Sherry Shu, PhD

HIV-1

While HIV infection has long been considered incurable, the evolving knowledge of HIV persistence offers renewed hope for a cure. Our lab has joined the effort of HIV cure research by exploring the important role of HIV accessory protein Nef on AIDS pathogenesis. We study HIV acute and latent infection using humanized mouse models, as well as cell biology tools. The goal is to better understand the importance of Nef on Nef-induced receptor downregulation and HIV infectivity enhancement during acute and latent infection, and provide molecular insight as to the mechanism of Nef dimer function. My project also provides an important step towards clinical translation of Nef inhibitors targeting the dimerization and factor binding interfaces as a new strategy for antiretroviral therapy. 

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

AML is a serious hematologic cancer with limited treatment options. Up-regulation of non-receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways is a common feature of AML that offers unexplored opportunities for targeted therapy. We use both Xenograft mouse and patient-derived xenograft mouse models to test a unique small molecule kinase inhibitor found to potently suppress the proliferation of AML cells.  The efficacy correlated most strongly with expression of the myeloid Src-family kinase, Fgr. This project is to explore the role of Fgr as a novel therapeutic target in AML.

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