Eric Hunter

Eric Hunter’s research focus has been the molecular virology and pathogenesis of retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus. In recent years the emphasis of his research has been on HIV transmission and pathogenesis, defining the extreme genetic bottleneck and selection of viruses with unique traits during HIV heterosexual transmission. He has described the selection of fitter viruses at the target mucosa, a gender difference in the extent of selection bias, and a role for genital inflammation in reducing selection. His research has defined the impact of HIV adaptation to the cellular immune response on immune recognition and control of HIV after transmission, as well as on virus replicative fitness in vitro and in vivo. Recent work highlights the roles that virus replicative fitness and sex of the host play in defining disease progression in a newly infected individual. His bibliography includes over 300 peer reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters. He has been the recipient of four National Institutes of Health (NIH) merit awards for his work on retrovirus and HIV molecular biology. Hunter served as the Editor in Chief of the journal, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses for 10 years. He was Chair of the AIDS Vaccine Research Subcommittee, which was charged with providing advice and consultation on AIDS vaccine research to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and continues to serve on Editorial boards for several academic journals and on external advisory committees for several government, academic, and commercial institutions.