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Institution
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität
Heidelberg
Host
Institution(s)
University
of California, San Diego, Center for AIDS Research
Mentors: Flossie Wong-Staal, Ph.D.; Andreas Gruber, Ph.D.
Live attenuated AIDS vaccines so far had impressive efficacy, but considerable risk of inducing AIDS in vaccinated animals still remains. Recently, a model of an immunotherapy for HIV/AIDS with genetically modified dendritic cells (DC) was proposed (Gruber et al.,Blood 2000,96:1327). DC are potent antigen presenting cells which initiate and modulate the immune response. DC transduced with pseudotyped HIV-1 based replication-incompetent vectors are able to express and present HIV-antigens. With these transduced DC a primary antiviral cytotoxic CD8+T-cell response could be induced in vitro. Alterations of chemotaxis of antigen presenting cells by several viral proteins have been observed.Therefore, the effect of lentiviral vector transduction on DC chemotaxis, a process that is regulated by a complex network of chemokines and their receptors, is being examined in the current project by using functional assays and by measuring the expression and release of chemokine receptors and/or ligands by DC. This study will help to determine the feasability of genetically modified DC as immunotherapy for HIV/AIDS.
Joining this lab was an enriching and very pleasant experience. I very much enjoyed the great diversity of the people working in the lab. The fast moving and highly competitive field of AIDS research and gene therapy turned out to be very exciting.
Southern California has a great variety of things to offer. Mexico and LA are very close to San Diego. These places are good for one day trips. San Diego was deemed America's fittest city. Due to the year round mild climate there is no excuse for dropping outdoor training during the winter. Scenic marathons and half-marathons are scheduled almost every other weekend. The shores, beaches, and the Pacific offer a broad spectrum of recreational activities.
Within the first six weeks, the lack of a motorized vehicle made life a slightly difficult. Being dependent on public transportation in San Diego is not very convenient and too time consuming. A car really changed my life in a positive way.
To surf or not to surf … there's no question! When you stay in Southern California you should go surfing at least once. You can rent boards and wet suits everywhere. As a first timer I had no idea about surfing. However, like skis, surfboards need to be waxed before use. But, unlike skis, surfboards are waxed on the side facing your feet. Don't try to wax the surface of your board which is turned to the water. Johannes and I had a great laugh when we realized that something must have gone wrong.
You should try to find a place to stay before arrival. You can contact former students who might be able to provide you with addresses and phone numbers. If possible, buy a car in the first few weeks after your arrival. You are much more flexible with a car in San Diego. The International Center on the UCSD campus has useful information for visiting students. You can also join a great variety of activities there. For example, on Fridays you can meet other students at the international lunch. The following internet links could be helpful:
About the University of California, San Diego - www.ucsd.edu
San Diego news, events, weather, housing -www.sdreader.com, www.signonsandiego.com and www.sdinsider.com
Information on buying and selling cars - www.kelleybluebook.com
Virology and gene therapy links - www.virology.net
The best Jazz on the air: KSDS fm 88.3 San Diego
