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Luis J. Montaner
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Wistar Institute Professor of Pediatrics (Allergy/Immunology)
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Department: Pediatrics
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Contact information
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The Wistar Institute
35 3601 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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35 3601 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Office: 215-898-9143
3e Lab: 215-898-3934
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3e Lab: 215-898-3934
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Email:
montaner@wistar.org
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montaner@wistar.org
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Graduate Group Affiliations
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- Cell and Molecular Biology 5c
- Immunology e
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Publications
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Education:
21 9 B.S. c
30 Kansas State University, 1989.
21 b D.V.M. 20 (Veterinary Medicine) c
30 Kansas State University, 1991.
21 a M.Sc. 21 (Veterinary Pathology) c
30 Kansas State University, 1991.
21 c D.Phil. 23 (Experimental Pathology) c
2d University of Oxford, 1995.
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21 9 B.S. c
30 Kansas State University, 1989.
21 b D.V.M. 20 (Veterinary Medicine) c
30 Kansas State University, 1991.
21 a M.Sc. 21 (Veterinary Pathology) c
30 Kansas State University, 1991.
21 c D.Phil. 23 (Experimental Pathology) c
2d University of Oxford, 1995.
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Links
9b Search PubMed for articles
81 Wistar Institute research description.
89 Immunology graduate group faculty webpage.
ae This is the website for the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory to Cure HIV-1 Infection by Combination Immunotherapy.
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9b Search PubMed for articles
81 Wistar Institute research description.
89 Immunology graduate group faculty webpage.
ae This is the website for the BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory to Cure HIV-1 Infection by Combination Immunotherapy.
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Post-Graduate Training
24 7a Assistant Electron Microscopist, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Kansas State University, 1986-1989.
24 7c Research Internships, New England Regional Primate Research Center, Harvard School of Medicine, 1990-1990.
24 6b DPhil Studentship, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, 1991-1994.
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Permanent link24 7a Assistant Electron Microscopist, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Kansas State University, 1986-1989.
24 7c Research Internships, New England Regional Primate Research Center, Harvard School of Medicine, 1990-1990.
24 6b DPhil Studentship, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, 1991-1994.
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fe Our goal is to develop a better understanding of HIV-1 immunopathogenesis and new immune-based strategies of anti-HIV therapy that are better tolerated and more sustainable for patient populations than the life-long use of antiretroviral therapy.
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23 Research Description
14 Introduction
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245 The Montaner laboratory is investigating mechanisms of disease in HIV-1 infection and novel approaches to augment immune function by combining virological and immune-based research on patient-derived material as well as by using laboratory models of virus infection. The work is focused on 1) regulation of innate immunity, 2) identifying new mechanisms of immunodeficiency and discovering new approaches to reverse them, 3) exploring new therapy management practices, and 4) understanding the relationship between immune antiviral responses and control of HIV-1 infection.
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31 Current Research Activities and Interests
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1ee Innate Immunity & HIV-1 Infection: Dendritic cells & Natural Killer Cells Direct or indirect interactions of viral particles with innate and specific adaptive immunity effector cells affects the cross talk between antigen presenting cells (APCs), NK cells and the antigen specific T and B-lymphocytes, and may contribute to regulate HIV disease progression. Specifically, we are pursuing analysis of the effects of HIV infection in macrophages, dendritic cells and Natural Killer cells.
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898 A relationship between levels of HIV replication and innate cell function is supported by our preliminary data on DC and NK subset changes and viral replication in HIV-infected individuals showing an impairment of NK cell responses, APC endocytic uptake, differential expression of cell surface molecules associated with APC function, increased APC apoptosis, decreased IL-12 secretion, decreased IFN-? secretion and a loss of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) and myeloid dendritic cells (MDCs) in PBMC. Based on these observations and the observed effects of antiretroviral therapy on DC and NK cell subsets, the inverse correlation between viral load and DC subsets in untreated HIV positive subjects and our observations of augmented NK lytic activity by activated DC, we are addressing longitudinal analysis and mechanistic experiments on DC/HIV interactions to test the hypothesis that HAART-mediated viral suppression restores mature NK and DC subsets necessary to activate innate mechanisms of antiviral control through lysis of infected cells. The long-term goal of this area of focus is to define the contribution of two major components of the innate immune system (accessory and Natural Killer cells) in controlling HIV replication thereby modifying disease progression. The short-term goal of our effort is to address the consequences of immune reconstitution on innate immunity following antiretroviral therapy, with particular emphasis on correlates of DC and NK cell functions and the consequences of HIV interactions with DC subsets. While adaptive HIV-specific immune responses continue to be an area of active investigation in AIDS research, the potential contribution of innate immune response, such as the relationship between DC subsets, disease progression and its consequences on other innate functions such as NK function remains largely unexplored in HAART settings. This study represents a hypothesis-driven collaborative effort by The Wistar Institute, the Infectious Disease Division of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia FIGHT, Schering-Plough, Becton Dickinson, The Women's Interagency Study Cohort and the Multiple AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).
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Description of Research Expertise
2b Research Interestsfe Our goal is to develop a better understanding of HIV-1 immunopathogenesis and new immune-based strategies of anti-HIV therapy that are better tolerated and more sustainable for patient populations than the life-long use of antiretroviral therapy.
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23 Research Description
14 Introduction
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245 The Montaner laboratory is investigating mechanisms of disease in HIV-1 infection and novel approaches to augment immune function by combining virological and immune-based research on patient-derived material as well as by using laboratory models of virus infection. The work is focused on 1) regulation of innate immunity, 2) identifying new mechanisms of immunodeficiency and discovering new approaches to reverse them, 3) exploring new therapy management practices, and 4) understanding the relationship between immune antiviral responses and control of HIV-1 infection.
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31 Current Research Activities and Interests
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1ee Innate Immunity & HIV-1 Infection: Dendritic cells & Natural Killer Cells Direct or indirect interactions of viral particles with innate and specific adaptive immunity effector cells affects the cross talk between antigen presenting cells (APCs), NK cells and the antigen specific T and B-lymphocytes, and may contribute to regulate HIV disease progression. Specifically, we are pursuing analysis of the effects of HIV infection in macrophages, dendritic cells and Natural Killer cells.
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898 A relationship between levels of HIV replication and innate cell function is supported by our preliminary data on DC and NK subset changes and viral replication in HIV-infected individuals showing an impairment of NK cell responses, APC endocytic uptake, differential expression of cell surface molecules associated with APC function, increased APC apoptosis, decreased IL-12 secretion, decreased IFN-? secretion and a loss of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) and myeloid dendritic cells (MDCs) in PBMC. Based on these observations and the observed effects of antiretroviral therapy on DC and NK cell subsets, the inverse correlation between viral load and DC subsets in untreated HIV positive subjects and our observations of augmented NK lytic activity by activated DC, we are addressing longitudinal analysis and mechanistic experiments on DC/HIV interactions to test the hypothesis that HAART-mediated viral suppression restores mature NK and DC subsets necessary to activate innate mechanisms of antiviral control through lysis of infected cells. The long-term goal of this area of focus is to define the contribution of two major components of the innate immune system (accessory and Natural Killer cells) in controlling HIV replication thereby modifying disease progression. The short-term goal of our effort is to address the consequences of immune reconstitution on innate immunity following antiretroviral therapy, with particular emphasis on correlates of DC and NK cell functions and the consequences of HIV interactions with DC subsets. While adaptive HIV-specific immune responses continue to be an area of active investigation in AIDS research, the potential contribution of innate immune response, such as the relationship between DC subsets, disease progression and its consequences on other innate functions such as NK function remains largely unexplored in HAART settings. This study represents a hypothesis-driven collaborative effort by The Wistar Institute, the Infectious Disease Division of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia FIGHT, Schering-Plough, Becton Dickinson, The Women's Interagency Study Cohort and the Multiple AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).
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152 Wei Y, Ma HK, Wong ME, Back H, Papasavvas E, Mounzer K, Aberra F, Morgenstern R, Tebas P, Konnikova L, Montaner LJ, Ho YC.: Transcription factor BACH2 shapes tissue-resident memory T cell programs to promote HIV-1 persistence Immunity. 58(11): 2878-2898, Nov 2025.
21d Pastorio C, Richard K, Usmani S, Kissmann AK, Bolotnikov G, Gosálbez G, Hayn M, Koepke L, Sauertnik A, Preising A, Preising N, Ständker L, Fair M, Morris J, Papasavvas E, Liu Q, Sun H, Rodríguez A, Mounzer K, Wiese S, Tebas P, Du Y, Laird GM, Jaritz M, Rosenau F, Gaidt MM, Sparrer KMJ, Montaner LJ, Kirchhoff F: Retinol Binding Protein 4 reactivates latent HIV-1 by triggering canonical NF-κB, JAK/STAT5 and JNK signalling Signal Transduct Target Ther. Oct 2025.
1d2 Reeves DB, Rigau DN, Romero A, Zhang H, Simonetti FR, Varriale J, Hoh R, Zhang L, Smith KN, Montaner LJ, Rubin LH, Gange SJ, Roan NR, Tien PC, Margolick JB, Peluso MJ, Deeks SG, Schiffer JT, Siliciano JD, Siliciano RF, Antar AAR: Mild HIV-specific selective forces overlaying natural CD4+ T cell dynamics explain the clonality and decay dynamics of HIV reservoir cells. Cell Systems Oct 2025.
1ac Casimir-Montán VM, Matos-Hernández ML, González-Bravo A, Hernández-Delgado EA, Dyer G, Salvino JM, Montaner LJ, Cassel JA, Messick TE, Tietjen I, Caro-Diaz EJE.: Bioassay-guided Isolation of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Entry Inhibitors From the Brown Algae Lobophora variegata Identifies Fucoxanthin as a Selective ACE-2/Spike Inhibitor Chem Biodivers Aug 2025.
1e4 Wu F, Moskovljevic M, Dragoni F, Jayaraman S, Board NL, Camilo-Contreras A, Bernal S, Hariharan V, Zhang H, Lai J, Singhal A, Poulin S, Chano F, Chamberland A, Tremblay C, Zoltick M, Hoffmann CJ, Jones JL, Larman HB, Montaner LJ, Siliciano JD, Siliciano RF, Simonetti FR.: Proviruses in CD4+ T cells reactive to autologous antigens contribute to nonsuppressible HIV-1 viremia Sci Transl Med 17(811), Aug 2025.
248 Dai Y, Knisely A, Yano M, Dang M, Hinchcliff EM, Lee S, Welp A, Chelvanambi M, Lastrapes M, Liu H, Yuan Z, Wang C, Nie H, Jean S, Montaner LJ, Hou J, Patel A, Patel S, Fellman B, Yuan Y, Sun B, Pandurengan RK, Cuentas ERP, Celestino J, Liu Y, Liu J, Hillman RT, Westin SN, Sood AK, Soliman PT, Shafer A, Meyer LA, Gershenson DM, Vining D, Ganeshan D, Lu K, Wargo JA, Peng W, Zhang R, Wang L, Jazaeri AA.: PPP2R1A mutations portend improved survival after cancer immunotherapy Nature. Page: 537–546, Aug 2025.
1b3 McMyn NF, Varriale J, Wu HWS, Hariharan V, Moskovljevic M, Tan TS, Lai J, Singhal A, Lynn K, Mounzer K, Tebas P, Montaner LJ, Hoh R, Yu XG, Lichterfeld M, Simonetti FR, Kovacs C, Deeks SG, Siliciano JM, Siliciano RF.: Factors associated with resistance of HIV-1 reservoir viruses to neutralization by autologous IgG antibodies J Clin Invest. 135(19), Jul 2025.
1c0 Cramer GM, Davis RW 4th, Papasavvas E, Klampatsa A, Miller JM, Carter S, Ikpe R, Yuan M, Widura S, Majumdar RS, McNulty S, Putt M, Kossenkov AV, Montaner LJ, Singhal S, Moon EK, Albelda SM, Cengel KA, Busch TM.: PD-1 Blockade Mitigates Surgery-Induced Immunosuppression and Increases the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy for Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Res Commun. May 2025.
1bb Richard K, Yuan Z, Tang H-Y, Goldman AR, Kuthu R, Raphane B, Register ET, Sharma P, Ross BN, Morris J, Williams DE, Cheney C, Wu G, Mounzer K, Laird GM, Zuck P, Andersen RJ, Simonambango S, Andrae-Marobela K, Tietjen I, Montaner LJ.: Ex vivo and in vivo HIV-1 latency reversal by "Mukungulu," a protein kinase C-activating African medicinal plant extract mBio May 2025.
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Selected Publications
216 Tcyganov EN, Kwak T, Yang X, Poli ANR, Hart C, Bhuniya A, Cassel J, Kossenkov AV, Auslander N, Lu L, Sharma P, Cauti Mendoza MG, Zhigarev D, Cramer GM, Cadungog MG, Jean S, Chatterjee-Paer S, Weiner DB, Donthireddy L, Bristow B, Zhang R, Tyurin VA, Tyurina YY, Bayir H, Kagan VE, Salvino JM, Montaner LJ.: Targeting LxCxE Cleft Pocket of Retinoblastoma Protein in Immunosuppressive Macrophages Inhibits Ovarian Cancer Progression Cancer Immunol Res. Nov 2025.152 Wei Y, Ma HK, Wong ME, Back H, Papasavvas E, Mounzer K, Aberra F, Morgenstern R, Tebas P, Konnikova L, Montaner LJ, Ho YC.: Transcription factor BACH2 shapes tissue-resident memory T cell programs to promote HIV-1 persistence Immunity. 58(11): 2878-2898, Nov 2025.
21d Pastorio C, Richard K, Usmani S, Kissmann AK, Bolotnikov G, Gosálbez G, Hayn M, Koepke L, Sauertnik A, Preising A, Preising N, Ständker L, Fair M, Morris J, Papasavvas E, Liu Q, Sun H, Rodríguez A, Mounzer K, Wiese S, Tebas P, Du Y, Laird GM, Jaritz M, Rosenau F, Gaidt MM, Sparrer KMJ, Montaner LJ, Kirchhoff F: Retinol Binding Protein 4 reactivates latent HIV-1 by triggering canonical NF-κB, JAK/STAT5 and JNK signalling Signal Transduct Target Ther. Oct 2025.
1d2 Reeves DB, Rigau DN, Romero A, Zhang H, Simonetti FR, Varriale J, Hoh R, Zhang L, Smith KN, Montaner LJ, Rubin LH, Gange SJ, Roan NR, Tien PC, Margolick JB, Peluso MJ, Deeks SG, Schiffer JT, Siliciano JD, Siliciano RF, Antar AAR: Mild HIV-specific selective forces overlaying natural CD4+ T cell dynamics explain the clonality and decay dynamics of HIV reservoir cells. Cell Systems Oct 2025.
1ac Casimir-Montán VM, Matos-Hernández ML, González-Bravo A, Hernández-Delgado EA, Dyer G, Salvino JM, Montaner LJ, Cassel JA, Messick TE, Tietjen I, Caro-Diaz EJE.: Bioassay-guided Isolation of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Entry Inhibitors From the Brown Algae Lobophora variegata Identifies Fucoxanthin as a Selective ACE-2/Spike Inhibitor Chem Biodivers Aug 2025.
1e4 Wu F, Moskovljevic M, Dragoni F, Jayaraman S, Board NL, Camilo-Contreras A, Bernal S, Hariharan V, Zhang H, Lai J, Singhal A, Poulin S, Chano F, Chamberland A, Tremblay C, Zoltick M, Hoffmann CJ, Jones JL, Larman HB, Montaner LJ, Siliciano JD, Siliciano RF, Simonetti FR.: Proviruses in CD4+ T cells reactive to autologous antigens contribute to nonsuppressible HIV-1 viremia Sci Transl Med 17(811), Aug 2025.
248 Dai Y, Knisely A, Yano M, Dang M, Hinchcliff EM, Lee S, Welp A, Chelvanambi M, Lastrapes M, Liu H, Yuan Z, Wang C, Nie H, Jean S, Montaner LJ, Hou J, Patel A, Patel S, Fellman B, Yuan Y, Sun B, Pandurengan RK, Cuentas ERP, Celestino J, Liu Y, Liu J, Hillman RT, Westin SN, Sood AK, Soliman PT, Shafer A, Meyer LA, Gershenson DM, Vining D, Ganeshan D, Lu K, Wargo JA, Peng W, Zhang R, Wang L, Jazaeri AA.: PPP2R1A mutations portend improved survival after cancer immunotherapy Nature. Page: 537–546, Aug 2025.
1b3 McMyn NF, Varriale J, Wu HWS, Hariharan V, Moskovljevic M, Tan TS, Lai J, Singhal A, Lynn K, Mounzer K, Tebas P, Montaner LJ, Hoh R, Yu XG, Lichterfeld M, Simonetti FR, Kovacs C, Deeks SG, Siliciano JM, Siliciano RF.: Factors associated with resistance of HIV-1 reservoir viruses to neutralization by autologous IgG antibodies J Clin Invest. 135(19), Jul 2025.
1c0 Cramer GM, Davis RW 4th, Papasavvas E, Klampatsa A, Miller JM, Carter S, Ikpe R, Yuan M, Widura S, Majumdar RS, McNulty S, Putt M, Kossenkov AV, Montaner LJ, Singhal S, Moon EK, Albelda SM, Cengel KA, Busch TM.: PD-1 Blockade Mitigates Surgery-Induced Immunosuppression and Increases the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy for Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Res Commun. May 2025.
1bb Richard K, Yuan Z, Tang H-Y, Goldman AR, Kuthu R, Raphane B, Register ET, Sharma P, Ross BN, Morris J, Williams DE, Cheney C, Wu G, Mounzer K, Laird GM, Zuck P, Andersen RJ, Simonambango S, Andrae-Marobela K, Tietjen I, Montaner LJ.: Ex vivo and in vivo HIV-1 latency reversal by "Mukungulu," a protein kinase C-activating African medicinal plant extract mBio May 2025.
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