Phil Berman's lab develops products and methods useful for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases, particularly HIV-1. This work involves molecular epidemiology to characterize viruses responsible for new infections and to understand the evolution of the virus within individuals. They also analyze the immune response to HIV-1 and the identification of epitopes recognized by broadly neutralizing antibodies. Based on results from these studies, new antigens are selected, mutagenized, expressed in mammalian cells, purified, and evaluated as candidate HIV-1 vaccine antigens. Because the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp120, is highly glycosylated and difficult to express, Berman's lab has developed special expertise in commercially useful methods to improve the yield and quality of complex recombinant  glycoproteins in mammalian cells. In collaborative studies, they also analyze host factors that affect susceptibility and resistance to HIV-1 infection.