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Elizabeth Connick, MD

Professor

 

Phone: 303-724-4922
E-mail: liz.connick@ucdenver.edu
Address:  University of Colorado
Division of Infectious Diseases
12700 E. 19th Avenue, Box B168
Aurora, CO 80045

Medical School
Harvard Medical School

Residency
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY

Fellowship
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases

My research is focused on understanding the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection. I have been involved in clinical trials of a variety of immune therapies for HIV infection since 1994. I have also pursued laboratory-based investigations of HIV immunopathogenesis for the past 20 years particularly studies of acute HIV infection, virus tropism, immune reconstitution, cardiovascular disease, and HIV infection in women. I have specific expertise in studies of HIV pathogenesis in lymphoid tissues, where the majority of HIV replication and CD4+ T cell destruction occurs. I currently have R01 bridge funding to investigate the mechanisms underlying HIV’s evasion of cytotoxic T cell responses in lymphoid tissues, and am co-PI of a R01 investigating the impact of exercise on endothelial dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals.

  1. Folkvord JM, Armon C, Connick E. Lymphoid follicles are sites of heightened human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication and reduced antiretroviral effector mechanisms. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 2005;21:363-70.

  2. Folkvord JM, McCarter MD, Ryder J, Meditz AL, Forster JE, Connick E. Alpha-Defensins 1, 2, and 3 are expressed by granulocytes in lymphoid tissues of HIV-1 seropositive and seronegative individuals. J AIDS 2006; 42:529-36.

  3. Connick E, Mattila T, Folkvord JM, Schlichtemeier R, Meditz AL, McCarter MD, MaWhinney S, Hage A, White C, Skinner PJ. Cytotoxic T cells fail to accumulate at sites of HIV-1 replication in lymphoid tissue. J Immunol 2007; 178:6975-83.

  4. Berges BK, Akkina SR, Folkvord JM, Connick E, Akkina R. Vaginal and rectal transmission of R5 and X4 tropic HIV-1 in humanized Rag2-/-γc-/- (RAG-hu) mice. Virology 2008;373:342-51.

  5. Meditz A, Schlichtemeier R, Folkvord J, Givens M, Lesh K, Ray G, McCarter M, Connick E. SDF-1 is a Potent Inducer of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T-cell Chemotaxis, but Migration of CD8+ T Cells is Impaired at High Viral Loads. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 2008; 24:977-85.

  6. Volberding P, Demeter L, Bosch RJ, Aga E, Pettinelli C, Hirsch M, Vogler M, Martinez A, Little S, Connick E and the ACTG 371 Team. Antiretroviral Therapy in Acute and Recent HIV Infection: A Prospective Multicenter Stratified Trial of Intentionally Interrupted Treatment. AIDS 2009;23:1987-95.

  7. Meditz AL, MaWhinney S, Allshouse A, Feser W, Markowitz M, Little S, Hecht R, Daar ES, Collier AC, Margolick J, Kilby JM, Routy J, Conway B, Kaldor J, Levy J, Schooley R, Cooper DA, Altfeld M, Richman D, Connick E. Sex, Race, and Geographic Region Influence Clinical Outcomes Following Primary HIV-1 Infection.  J Infect Dis 2011;203:442-51.

  8. Connick E, Bosch RJ, Aga E, Schlichtemeier R, Demeter LM, Volberding P and the ACTG 709 Team.  Augmented HIV-specific Interferon-gamma Responses, but Impaired Lymphoproliferation During Interruption of Antiretroviral Treatment Initiated in Primary HIV Infection. J AIDS 2011;58:1-8.

  9. Akkina R, Berges BK, Palmer BE, Remling L, Neff CP, Kuruvilla J, Connick E, Folkvord J, Gagliardi K, Kassu A, Akkina SR. Humanized Rag1γc Mice Support Multilineage Hematopoiesis and Are Susceptible to HIV-1 Infection via Systemic and Vaginal Routes. PLoS One 2011; 6 (6):e20169.

  10. Meditz AL, Haas MK, Folkvord AJM, Melander K, Young R, McCarter M, MaWhinney S, Campbell T, Lie Y, Coakley E, Levy DN, Connick E. HLA-DR+CD38+CD4+ T Lymphocytes have Elevated CCR5 Expression and Produce the majority of R5-tropic HIV-1 RNA in Vivo. J Virol 2011;85:10189-10200.