection. The V2 and V3 loops on HIV-1 envelope are valuable targets for immunogen design but are conformationally masked and poorly accessible by the neutralizing antibodies. This masking of the neutralizing epitopes present in the V2 and V3 regions of HIV-1 is regulated by distinct mechanisms. Neutralization of relatively resistant HIV-1 isolates is achievable under modified conditions when the antibodies are allowed to interact with the virus for a prolonged period of time. Additionally, I am also interested in the extraordinary functional and antigenic heterogeneity of the HIV-1 envelope protein specifically its glycosylation, which is a vital part of the HIV-1 architecture. My study focuses on the role of diverse compositions of N-linked-glycans on HIV-1 Env, such as high mannose-type and complex-type glycans, on viral infectivity, regulation of spike conformation, immune evasion, virus transmission.

My prior research was dedicated at developing replication-competent viral vectors for therapeutic use and highly sensitive diagnostic assay for avian influenza, infectious bursal disease and dengue viruses.