Higgins Hall 468
Telephone: 617-552-1186
Email: kenneth.williams.3@bc.edu
Central nervous system macrophages, neuroAIDS, AIDS pathogenesis, monocyte/macrophage biology.
My laboratory's major research activity centers on CNS inflammation and normal and diseased states. Specifically, we focus on the role of CNS macrophages and CD8 T lymphocytes in pathogenesis of lentiviral infection. This work includes: a) studies to define subpopulations of macrophages in the CNS and their precursors in blood and bone marrow, b) the role of the cellular immune system especially CD8 T cells controlling monocyte/macrophage activation and CNS pathogenesis, and c) developing drugs that target HIV and SIV infected/activated macrophages resulting in cell death or deactivation. In addition, we are exploring an exciting field of emergent populations of monocytes and dendritic cells that are expanded with disease. This work uses a monkey model of rapid, consistent AIDS and neuroAIDS, CD8 T lymphocyte depletion, MR spectroscopy, monocyte/macrophage biology and immunology.