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Zandrea Ambrose, PhD

  • Associate Professor
  • Microbiology & Molecular Genetics

The Ambrose laboratory studies antiretroviral therapeutics used for HIV-1 prevention and suppression. We use molecular, cellular, and genetic approaches as well as in vivo models to address areas of HIV-1 research, such as: 

- Biology of HIV-host protein interactions

- Novel HIV inhibitors and drug resistance

- Novel methods for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and antiretroviral therapy delivery

- The effect of PrEP and drug resistance on mucosal transmission

- HIV evolution and persistence in blood and tissues

Education & Training

  • PhD in Pathobiology, University of Washington, 2001
  • BA in Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1994

Representative Publications

Ning J, Zhong Z, Fischer D.K, Harris G, Watkins S.C, Ambrose Z and Zhang P. 2018. Truncated CPSF6 Forms Higher-Order Complexes That Bind and Disrupt HIV-1 Capsid. J Virol. 92: e00368-18. |  View Abstract

Feder A.F, Kline C, Polacino P, Cottrell M, Kashuba A.D.M, Keele B.F, Hu S.L, Petrov D.A, Pennings P.S. and Ambrose Z. 2017. A spatio-temporal assessment of simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) evolution reveals a highly dynamic process within the host. PLoS Pathog. 13: e1006358. |  View Abstract

Kearney M.F, Anderson E.M, Coomer C, Smith L, Shao W, Johnson N, Kline C, Spindler J, Mellors, J.W, Coffin J.M. and Ambrose Z. 2015. Well-mixed plasma and tissue viral populations in RT-SHIV-infected macaques implies a lack of viral replication in the tissues during antiretroviral therapy. Retrovirology. 12: 93. |  View Abstract

Melody K, McBeth S, Kline C, Kashuba A.D, Mellors J.W. and Ambrose Z. 2015. Low Frequency of Drug-Resistant Variants Selected by Long-Acting Rilpivirine in Macaques Infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Containing HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase. Antimicrob Agens Chemother. 59: 7762-7770. |  View Abstract

Xu H, Franks T, Gibson G, Huber K, Rahm N, Strambrio De Castillia C, Luban J, Aiken C, Watkins S, Sluis-Cremer N. and Ambrose Z. 2013. Evidence for biphasic uncoating during HIV-1 infection from a novel imaging assay. Retrovirology. 10: 70. |  View Abstract

Lee K, Ambrose Z, Martin T.D, Oztop I, Mulky A, Julias J.G, Vandegraaff N, Baumann J.G, Wang R, Yuen W, Takemura T, Shelton K, Taniuchi I, Li Y, Sodroski J, Littman D.R, Coffin J.M, Hughes S.H, Unutmaz D, Engelman A. and KewalRamani V.N. 2010. Flexible use of nuclear import pathways by HIV-1. Cell Host Microbe. 7: 221-233. |  View Abstract