Current:
PhD Student, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador Brazil
Visiting PhD Student, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Herrera Lab Research Interests:
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) persists through stable integration into the host genome, yet how integration site selection shapes disease progression and therapeutic response remains poorly understood. In a recent phase II clinical trial conducted in Salvador, Brazil, treatment with the integrase inhibitor dolutegravir significantly reduced HTLV-1 proviral load and improved key neurofunctional outcomes, though a subset of patients failed to respond despite therapy .

Felice Deminco’s PhD research will leverage samples from this trial to define how viral integration site landscapes differ between responders and non-responders to dolutegravir. Using high-resolution integration site sequencing, his work will map the genomic context of HTLV-1 proviruses and determine whether integration into specific transcriptionally active regions, chromatin states, or host genes is associated with clonal expansion, persistence, or resistance to therapy. By linking viral integration biology to clinical outcomes, this project aims to uncover fundamental mechanisms of HTLV-1 persistence and identify genomic signatures predictive of therapeutic response. These insights will inform the development of targeted antiviral strategies and help refine the use of integrase inhibitors for HTLV-1-associated disease.