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The laboratory focuses on human cellular immune response to herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV causes local, recurrent infections that are controlled by infiltrating leukocytes. Major questions in HSV pathogenesis and immunology include the search for an effective vaccine and for an explanation for the great spectrum of disease severity. Little is known concerning the specific proteins and epitopes recognized by HSV-specific T cells. A major focus is on identifying such antigens and assessing their immunodominance in HSV-infected person with defined disease activity. Because HSV inhibits the machinery of antigen processing to CD8 T cells, another focus is on studying the requirement for TAP and endogenous synthesis of CD8 CTL target epitopes. We also study the homing of HSV-specific T cells to skin, and the cellular immune responses to poxviruses in the setting of smallpox vaccination and the use of poxvirus vectors for HIV vaccines.