Ana Espada de Sousa Lab

Human Immunodeficiency & Immune Reconstitution

Health relies on a competent immune system. Our aim is to understand the pathogenesis of immunodeficiency and find new strategies for immune reconstitution. We revealed mechanisms involved in human T cell homeostasis and immune regulation through the study of unique clinical settings, such as HIV-2 infection. HIV-2 establishes a better equilibrium with the host than HIV-1, leading to a much slower rate of disease progression and lower levels of circulating virus.

The comparative study of these two infections allowed us to clarify central issues in AIDS immunopathogenesis, taking advantage of the fact that Portugal is the only non-African country with a significant HIV-2 prevalence. Additionally, our unit integrates a reference centre that performs diagnosis, specialized follow-up and research in primary immunodeficiencies, rare diseases considered natural experiments from which we can learn a great deal about the human immune system. The ultimate goal is that our research on T-cell development in the human thymus and lymphoid tissue preservation, particularly in the context of persistent immune activation, translates into innovative immune-based therapies.