Professor Clare Jolly

Professor of Virus Cell Biology

About

Research in the Jolly lab aims to understand the cell biology of HIV-1 infection and spread between T cells.

Research summary

Work in my lab aims to determine precisely how HIV hijacks the normal cellular machinery of T cells to drive efficient viral replication and spread, and the biological consequences thereof. Dissecting the molecular details of how these processes work will provide greater insight into HIV-1 pathogenesis and inform future antiviral strategies. Our work is underpinned by expertise in molecular virology, cell biology and advanced imaging.

Our current research focuses on four main areas:

• Characterising virus-host interactions that support successful HIV replication in T cells
• Dissecting the molecular determinants and regulators of cell-cell spread at virological synapses
• Investigating how viral proteins are trafficked in infected cells and how virus assembly is coordinated
• Evaluating antiviral therapeutics and inhibitors.

Selected publications

• Titanji BK, Pillay D, Jolly C. Combination antiretroviral therapy and cell-cell spread of wild-type and drug-resistant human immunodeficiency virusu-1. J Gen Virol. 2017;98:821-834
• Len AC, Starling S, Shivkumar M, Jolly C. HIV-1 activates signaling independently of antigen to drive viral spread. Cell Rep. 2017;18:1062-1074
• Starling S, Jolly C. LFA-1 Engagement Triggers T Cell Polarization at the HIV-1 Virological Synapse. J Virol. 2016;90:9841-9854
• Zhang C, Zhou S, Groppelli E, Pellegrino P, Williams I, Borrow P, Chain B, Jolly C. Hybrid spreading mechanisms and T cell activation shape the dynamics of HIV-1 infection. PLoS Comput Biol. 2015;11:e1004179
• Groppelli E, Starling S, Jolly C. Contact-induced mitochondria polarization supports HIV-1 virological synapse formation. J Virol. 2015;89:14-24
• Groppelli E, Len A, Granger L, Jolly C. Retromer regulates HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trafficking and incorporation into virions. PLoS Pathog. 2014;10:e1004518
• Titanji B, Aasa-Chapman M, Pillay D, Jolly C. Protease inhibitors effectively block cell-to-cell spread of HIV-1 between T cells. Retrovirology. 2013;10:161
• Jolly C, Welsch S, Michor S, Sattentau Q. The regulated secretory pathway in CD4+ T cells contributes to Human Immunodeficiency Virus type-1 cell-to-cell spread at the virological synapse. PLoS Pathog. 2011;7,e10022226
• Jolly C, Booth NJ, Neil SJ. Cell-cell spread of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 overcomes tetherin/BST-2 mediated restriction in T cells. J Virol. 2010;84:12185-99
• Sowinski S, Jolly C, Berninghausen O, Purboo MA, Chauveau A, Kohler K, Oddos S, Eissmann P, Brodsky FM, Hopkins C, Onfelt B, Sattentau Q, Davis DM. Membrane nanotubes physically connect T cells over long distances presenting a novel route for HIV-1 transmission. Nat Cell Biol. 2008;10:211-9
• Jolly C, Kashefi K, Hollinshead M, Sattentau QJ. HIV-1 cell to cell transfer across an Env-induced, actin-dependent synapse. J Exp Med. 2004;199:283-93.