Marta Gonzalez-Hernandez
e-mail address: martag@umich.edu

Mentor: David Markovitz, MD

Research Description

I study how Human Endogenous Retrovirus K (HERV-K/HML-2) gets activated during HIV-1 infection through specific interactions between HIV-1 proteins (e.g. Tat) and cellular factors. These interactions could potentially lead to lymphoma and other types of cancers developed during viral infection. Additionally, I am studying the role of the HERV-K oncogenes rec and np9 in the development of AIDS-associated lymphoma and lymphoma in general.



Publications

Contreras-Galindo, R., Gonzalez, M., Almodovar-Camacho, S.,
Gonzalez-Ramirez, S., Lorenzo, E., Yamamura, Y. A new Real-Time-RT-PCR for quantitation of human endogenous retroviruses type K (HERV-K) RNA load in plasma samples: Increased HERV-K RNA titers in HIV-1 patients with HAART non-suppressive regimens. J Virol Methods. 2006 Sep;136(1-2):51-7.

Awards

Department of Homeland Security Fellowship
Rackham Merit Fellowship
2008 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention