The INSTITUTE of HUMAN VIROLOGY Program Information and Acknowledgements contents scheDule oF events speaKers scheDule abstracts inDeX Welcome 12th Annual International Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology of the University of Maryland School of Medicine By Robert C. Gallo, Founder and Director, Institute of Human Virology and Giovanni Latorre, President, University of Calabria Dear colleagues and friends, University of Calabria President Giovanni Latorre and I wel- Maryland School of Medicine. This collaboration planted come you to the 12th Annual Meeting of the Institute of the idea for changing the venue of this 12th Annual Human Virology (IHV). For the first time since the meeting Meeting. Our meeting has always been a venue for sci- began in the mid-1970s at the National Cancer Institute, it ence of AIDS and cancer; this year we bring the meeting to is taking place outside the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. Italy, in part, as a recognition of our many international col- The setting for this year’s meeting, Tropea, Italy, is one of leagues and collaborators. extraordinary beauty and ancient historical contributions. We would like to thank several organizations who have The region is among the oldest civilization in Europe and committed their support while we are still in the early stag- includes the location of Pythagorus, Herodotus, and other es of planning this event: the National Cancer Institute and greats of the ancient world, as well as the land of origin of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease of the many famous Greek legends, some told by Homer. Today, National Institutes of Health, the Office of AIDS Research, Tropea attracts visitors to the Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Italian Society for Medical Virology (SIVIM), Medestea, Gods), one of the most beautiful regions in Italy and food Sanofi-Pasteur, and Sanyo, Inc.. We will be pleased to recog- afficionados seeking the famous local red onion that was nize other supporting partners as the list grows. hailed by the Roman Pliny the Elder for its gastronomic The Annual Meeting has a traditional emphasis on the and healing potential. Nearby are the ancient Aeolian biology of HIV/AIDS, including the perspectives of basic islands. Together with Calabria and Sicily, their cultures science, clinical science and new treatment and prevention dating back thousands of years before Christ, also with approaches. In 2010 we are expanding the emphasis on their many legends. vaccines to recognize the importance of this area and learn It is important that we acknowledge Professor Arnaldo how recent successes may guide new directions in HIV Caruso, of the University of Brescia but who originally hails vaccine research and development. International vaccine from Calabria, chair of the Italian Organizing Committee; experts will describe vaccine immunogens that are moving without his vision and support, this meeting in Calabria through human clinical trials, efforts to define immune cor- would not be possible. Dr. Caruso currently holds an relates of protection, possible applications for therapeutic Adjunct Professorship at IHV and the University of Continued on page 4 2010 International Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology OCTOBER 4-8, 2010 The INSTITUTE of HUMAN VIROLOGY Program Information and Acknowledgements contents ScheDule oF events speaKers scheDule abstracts inDeX Continued from page 3 vaccination and a range of vaccine delivery strategies that of Terra Mariana from the country of Estonia in 2006, for are bringing us closer, everyday, to effective protection work by him on behalf of Estonia in the late 1980’s and from HIV disease. Recognizing the important parallels of early 1990’s when Estonia regained its independence from HIV and cancer, we include discussions of cancer-causing the Soviet Union in 1991 in a bloodless transition. Huge viruses, new cancer vaccines and fundamental research worked on behalf of Estonia with the U.S. Administration in cancer. In developed countries, cancer is emerging as and Congress during this period as well as in Estonia. the leading cause of death for persons with HIV, and these Harry and his wife, Reba, founded and operate two founda- fields are inexorably linked in terms of both science and tions which award college scholarships to Nebraska high medicine. We also emphasize the problems of HIV/AIDS school seniors. Over the past five years, they have awarded in the developing world by inviting experts on the specific 30 scholarships to students who attend colleges and impacts of HIV/AIDS on sub-Saharan Africa. universities in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and South Dakota. This year, in keeping with the meeting’s focus on vaccines, Prior honorees include: John Evans, Robert Gray, Martin we are honored to present the IHV Lifetime Achievement Delaney, and Stewart Greenebaum. Award for Scientific Contributions to Dr. Rino Rappuoli of For the first time, we are presenting an award for teach- Novartis Vaccines in Sienna, Italy. Rappuoli, currently the ing excellence. This award, from our Institute and his Global Head of Vaccines Research for Novartis Vaccines & many students and colleagues, is a “surprise” for Michele Diagnostics (Siena, Italy), was elected as a foreign associate La Placa, MD. He has been educating medical students of the National Academy of Sciences in 2005. He spent his and researchers in the field of microbiology in Italy since career developing vaccines for pertussis, meningitis, and 1954. Dr. La Placa is the author of the manual “Principles Helicobacter pylori and is jointly responsible for engineer- of Medical Microbiology,” (Esculapio, Bologna, Italy), the ing the carrier protein used in many conjugate vaccines. most widely used textbook of Microbiology in the medical He is credited with launching the field of reverse vaccin- schools of Italian universities, which is currently in its 12th ology, the first fruits of which are revealed in the special edition. Inaugural Article of the Proceedings of the US National We hope everyone will take the opportunity to visit the Academy of Sciences, where he describes a universal vac- town square in Cosenza, the provincial capitol of the cine for serogroup B meningococcus. Previous recipients Tropea area of Calabria, where large modern sculptures of the IHV Lifetime Achievement Award for Scientific by world famous artists are exhibited and a fountain and Contributions are: Isaac Witz, Maxine Singer, Manfred the central square honors the Kennedy family. We expect Eigen, Paul Zamecnik, Jan Svoboda, Alexander Rich, Hilary that Ms. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former lieutenant Koprowski, Maurice Hilleman, and George Klein. governor of Maryland and daughter of U.S. Senator Robert We will also be presenting the IHV Lifetime Achievement F. Kennedy, who is the Chair of our Board of Advisors will Award for Public Service to Harry Huge, Esq. Harry is a attend. friend of the Institute and was with us at the beginning We are grateful to those joining us in Tropea this year and when the State of Maryland recruited Bob Redfield, Bill are confident that this meeting will write another impor- Blattner, and Robert Gallo. He is a practicing attorney in tant chapter in the book of human retrovirology. I also Charleston, South Carolina and has enjoyed a long and want to acknowledge my co-workers David Pauza and Beth distinguished law career, serving as an arbitrator on the Peterson, whose tireless efforts for this meeting now reach National Tobacco Arbitration Panel, a Special Master for the fruition. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; and chair- man of the United Mine Workers Health and Retirement Fund. He is currently co-counsel representing family Cordially, members of the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks victims and in late 2002, he was appointed co-prosecutor with the Chief German Federal Prosecutor by the German Federal Criminal Court in the trials of Hamburg cell ter- rorists. Harry was also awarded the Order of the Cross Robert Gallo Giovanni Latorre Director and Professor President Institute of Human Virology University of Calabria 2010 International Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology OCTOBER 4-8, 2010 The INSTITUTE of HUMAN VIROLOGY Program Information and Acknowledgements contents scheDule oF events speaKers scheDule abstracts inDeX The Institute of Human Virology www.ihv.org Mission Statement The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) is a world-class center of excellence focusing on chronic viral diseases and virally linked cancers. IHV is dedicated to biomedical research leading to improved treatment and prevention of these diseases. Our unique structure connects cohesive, multidisciplinary research and clinical programs so that new treatments are streamlined from discovery to patients. IHV is forging local and inter- national programs for research and treatment of human disease. Robert C. Gallo Director Co-Director, Division of Basic Science and Vaccine Research William A. Blattner Associate Director Director, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Robert R. Redfield Associate Director Director, Division of Clinical Care and Research C. David Pauza Associate Director George Lewis Co-Director, Division of Basic Science and Vaccine Research Joseph L. Bryant Director, Division of Animal Models Dave Wilkins Chief Operating Officer 2010 International Meeting of the Institute of Human Virology OCTOBER 4-8, 2010 The INSTITUTE of HUMAN VIROLOGY Program Information and Acknowledgements contents ScheDule oF events speaKers scheDule abstracts inDeX Tropea, Calabria, Italy We are pleased to announce the IHV Meeting, for the first time in its history, will be held outside the Baltimore/Washington, DC area. The location for the meeting is Tropea, Italy. Tropea, specifically, and its region, Calabria, are a well-kept secret by American standards, and those who join us are in for a special treat. Located on the western tip of the Italian peninsula on the Tyrrhenian Sea, the coastline is affectionate- ly known as the “Costa degli Dei,” or the “Coast of the Gods.” Tropea is a very popular vacation destina- tion among Italians and other Europeans.