Jay Levy, MD

Professor In Residence

Research in the Levy laboratory is directed at understanding the interaction of viruses and the immune system in microbial pathogenesis. It focuses on HIV infection with the goal of designing novel antiviral therapies and an effective AIDS vaccine for which both innate and adaptive responses are needed. Biologic, serologic, and molecular characterization of several HIV-1 and HIV-2 strains has revealed their extensive heterogeneity and how viruses can evolve differently in the same individual in the immune system, bowel, and the brain. A major emphasis in the laboratory has been on anti-HIV innate immune responses. The research group is evaluating the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC), the main producers of type 1 interferons. Studies are directed at understanding how HIV-infected cells induce interferon production from PDC and what cell surface molecules, including toll-like receptors (TLR), are involved in this process. An important potent innate response we have discovered is the ability of CD8+ lymphocytes to suppress HIV replication without killing the cells. This novel CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR) is mediated by an as yet unidentified, natural CD8+ cell antiviral factor (CAF) that blocks HIV transcription. In summary, the Levy laboratory has been conducting studies to identify CAF through RNA Seq procedures, to determine the best strategy for an AIDS vaccine and to use genetically modified stem cell approaches towards a potential HIV cure.

Education
MD, - Medicine and Virology, Columbia University
- Staff Associate, NIH, National Cancer Institute
- Regeneration, Universite de Paris
- Med. Residency II, University of California, San Francisco
- Med. Internship, Residency I, University of Pennsylvania
BA, - Biology, Wesleyan University
Honors and Awards
  • UCSF 150th Anniversary Alumni Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2015
  • Gold Medal for Excellence in Medical Research, Columbia University, 2008
  • Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2004
  • Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology, 2003
  • UCSF 45th Faculty Research Lecturer, University of California, San Francisco, 2002
  • Doctor of Science Honorary Degree, Wesleyan University, 1996
  • Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1993
Publications

  1. Morvan MG, Teque F, Ye L, Moreno ME, Wang J, VandenBerg S, Stoddart CA, Kan YW, Levy JA. Genetically edited CD34+ cells derived from human iPS cells in vivo but not in vitro engraft and differentiate into HIV-resistant cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2021. PMID: 33975958


  2. Morvan MG, Teque FC, Locher CP, Levy JA. The CD8+ T Cell Noncytotoxic Antiviral Responses. Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR 2021. PMID: 33980586


  3. Levy JA, Coutinho RA, Saag MS, Franks L. AIDS new editor announcement. AIDS (London, England) 2020. PMID: 32947591


  4. Levy JA. The need to reassess our approaches at HIV cure and prevention. AIDS (London, England) 2020. PMID: 32991381


  5. Ye L, Wang J, Teque F, Xie F, Tan Y, Kan YW, Levy JA. Generation of HIV-1-infected patients' gene-edited induced pluripotent stem cells using feeder-free culture conditions. AIDS (London, England) 2020. PMID: 32501846


  6. Teque F, Ye L, Xie F, Wang J, Morvan MG, Kan YW, Levy JA. Genetically-edited iPSCs derived from HIV-1 infected patients on therapy can give rise to immune cells resistant to HIV-1 infection. AIDS (London, England) 2020. PMID: 32287059


  7. Hecht FM, Moskowitz JT, Moran P, Epel ES, Bacchetti P, Acree M, Kemeny ME, Mendes WB, Duncan LG, Weng H, Levy JA, Deeks SG, Folkman S. A randomized, controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction in HIV infection. Brain, behavior, and immunity 2018. PMID: 29842903


  8. Levy JA, Murphy EL. Schwab M (ed.) Encyclopedia of Cancer Human T-Lymphotropic Virus 2017. PMID:


  9. Blazek D, Teque F, Mackewicz C, Peterlin M, Levy JA. The CD8+ cell non-cytotoxic antiviral response affects RNA polymerase II-mediated human immunodeficiency virus transcription in infected CD4+ cells. Volume 97 of Issue 1. The Journal of general virology 2015. PMID: 26499373


  10. Levy JA. Discovery of another anti-HIV protein in the search for the CD8+ cell anti-HIV Factor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2015. PMID: 26085138


  11. Levy JA. Dispelling myths and focusing on notable concepts in HIV pathogenesis. Trends in molecular medicine 2015. PMID: 25883070


  12. Roff SR, Sanou MP, Rathore MH, Levy JA, Yamamoto JK. Conserved epitopes on HIV-1, FIV and SIV p24 proteins are recognized by HIV-1 infected subjects. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics 2015. PMID: 25844718


  13. Ye L, Wang J, Beyer AI, Teque F, Cradick TJ, Qi Z, Chang JC, Bao G, Muench MO, Yu J, Levy JA, Kan YW. Seamless modification of wild-type induced pluripotent stem cells to the natural CCR5?32 mutation confers resistance to HIV infection. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2014. PMID: 24927590


  14. Venditto VJ, Wieczorek L, Molnar S, Teque F, Landucci G, Watson DS, Forthal D, Polonis VR, Levy JA, Szoka FC. Chemically modified peptides based on the membrane-proximal external region of the HIV-1 envelope induce high-titer, epitope-specific nonneutralizing antibodies in rabbits. Clinical and vaccine immunology : CVI 2014. PMID: 24872518


  15. Sanou MP, Roff SR, Mennella A, Sleasman JW, Rathore MH, Yamamoto JK, Levy JA. Evolutionarily conserved epitopes on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and feline immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptases detected by HIV-1-infected subjects. Journal of virology 2013. PMID: 23824804


  16. Liu L, Wang L, Huang L, Siu V, Teque F, Aweeka FT, Levy JA. Nevirapine inhibits the anti-HIV activity of CD8+ cells. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2013. PMID: 23392464


  17. Kaushik S, Teque F, Patel M, Fujimura SH, Schmidt B, Levy JA. Plasmacytoid dendritic cell number and responses to Toll-like receptor 7 and 9 agonists vary in HIV Type 1-infected individuals in relation to clinical state. AIDS research and human retroviruses 2013. PMID: 23131038


  18. Ippolito G, Levy JA, Sonnerborg A, Mugusi F, Dianzani F. AIDS and HIV Infection after Thirty Years. AIDS research and treatment 2013. PMID: 23365727


  19. Sanou MP, De Groot AS, Murphey-Corb M, Levy JA, Yamamoto JK. HIV-1 Vaccine Trials: Evolving Concepts and Designs. The open AIDS journal 2012. PMID: 23289052


  20. Levy JA, Levy Y. HIV infection: what should be considered in approaches for a cure? AIDS (London, England) 2012. PMID: 23060292


  21. Levy JA, Autran B, Coutinho RA, Phair JP. 25 Years of AIDS: recording progress and future challenges. AIDS (London, England) 2012. PMID: 22546989


  22. Tugizov SM, Herrera R, Veluppillai P, Greenspan D, Soros V, Greene WC, Levy JA, Palefsky JM. Differential transmission of HIV traversing fetal oral/intestinal epithelia and adult oral epithelia. Volume 86 of Issue 5. Journal of virology 2011. PMID: 22205732


  23. Killian MS, Levy JA. HIV/AIDS: 30 years of progress and future challenges. European journal of immunology 2011. PMID: 22125008


  24. Liu L, Johnson C, Fujimura S, Teque F, Levy JA. Transfection optimization for primary human CD8+ cells. Journal of immunological methods 2011. PMID: 21777592


  25. Knox K, Carrigan D, Simmons G, Teque F, Zhou Y, Hackett J, Qiu X, Luk KC, Schochetman G, Knox A, Kogelnik AM, Levy JA. No evidence of murine-like gammaretroviruses in CFS patients previously identified as XMRV-infected. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2011. PMID: 21628393


  26. Levy JA. Virus-host interactions in HIV pathogenesis: directions for therapy. Advances in dental research 2011. PMID: 21441474


  27. Meditz AL, MaWhinney S, Allshouse A, Feser W, Markowitz M, Little S, Hecht R, Daar ES, Collier AC, Margolick J, Kilby JM, Routy JP, 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. The Journal of infectious diseases 2011. PMID: 21245157


  28. Killian MS, Johnson C, Teque F, Fujimura S, Levy JA. Natural suppression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication is mediated by transitional memory CD8+ T cells. Journal of virology 2010. PMID: 21147929


  29. Tugizov SM, Herrera R, Veluppillai P, Greenspan D, Soros V, Greene WC, Levy JA, Palefsky JM. HIV is inactivated after transepithelial migration via adult oral epithelial cells but not fetal epithelial cells. Volume 409 of Issue 2. Virology 2010. PMID: 21056450


  30. . The major genetic determinants of HIV-1 control affect HLA class I peptide presentation. Volume 330 of Issue 6010. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2010. PMID: 21051598


  31. Ndhlovu LC, Sinclair E, Epling L, Tan QX, Ho T, Jha AR, Eccles-James I, Tincati C, Levy JA, Nixon DF, Hecht FM, Barbour JD. IL-2 immunotherapy to recently HIV-1 infected adults maintains the numbers of IL-17 expressing CD4+ T (T(H)17) cells in the periphery. Volume 30 of Issue 5. Journal of clinical immunology 2010. PMID: 20571894


  32. Levy JA. The unexpected pleiotropic activities of RANTES. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 2009. PMID: 19299688


  33. Levy JA. Not an HIV cure, but encouraging new directions. The New England journal of medicine 2009. PMID: 19213687


  34. Barbour JD, Ndhlovu LC, Xuan Tan Q, Ho T, Epling L, Bredt BM, Levy JA, Hecht FM, Sinclair E. High CD8+ T cell activation marks a less differentiated HIV-1 specific CD8+ T cell response that is not altered by suppression of viral replication. Volume 4 of Issue 2. PloS one 2009. PMID: 19198651


  35. Killian MS, Roop J, Ng S, Hecht FM, Levy JA. CD8+ cell anti-HIV activity rapidly increases upon discontinuation of early antiretroviral therapy. Journal of clinical immunology 2009. PMID: 19189205


  36. Levy JA. HIV pathogenesis: 25 years of progress and persistent challenges. AIDS (London, England) 2009. PMID: 19098484


  37. Cohen MS, Hellmann N, Levy JA, DeCock K, Lange J. The spread, treatment, and prevention of HIV-1: evolution of a global pandemic. The Journal of clinical investigation 2008. PMID: 18382737


  38. Bonneau KR, Ng S, Foster H, Choi KB, Berkhout B, Rabson A, Mackewicz CE, Levy JA. Derivation of infectious HIV-1 molecular clones with LTR mutations: sensitivity to the CD8+ cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV response. Virology 2007. PMID: 18086484


  39. Song H, Nakayama EE, Yokoyama M, Sato H, Levy JA, Shioda T. A single amino acid of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 capsid affects its replication in the presence of cynomolgus monkey and human TRIM5alphas. Journal of virology 2007. PMID: 17475650


  40. Sriram U, Wong M, Caillier SJ, Hecht FM, Elkins MK, Levy JA, Oksenberg JR, Baranzini SE. Quantitative longitudinal analysis of T cell receptor repertoire expression in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral and interleukin-2 therapy. AIDS research and human retroviruses 2007. PMID: 17531001


  41. Barbour JD, Sriram U, Caillier SJ, Levy JA, Hecht FM, Oksenberg JR. Synergy or independence? Deciphering the interaction of HLA Class I and NK cell KIR alleles in early HIV-1 disease progression. PLoS pathogens 2007. PMID: 17447840


  42. Martinez-Mariño B, Foster H, Hao Y, Levy JA. Differential gene expression in CD8(+) cells from HIV-1-infected subjects showing suppression of HIV replication. Virology 2007. PMID: 17240414


  43. Killian MS, Norris PJ, Rawal BD, Lebedeva M, Hecht FM, Levy JA, Busch MP. The effects of early antiretroviral therapy and its discontinuation on the HIV-specific antibody response. AIDS research and human retroviruses 2006. PMID: 16831088


  44. Killian MS, Fujimura SH, Hecht FM, Levy JA. Similar changes in plasmacytoid dendritic cell and CD4 T-cell counts during primary HIV-1 infection and treatment. AIDS (London, England) 2006. PMID: 16816552


  45. Sanchez-Mejia RO, Ojemann SG, Simko J, Chaudhary UB, Levy J, Lawton MT. Sacral epithelioid angiosarcoma associated with a bleeding diathesis and spinal epidural hematoma: case report. Journal of neurosurgery. Spine 2006. PMID: 16572625


  46. Hare CB, Pappalardo BL, Busch MP, Karlsson AC, Phelps BH, Alexander SS, Bentsen C, Ramstead CA, Nixon DF, Levy JA, Hecht FM. Seroreversion in subjects receiving antiretroviral therapy during acute/early HIV infection. Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2006. PMID: 16447118


  47. Schmidt B, Fujimura SH, Martin JN, Levy JA. Variations in plasmacytoid dendritic cell (PDC) and myeloid dendritic cell (MDC) levels in HIV-infected subjects on and off antiretroviral therapy. Journal of clinical immunology 2006. PMID: 16418803


  48. Schmidt B, Ashlock BM, Foster H, Fujimura SH, Levy JA. HIV-infected cells are major inducers of plasmacytoid dendritic cell interferon production, maturation, and migration. Virology 2005. PMID: 16278001


  49. Lennette ET, Busch MP, Hecht FM, Levy JA. Potential herpesvirus interaction during HIV type 1 primary infection. AIDS research and human retroviruses 2005. PMID: 16225414


  50. Killian MS, Ng S, Mackewicz CE, Levy JA. A screening assay for detecting CD8+ cell non-cytotoxic anti-HIV responses. Journal of immunological methods 2005. PMID: 16129447


  51. Locher CP, Witt SA, Kassel R, Dowell NL, Fujimura S, Levy JA. Differential effects of R5 and X4 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection on CD4+ cell proliferation and activation. The Journal of general virology 2005. PMID: 15784911


  52. Diaz LS, Foster H, Stone MR, Fujimura S, Relman DA, Levy JA. VCAM-1 expression on CD8+ cells correlates with enhanced anti-HIV suppressing activity. Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 2005. PMID: 15661918


  53. Levy JA, Autran B, Coutinho R, Phair JP. Registration of clinical trials. AIDS (London, England) 2005. PMID: 15665791


  54. Schmidt B, Scott I, Whitmore RG, Foster H, Fujimura S, Schmitz J, Levy JA. Low-level HIV infection of plasmacytoid dendritic cells: onset of cytopathic effects and cell death after PDC maturation. Virology 2004. PMID: 15518808


  55. Martinez-Mariño B, Shiboski S, Hecht FM, Kahn JO, Levy JA. Interleukin-2 therapy restores CD8 cell non-cytotoxic anti-HIV responses in primary infection subjects receiving HAART. AIDS (London, England) 2004. PMID: 15577620


  56. Levy JA. Prospects for an AIDS vaccine: encourage innate immunity. AIDS (London, England) 2004. PMID: 15577631


  57. Schmidt B, Ashlock B, Neipel F, Levy JA. Potential screening assay for undetectable viruses on the basis of their capacity to induce alpha interferon production. Journal of clinical microbiology 2004. PMID: 15365027


  58. Locher CP, Witt SA, Ashlock BM, Polacino P, Hu SL, Shiboski S, Schmidt AM, Agy MB, Anderson DM, Staprans SI, zur Megede J, Levy JA. Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 DNA vaccine provides partial protection from acute baboon infection. Vaccine 2004. PMID: 15149785


  59. Levy JA, Autran B, Coutinho R, Phair JP. Retraction. Clinical course of cardiomyopathy in HIV-infected patients with or without encephalopathy related to the myocardial expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide synthase. AIDS (London, England) 2004. PMID: 15166523


  60. Deeks SG, Kitchen CM, Liu L, Guo H, Gascon R, Narváez AB, Hunt P, Martin JN, Kahn JO, Levy J, McGrath MS, Hecht FM. Immune activation set point during early HIV infection predicts subsequent CD4+ T-cell changes independent of viral load. Volume 104 of Issue 4. Blood 2004. PMID: 15117761


  61. Locher CP, Witt SA, Ashlock BM, Levy JA. Evaluation of genetic immunization adjuvants to improve the effectiveness of a human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) envelope DNA vaccine. DNA and cell biology 2004. PMID: 15000750


  62. Castelli J, Thomas EK, Gilliet M, Liu YJ, Levy JA. Mature dendritic cells can enhance CD8+ cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV responses: the role of IL-15. Blood 2003. PMID: 14684414


  63. Locher CP, Putnam D, Langer R, Witt SA, Ashlock BM, Levy JA. Enhancement of a human immunodeficiency virus env DNA vaccine using a novel polycationic nanoparticle formulation. Immunology letters 2003. PMID: 14687705


  64. Altfeld M, Addo MM, Rosenberg ES, Hecht FM, Lee PK, Vogel M, Yu XG, Draenert R, Johnston MN, Strick D, Allen TM, Feeney ME, Kahn JO, Sekaly RP, Levy JA, Rockstroh JK, Goulder PJ, Walker BD. Influence of HLA-B57 on clinical presentation and viral control during acute HIV-1 infection. Volume 17 of Issue 18. AIDS (London, England) 2003. PMID: 14685052


  65. Levy JA. The search for the CD8+ cell anti-HIV factor (CAF). Trends in immunology 2003. PMID: 14644135


  66. Li JZ, Mack EC, Levy JA. Virucidal efficacy of soap and water against human immunodeficiency virus in genital secretions. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 2003. PMID: 14506048


  67. Mackewicz CE, Yuan J, Tran P, Diaz L, Mack E, Selsted ME, Levy JA. alpha-Defensins can have anti-HIV activity but are not CD8 cell anti-HIV factors. AIDS (London, England) 2003. PMID: 14502030


  68. Levy JA, Scott I, Mackewicz C. Protection from HIV/AIDS: the importance of innate immunity. Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) 2003. PMID: 14499239


  69. Diaz LS, Stone MR, Mackewicz CE, Levy JA. Differential gene expression in CD8+ cells exhibiting noncytotoxic anti-HIV activity. Virology 2003. PMID: 12842629


  70. Levy JA, Autran B, Coutinho R, Phair JP. Clinical course of cardiomyopathy in HIV-infected patients with or without encephalopathy related to the myocardial expression of tumour necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide synthase. AIDS (London, England) 2003. PMID: 12819511


  71. Mackewicz CE, Wang B, Metkar S, Richey M, Froelich CJ, Levy JA. Lack of the CD8+ cell anti-HIV factor in CD8+ cell granules. Blood 2003. PMID: 12649153


  72. Mackewicz CE, Craik CS, Levy JA. The CD8+ cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV response can be blocked by protease inhibitors. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2003. PMID: 12624186


  73. Levy JA. Is HIV superinfection worrisome? Lancet (London, England) 2003. PMID: 12531573


  74. Locher CP, Fujimura S, Murthy KK, Brasky K, Leland M, Levy JA. Expression patterns of phenotypic markers on lymphocytes from human immunodeficiency virus type 2-infected baboons. AIDS research and human retroviruses 2003. PMID: 12581514


  75. Locher CP, Witt SA, Herndier BG, Abbey NW, Tenner-Racz K, Racz P, Kiviat NB, Murthy KK, Brasky K, Leland M, Levy JA. Increased virus replication and virulence after serial passage of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in baboons. Journal of virology 2003. PMID: 12477812


  76. Soumelis V, Scott I, Liu YJ, Levy J. Natural type 1 interferon producing cells in HIV infection. Human immunology 2002. PMID: 12480265


  77. Locher CP, Witt SA, Ashlock BM, Levy JA. Enhancement of antibody responses to an HIV-2 DNA envelope vaccine using an expression vector containing a constitutive transport element. DNA and cell biology 2002. PMID: 12215261


  78. Levy JA. HIV-1: hitching a ride on erythrocytes. Lancet (London, England) 2002. PMID: 12103280


  79. Castelli JC, Deeks SG, Shiboski S, Levy JA. Relationship of CD8(+) T cell noncytotoxic anti-HIV response to CD4(+) T cell number in untreated asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals. Blood 2002. PMID: 12010831


  80. Hecht FM, Busch MP, Rawal B, Webb M, Rosenberg E, Swanson M, Chesney M, Anderson J, Levy J, Kahn JO. Use of laboratory tests and clinical symptoms for identification of primary HIV infection. AIDS (London, England) 2002. PMID: 12004270


  81. Greco G, Mackewicz C, Levy JA. Sensitivity of human immunodeficiency virus infection to various alpha, beta and gamma chemokines. The Journal of general virology 1999. PMID: 10501489


  82. Renne R, Blackbourn D, Whitby D, Levy J, Ganem D. Limited transmission of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus in cultured cells. Journal of virology 1998. PMID: 9573290


  83. Nielsen IL, McNeill C, Danzig W, Goldman S, Levy J, Miller AJ. Adaptation of craniofacial muscles in subjects with craniomandibular disorders. American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics : official publication of the American Association of Orthodontists, its constituent societies, and the American Board of Orthodontics 1990. PMID: 2296935


  84. Jacobson MA, Crowe S, Levy J, Aweeka F, Gambertoglio J, McManus N, Mills J. Effect of Foscarnet therapy on infection with human immunodeficiency virus in patients with AIDS. The Journal of infectious diseases 1988. PMID: 2844921


  85. Levy JA, Huebner RJ. Association of a [corrected] murine leukaemia virus from a mouse lymphoma (2731-L) associated [corrected] with reovirus type 3 infection. Nature 1970. PMID: 4313576