Infection, Inflammation and Innate Immunity

We investigate how viral infections and ageing impact our immune system, informing the development of tools and therapies to improve health outcomes

Group heads

Associate Professor Anna Hearps

About this group

By understanding the causes of chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction in inflammatory conditions such as HIV and healthy ageing, we aim to predict and improve health outcomes through the development of prognostic tools and adjunct therapies. We also investigate ways to eliminate HIV to help achieve a HIV cure.

HIV infection is a chronic viral infection managed using combination antiretroviral therapy. Currently, it can’t be cured. Long-term management of people receiving antiretroviral therapy is an ongoing concern and health burden, especially their risk of non-AIDS co-morbidities.

We focus on understanding the immune defects that persist in people with HIV. We explore how these may intersect with age-related changes to drive increased risk of age-related co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease.

By understanding these changes, we aim to predict and improve health outcomes through the development of prognostic tools and adjunctive therapies.

We also study how HIV persists in immune cells such as macrophages despite anti-HIV therapy, identifying ways to specifically target these cells. Our research aims to develop an immunotherapy-based approach to HIV cure, targeting and eliminating HIV+ cells using natural killer cells and engineered antibodies.

Current projects

EVE-M®: enhancing the vaginal environment and microbiome

The vaginal microbiome is a key determinant of a women’s sexual and reproductive health. There is an unmet need for effective non-antibiotic-based strategies to target bacterial vaginosis and its adverse sequelae.

Open to students

Getting to the heart of cardiovascular disease in viral infections

This project aims to understand the mechanisms of how viral infections can potentiate the development of CVD, with a particular focus on the role monocytes may play in this process.

Collateral damage: how viral infections impact our innate immune system

We're exploring the long-term impacts of HIV, hepatitis C virus and COVID-19 on innate immune cells such as monocytes and NK cells.

Open to students

Immunotherapy-based approaches to cure HIV

The objectives of this project include identifying the relevant NK subset which is the most potent killer of HIV-infected cells and developing anti-HIV antibodies with enhanced function.

Immune ageing and viral infections

We are particularly interested in innate immune cells which play a central role in regulating the response to acute infections and controlling inflammation that drives chronic diseases.

The persistence of HIV in macrophages: a barrier to HIV cure

HIV-infected monocytes and macrophages are a significant barrier to HIV cure yet little is known about this important reservoir of HIV or how it may be targeted.