Kyle Pedro

Boston University | BU · Microbiology, Immunology Training Program

Significance Understanding mechanisms that control HIV expression will provide insight into HIV replication, latency, and pathogenesis. In particular, HIV latency, which is a major barrier to a cure, is maintained by combinatorial mechanisms that regulate transcription. A functional screen was employed to explore transcriptional networks that regul...

HIV-1 spreads through both the release of cell-free particles and by cell-to-cell transmission. Mounting evidence indicates that cell-to-cell transmission is more efficient than cell-free transmission of particles and likely influences the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection. This mode of viral transmission also influences the generation and maintenanc...

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Genomic studies have provided insights into molecular subgroups and oncogenic drivers of pediatric brain tumors that may lead to novel therapeutic strategies. To evaluate new treatments, better preclinical models adequately reflecting the biological heterogeneity are needed. Th...

[Introduction: Solid tumors of the nervous system are the most common childhood cancers after leukemias. Even though we might be able to cure more and more patients, survivors still severely suffer long-term from the intensive treatments. Therefore, new treatment strategies are urgently needed. Orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are...

Recent genomic studies have revealed multiple molecular subtypes of pediatric brain cancers that are not only biologically but also clinically distinct. In order to develop novel treatment strategies for these often fatal diseases we need more preclinical models like orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models that correctly reflect the many...

Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in childhood. Based on the many recent genomic studies, we know now that multiple molecular subtypes of brain cancers exist that are not only biologically but also clinically highly distinct. These findings may lead to novel treatment strategies. For this we need better preclinical mode...

A fundamental problem in cancer drug development is that antitumor efficacy in preclinical cancer models does not translate faithfully to patient outcomes. Much of early cancer drug discovery is performed under in vitro conditions in cell-based models that poorly represent actual malignancies. To address this inconsistency, we have developed a tech...

While medulloblastoma, a pediatric tumor of the cerebellum, is characterized by aberrations in developmental pathways, the majority of genetic determinants remain unknown. An unbiased Sleeping Beauty transposon screen revealed MyoD as a putative medulloblastoma tumor suppressor. This was unexpected, as MyoD is a muscle differentiation factor and no...