Suryaram Gummuluru, PhD

Professor, Virology, Immunology & Microbiology

Suryaram Gummuluru
617.358.1774
72 E. Concord St Housman (R)

Biography

Our research is broadly focused on the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the initiation and propagation of HIV-1 replication. Since dendritic cells are believed to be the first immune competent cells to encounter virus in the genital mucosa, a thorough understanding of the HIV-DC interactions is of paramount importance. DCs can capture virus particles independently of CD4 and co-receptor complexes, and retain them in an infectious state for an extended period of time. These virus-bearing DCs may then facilitate a more efficient spread of virus to replication-permissive CD4+ T cells. Our recent work has identified a novel glycosphingolipid dependent mechanism of virus attachment to DCs. The fate of the virus particle post-attachment in DCs remains unclear. Virion trafficking within the DC bypasses conventional endocytic organelles, i.e., endosomes and lysosomes. Virus localization within this novel vesicular compartment not only has the potential to protect the invading HIV from being degraded, but also creates a latent reservoir of virus, which could present a major challenge for eradication by antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, the mechanism of subsequent return of infectious virus particles to the cell surface and the method of subsequent transmission to T cells remains unclear. Current studies utilizing biochemical and microscopic approaches are underway to monitor HIV-1 trafficking and localization in the DC and its subsequent transfer to T cells.

Other Positions

  • Faculty, National Emerging Infectious Disease Lab, Boston University
  • Member, Genome Science Institute, Boston University
  • Graduate Faculty (Primary Mentor of Grad Students), Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Graduate Medical Sciences

Education

  • University of Rochester, PhD
  • University of Rochester, MS
  • University of Saskatchewan, BSc

Classes Taught

  • GMSMI811
  • GMSMI812
  • GMSMI823

Publications

  • Published on 11/1/2023

    Komori M, Morey AL, Quiñones-Molina AA, Fofana J, Romero L, Peters E, Matsuda K, Gummuluru S, Smith JF, Akahata W, Akiyama H. Incorporation of 5 methylcytidine alleviates innate immune response to self-amplifying RNA vaccine. bioRxiv. 2023 Nov 01. PMID: 37961509.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 10/25/2023

    de Oliveira Junior GP, Welsh JA, Pinckney B, Palu CC, Lu S, Zimmerman A, Barbosa RH, Sahu P, Noshin M, Gummuluru S, Tigges J, Jones JC, Ivanov AR, Ghiran IC. Human red blood cells release microvesicles with distinct sizes and protein composition that alter neutrophil phagocytosis. J Extracell Biol. 2023 Nov; 2(11). PMID: 37942280.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 5/12/2023

    Tseng AE, Carossino M, Gertje HP, O'Connell AK, Gummuluru S, Kolachalama VB, Balasuriya UBR, Connor JH, Bennett RS, Liu DX, Hensley LE, Crossland NA. Hepatic proinflammatory myeloid phenotypes are a hallmark of Ebola virus Kikwit pathogenesis in rhesus monkeys. Vet Pathol. 2023 Jul; 60(4):473-487. PMID: 37170900.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 10/25/2022

    Zang H, Siddiqui M, Gummuluru S, Wong WW, Reinhard BM. Ganglioside-Functionalized Nanoparticles for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Activation at the Immunological Synapse. ACS Nano. 2022 Nov 22; 16(11):18408-18420. PMID: 36282488.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 10/24/2022

    Jalloh S, Olejnik J, Berrigan J, Nisa A, Suder EL, Akiyama H, Lei M, Ramaswamy S, Tyagi S, Bushkin Y, Mühlberger E, Gummuluru S. CD169-mediated restrictive SARS-CoV-2 infection of macrophages induces pro-inflammatory responses. PLoS Pathog. 2022 Oct; 18(10):e1010479. PMID: 36279285.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 9/28/2022

    Boytz R, Slabicki M, Ramaswamy S, Patten JJ, Zou C, Meng C, Hurst BL, Wang J, Nowak RP, Yang PL, Sattler M, Stone RM, Griffin JD, Gray NS, Gummuluru S, Davey RA, Weisberg E. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of targeted kinase inhibitors: Repurposing clinically available drugs for COVID-19 therapy. J Med Virol. 2023 Jan; 95(1):e28157. PMID: 36117402.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 8/13/2022

    Patten JJ, Keiser PT, Morselli-Gysi D, Menichetti G, Mori H, Donahue CJ, Gan X, Valle ID, Geoghegan-Barek K, Anantpadma M, Boytz R, Berrigan JL, Stubbs SH, Ayazika T, O'Leary C, Jalloh S, Wagner F, Ayehunie S, Elledge SJ, Anderson D, Loscalzo J, Zitnik M, Gummuluru S, Namchuk MN, Barabási AL, Davey RA. Identification of potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection by combined pharmacological evaluation and cellular network prioritization. iScience. 2022 Sep 16; 25(9):104925. PMID: 35992305.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 3/30/2022

    Jalloh S, Olejnik J, Berrigan J, Nisa A, Suder EL, Akiyama H, Lei M, Tyagi S, Bushkin Y, Mühlberger E, Gummuluru S. CD169-mediated restrictive SARS-CoV-2 infection of macrophages induces pro-inflammatory responses. bioRxiv. 2022 Mar 30. PMID: 35378756.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 3/13/2022

    Zang H, Fofana J, Xu F, Nodder SB, Gummuluru S, Reinhard BM. Characterizing Lipid-Coated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as CD169-Binding Delivery System for Rilpivirine and Cabotegravir. Adv Nanobiomed Res. 2022 May; 2(5). PMID: 36313942.

    Read at: PubMed
  • Published on 1/7/2022

    Eshaghi B, Fofana J, Nodder SB, Gummuluru S, Reinhard BM. Virus-Mimicking Polymer Nanoparticles Targeting CD169+ Macrophages as Long-Acting Nanocarriers for Combination Antiretrovirals. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2022 Jan 19; 14(2):2488-2500. PMID: 34995059.

    Read at: PubMed

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