Research Interests
  • Human immunodeficiency virus, antiretrovirals; the genetics, biochemistry and clinical significance of antiretroviral drug resistance.

    Dr. Mellors is interested in antiretroviral therapy of HIV infection and AIDS. This includes the evaluation of new antiretroviral compounds, both in vitro and in clinical trials, and studies on the mechanisms of antiviral drug resistance. HIV drug resistance is an important obstacle to effective long-term treatment of patients with HIV infection. Drug-resistance has developed to most antiretrovirals and is largely responsible for resurgent viremia, clinical deterioration and death despite continued therapy. Effective strategies are needed to prevent the emergence of drug resistant HIV and to treat patients in whom drug-resistant virus is present.

  • A primary focus of Dr. Mellors' research is to detect and characterize viral variants that are resistant to antiretrovirals. Resistant viral variants are either selected in tissue culture or identified in clinical samples and characterized in terms of biological properties, cross-resistance patterns, and the genetic and biochemical changes that are responsible for drug resistance. This line of research can elucidate the mechanisms of drug action and drug resistance, identify alternative drug therapies for resistant virus, and help devise strategies to prevent the development of drug resistance.

  • Other research interests of Dr. Mellors include clinical trials of new antiretroviral drug combinations, studies of viral load as a predictor of disease outcome, and salvage treatment regimens.

  
Selected Publications
  1. Bonneh-Barkay D, Bissel SJ, Wang G, Fish KN, Nicholl GC, Darko SW, Medina-Flores R, Murphey-Corb M, Rajakumar PA, Nyaundi J, Mellors JW, Bowser R, Wiley CA. YKL-40, a marker of simian immuno-deficiency virus encephalitis, modulates the biological activity of basic fibroblast growth factor.Am J Pathol. 2008 Jul;173(1):130-43.
  2. Hirsch MS, Günthard HF, Schapiro JM, Brun-Vézinet F, Clotet B, Hammer SM, Johnson VA, Kuritzkes DR, Mellors JW, Pillay D, Yeni PG, Jacobsen DM, Richman DD. Antiretroviral drug resistance testing in adult HIV-1 infection: 2008 recommendations of an International AIDS Society-USA panel.Clin Infect Dis. 2008 Jul 15;47(2):266-85.
  3. Riddler SA, Haubrich R, DiRienzo AG, Peeples L, Powderly WG, Klingman KL, Garren KW, George T, Rooney JF, Brizz B, Lalloo UG, Murphy RL, Swindells S, Havlir D, Mellors JW; AIDS Clinical Trials Group Study A5142 Team. Class-sparing regimens for initial treatment of HIV-1 infection. N Engl J Med. 2008 May 15;358(20):2095-106.
  4. Collier AC, Tierney C, Downey GF, Eshleman SH, Kashuba A, Klingman K, Vergis EN, Pakes GE, Rooney JF, Rinehart A, Mellors JW; AIDS Clinical Trials Group Protocol A5143 Team. Randomized study of dual versus single ritonavir-enhanced protease inhibitors for protease inhibitor-experienced patients with HIV. HIV Clin Trials. 2008 Mar-Apr;9(2):91-102.
  5. Palmer S, Maldarelli F, Wiegand A, Bernstein B, Hanna GJ, Brun SC, Kempf DJ, Mellors JW, Coffin JM, King MS. Low-level viremia persists for at least 7 years in patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2008 Mar 11;105(10):3879-84. Epub 2008 Mar 10.

    Complete Publication Listing
  
Grant Support
  1. NIH/NIAID: Rational design of NRTI for drug resistant HIV-1.
    Principal Investigator
  2. NIH/NIAID: Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Unit.
    Principal Investigator
  3. SAIC Frederick: NCI HIV Drug Resistance Program.
    Principal Investigator
  4. NIH/NIAID: Training in AIDS and colecular microbiology/epidemiology.
    Principal Investigator
  
Other Links
IDM Website
University of Pittsburgh		  
   
     
  John W Mellors, M.D., Professor (Tenure)
Office:  Scaife Hall, Suite 818
Lab:#818 Scaife Hall
Phone:412/624-8512
Fax: 412/383-7982
mellors@dom.pitt.edu
 
Academic Affiliations
  • Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases - School of Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Graduate School of Public Health (Secondary Appointment)

  • Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases

  • Director, HIV/AIDS Program
    University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
 
Education
  • BA 1975; Dartmouth College

  • MD 1978; Dartmouth Medical School
 
Lab Personnel

Research Assistant Professor:
Elias Halvas, Ph.D.

Doctoral Candidate:
Shauna Clark

Research Specialist IV:
Diana Koontz

Research Specialist III:
Kelley Gordon

Research Specialists:
Doug Barnas, Rachel Comfort

Graduate Student:
Jessica Brehm