ABOUT US

The research developed in PAVAL lab., focuses on infectious pathogens causing chronic diseases. The main aims are  to understand the mechanisms involved in increased or decreased virulence and to develop innovative vaccines and vaccine strategies. Studies include both human and animal pathogens and use lentiviruses as a central model. Data have contributed to a better understanding of host(s)/lentivirus interactions, lentivirus virulence and the correlates of pathogenicity  in primates and small ruminants. Data were used to design and engineer a lentivector DNA vaccine prototype against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) responsible for AIDS and demonstrated its effectiveness in animal models. The backbone of this prototype was used as a platform in which gene cassettes are interchangeable to generate vaccine prototypes specific to multiple chronic infectious diseases.