Sulggi Lee, MD, PhD

Associate Professor
Medicine
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Sulggi Lee, MD PhD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and a faculty member in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. She is the PI of the UCSF Treat Acute HIV study, Co-PI of the UCSF SCOPE HIV cohort, the PI of the COVID-19 Host Immune Response Pathogenesis (CHIRP) study, Co-PI of the UCSF AIDS Cancer Specimen Resource (ACSR), and Co-Director of the UCSF Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Bioinformatics Core. She is one of the founding executive committee members of the UCSF Women's Physician Scientist Supergroup (WPSS) and a faculty mentor for the UCSF Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Community of Underrepresented Physician Scientists (CUPS) program. Her research focuses on clinical translational studies aimed at determining how natural host responses to pathogens (e.g., HIV, SARS-CoV-2) can be leveraged as future therapeutic targets using discovery-based analytic approaches. Her collaborative, interdisciplinary team includes data scientists, immunologists, virologists, and clinicians. Her work involves the application of highly advanced laboratory assays to well-characterized patient samples from observational studies and clinical trials. The goal of her research is to identify underlying host mechanisms of pathogen control to enable the identification of potential novel therapeutic targets for reducing morbidity and mortality associated with HIV and COVID-19.

Publications: 

Rapid Biphasic Decay of Intact and Defective HIV DNA Reservoir During Acute Treated HIV Disease.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences

Barbehenn A, Shi L, Shao J, Hoh R, Hartig HM, Pae V, Sarvadhavabhatla S, Donaire S, Sheikhzadeh C, Milush J, Laird GM, Mathias M, Ritter K, Peluso M, Martin J, Hecht F, Pilcher C, Cohen SE, Buchbinder S, Havlir D, Gandhi M, Henrich TJ, Hatano H, Wang J, Deeks SG, Lee SA

Autologous neutralizing antibody responses after antiretroviral therapy in acute and early HIV-1.

The Journal of clinical investigation

Whitehill GD, Joy J, Marino FE, Krause R, Mallick S, Courtney H, Park K, Carey J, Hoh R, Hartig H, Pae V, Sarvadhavabhatla S, Donaire S, Deeks SG, Lynch RM, Lee SA, Bar KJ

Long COVID manifests with T cell dysregulation, inflammation and an uncoordinated adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

Nature immunology

Yin K, Peluso MJ, Luo X, Thomas R, Shin MG, Neidleman J, Andrew A, Young KC, Ma T, Hoh R, Anglin K, Huang B, Argueta U, Lopez M, Valdivieso D, Asare K, Deveau TM, Munter SE, Ibrahim R, Ständker L, Lu S, Goldberg SA, Lee SA, Lynch KL, Kelly JD, Martin JN, Münch J, Deeks SG, Henrich TJ, Roan NR

A cohort-based study of host gene expression: tumor suppressor and innate immune/inflammatory pathways associated with the HIV reservoir size.

PLoS pathogens

Dwivedi AK, Gornalusse GG, Siegel DA, Barbehenn A, Thanh C, Hoh R, Hobbs KS, Pan T, Gibson EA, Martin J, Hecht F, Pilcher C, Milush J, Busch MP, Stone M, Huang ML, Reppetti J, Vo PM, Levy CN, Roychoudhury P, Jerome KR, Hladik F, Henrich TJ, Deeks SG, Lee SA

Transient Anti-Interferon Auto Antibodies in the Airway Are Associated with Recovery in Mild COVID-19.

Blood

Benjamin R Babcock, Astrid Kosters, Nadia R Roan, Sulggi Lee, Eliver E.B. Ghosn

Assessing the associations between known genetic variants and substance use in people with HIV in the United States.

PloS one

Haas CB, Jordahl KM, Nance RM, Whitney BM, Wang L, Delaney JAC, Ruderman S, Jia T, Mathews WC, Saag MS, Lee SA, Napravnik S, Jacobson JM, Chander G, McCall EM, Moore RD, Mayer KH, Mukherjee S, Lee WJ, Crane PK, Crane H, Peter I, Lindström S

Long COVID manifests with T cell dysregulation, inflammation, and an uncoordinated adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

Yin K, Peluso MJ, Thomas R, Shin MG, Neidleman J, Luo X, Hoh R, Anglin K, Huang B, Argueta U, Lopez M, Valdivieso D, Asare K, Ibrahim R, St?ndker L, Lu S, Goldberg SA, Lee SA, Lynch KL, Kelly JD, Martin JN, M?nch J, Deeks SG, Henrich TJ, Roan NR

Differences in expression of tumor suppressor, innate immune, inflammasome, and potassium/gap junction channel host genes significantly predict viral reservoir size during treated HIV infection.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

Dwivedi AK, Siegel DA, Thanh C, Hoh R, Hobbs KS, Pan T, Gibson EA, Martin J, Hecht F, Pilcher C, Milush J, Busch MP, Stone M, Huang ML, Levy CN, Roychoudhury P, Hladik F, Jerome KR, Henrich TJ, Deeks SG, Lee SA

Host variation in type I interferon signaling genes (MX1), C-C chemokine receptor type 5 gene, and major histocompatibility complex class I alleles in treated HIV+ noncontrollers predict viral reservoir size.

AIDS (London, England)

Siegel DA, Thanh C, Wan E, Hoh R, Hobbs K, Pan T, Gibson EA, Kroetz DL, Martin J, Hecht F, Pilcher C, Martin M, Carrington M, Pillai S, Busch MP, Stone M, Levy CN, Huang ML, Roychoudhury P, Hladik F, Jerome KR, Kiem HP, Henrich TJ, Deeks SG, Lee SA

Common and Divergent Features of T Cells from Blood, Gut, and Genital Tract of Antiretroviral Therapy-Treated HIV+ Women.

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)

Xie G, Moron-Lopez S, Siegel DA, Yin K, Polos A, Cohen J, Greenblatt RM, Tien PC, Lee SA, Yukl SA, Roan NR

Deep Phenotypic Analysis of Blood and Lymphoid T and NK Cells From HIV+ Controllers and ART-Suppressed Individuals.

Frontiers in immunology

George AF, Luo X, Neidleman J, Hoh R, Vohra P, Thomas R, Shin MG, Lee MJ, Blish CA, Deeks SG, Greene WC, Lee SA, Roan NR

Protracted yet Coordinated Differentiation of Long-Lived SARS-CoV-2-Specific CD8+ T Cells during Convalescence.

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)

Ma T, Ryu H, McGregor M, Babcock B, Neidleman J, Xie G, George AF, Frouard J, Murray V, Gill G, Ghosn E, Newell EW, Lee SA, Roan NR

mRNA vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells recognize B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants but differ in longevity and homing properties depending on prior infection status.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

Neidleman J, Luo X, McGregor M, Xie G, Murray V, Greene WC, Lee SA, Roan NR

Distinctive features of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells predict recovery from severe COVID-19.

Cell reports

Neidleman J, Luo X, George AF, McGregor M, Yang J, Yun C, Murray V, Gill G, Greene WC, Vasquez J, Lee SA, Ghosn E, Lynch KL, Roan NR

SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cells Exhibit Phenotypic Features of Helper Function, Lack of Terminal Differentiation, and High Proliferation Potential.

Cell reports. Medicine

Neidleman J, Luo X, Frouard J, Xie G, Gill G, Stein ES, McGregor M, Ma T, George AF, Kosters A, Greene WC, Vasquez J, Ghosn E, Lee S, Roan NR

Tissue memory CD4+ T cells expressing IL-7 receptor-alpha (CD127) preferentially support latent HIV-1 infection.

PLoS pathogens

Hsiao F, Frouard J, Gramatica A, Xie G, Telwatte S, Lee GQ, Roychoudhury P, Schwarzer R, Luo X, Yukl SA, Lee S, Hoh R, Deeks SG, Jones RB, Cavrois M, Greene WC, Roan NR

Antiretroviral Therapy Concentrations Differ in Gut vs. Lymph Node Tissues and Are Associated With HIV Viral Transcription by a Novel RT-ddPCR Assay.

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)

Lee SA, Telwatte S, Hatano H, Kashuba ADM, Cottrell ML, Hoh R, Liegler TJ, Stephenson S, Somsouk M, Hunt PW, Deeks SG, Yukl S, Savic RM

TCR+CD4-CD8- (double negative) T cells protect from cisplatin-induced renal epithelial cell apoptosis and acute kidney injury.

American journal of physiology. Renal physiology

Gong J, Noel S, Hsu J, Bush EL, Arend LJ, Sadasivam M, Lee SA, Kurzhagen JT, Hamad ARA, Rabb H

OP 4.2 Characterising ‘exceptional’ control among HIV elite controllers.

Journal of virus eradication

M. Peluso, P. Burbelo, S. Kumar, S. Munter, R. Hoh, S. Lee, P. Hunt, R. Rutishauser, T. Henrich, S. Deeks

20 Kansui, an ingenol-containing herbal supplement, safely induced CD8, NK, and monocyte activation in three ART-suppressed SIVmac251-infected rhesus macaques.

Journal of virus eradication

S. Lee, K. Kesmy, P. Bacchetti, R. Hoh, J. Lifson, D. Cary, B. Peterlin, S. Deeks, D. Hartigan-O’Connor

RAPID antiretroviral therapy: high virologic suppression rates with immediate antiretroviral therapy initiation in a vulnerable urban clinic population.

AIDS (London, England)

Coffey S, Bacchetti P, Sachdev D, Bacon O, Jones D, Ospina-Norvell C, Torres S, Lynch E, Camp C, Mercer-Slomoff R, Lee S, Christopoulos K, Pilcher C, Hsu L, Jin C, Scheer S, Havlir D, Gandhi M

Activation and Proliferation of PD-1+ Kidney Double-Negative T Cells Is Dependent on Nonclassical MHC Proteins and IL-2.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN

Sadasivam M, Noel S, Lee SA, Gong J, Allaf ME, Pierorazio P, Rabb H, Hamad ARA

Acquisition of tenofovir-susceptible, emtricitabine-resistant HIV despite high adherence to daily pre-exposure prophylaxis: a case report.

The lancet. HIV

Cohen SE, Sachdev D, Lee SA, Scheer S, Bacon O, Chen MJ, Okochi H, Anderson PL, Kearney MF, Coffey S, Scott H, Grant RM, Havlir D, Gandhi M

Gut and blood differ in constitutive blocks to HIV transcription, suggesting tissue-specific differences in the mechanisms that govern HIV latency.

PLoS pathogens

Telwatte S, Lee S, Somsouk M, Hatano H, Baker C, Kaiser P, Kim P, Chen TH, Milush J, Hunt PW, Deeks SG, Wong JK, Yukl SA

Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Disulfiram on Inducing Latent HIV-1 Transcription in a Phase IIb Trial.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Lee SA, Elliott JH, McMahon J, Hartogenesis W, Bumpus NN, Lifson JD, Gorelick RJ, Bacchetti P, Deeks SG, Lewin SR, Savic RM

CYP2B6 Genetic Polymorphisms, Depression, and Viral Suppression in Adults Living with HIV Initiating Efavirenz-Containing Antiretroviral Therapy Regimens in Uganda: Pooled Analysis of Two Prospective Studies.

AIDS research and human retroviruses

Chang JL, Lee SA, Tsai AC, Musinguzi N, Muzoora C, Bwana B, Boum Y, Haberer JE, Hunt PW, Martin J, Bangsberg DR, Kroetz DL, Siedner MJ

Recent stimulant use and leukocyte gene expression in methamphetamine users with treated HIV infection.

Brain, behavior, and immunity

Carrico AW, Flentje A, Kober K, Lee S, Hunt P, Riley ED, Shoptaw S, Flowers E, Dilworth SE, Pahwa S, Aouizerat BE

PP4.10 HIV integrates in genes regulating cell cycle, DNA damage, and viral transport.

Journal of virus eradication

S. Lee, K. Haworth, T. Henrich, S. Deeks, H.P. Kiem

Immunologic Pathways That Predict Mortality in HIV-Infected Ugandans Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy.

The Journal of infectious diseases

Lee S, Byakwaga H, Boum Y, Burdo TH, Williams KC, Lederman MM, Huang Y, Tracy RP, Cao H, Haberer JE, Kembabazi A, Bangsberg DR, Martin JN, Hunt PW

Immunologic Biomarkers, Morbidity, and Mortality in Treated HIV Infection.

The Journal of infectious diseases

Hunt PW, Lee SA, Siedner MJ

Anti-HIV Antibody Responses and the HIV Reservoir Size during Antiretroviral Therapy.

PloS one

Lee SA, Bacchetti P, Chomont N, Fromentin R, Lewin SR, O'Doherty U, Palmer S, Richman DD, Siliciano JD, Yukl SA, Deeks SG, Burbelo PD

Host genetic predictors of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan catabolism among treated HIV-infected Ugandans.

AIDS (London, England)

Lee SA, Mefford JA, Huang Y, Witte JS, Martin JN, Haas DW, Mclaren PJ, Mushiroda T, Kubo M, Byakwaga H, Hunt PW, Kroetz DL

IL-15 promotes activation and expansion of CD8+ T cells in HIV-1 infection.

The Journal of clinical investigation

Younes SA, Freeman ML, Mudd JC, Shive CL, Reynaldi A, Panigrahi S, Estes JD, Deleage C, Lucero C, Anderson J, Schacker TW, Davenport MP, McCune JM, Hunt PW, Lee SA, Serrano-Villar S, Debernardo RL, Jacobson JM, Canaday DH, Sekaly RP, Rodriguez B, Sieg SF, Lederman MM

Immunologic profiles distinguish aviremic HIV-infected adults.

AIDS (London, England)

Ramirez CM, Sinclair E, Epling L, Lee SA, Jain V, Hsue PY, Hatano H, Conn D, Hecht FM, Martin JN, McCune JM, Deeks SG, Hunt PW

Reply to Barrett, et al.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America

Freeman ML, Mudd JC, Shive CL, Younes SA, Panigrahi S, Sieg SF, Lee SA, Hunt PW, Calabrese LH, Gianella S, Rodriguez B, Lederman MM

Short-term administration of disulfiram for reversal of latent HIV infection: a phase 2 dose-escalation study.

The lancet. HIV

Elliott JH, McMahon JH, Chang CC, Lee SA, Hartogensis W, Bumpus N, Savic R, Roney J, Hoh R, Solomon A, Piatak M, Gorelick RJ, Lifson J, Bacchetti P, Deeks SG, Lewin SR

CD8 T-Cell Expansion and Inflammation Linked to CMV Coinfection in ART-treated HIV Infection.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America

Freeman ML, Mudd JC, Shive CL, Younes SA, Panigrahi S, Sieg SF, Lee SA, Hunt PW, Calabrese LH, Gianella S, Rodriguez B, Lederman MM

Bartonella quintana Aortitis in a Man with AIDS, Diagnosed by Needle Biopsy and 16S rRNA Gene Amplification.

Journal of clinical microbiology

Lee SA, Plett SK, Luetkemeyer AF, Borgo GM, Ohliger MA, Conrad MB, Cookson BT, Sengupta DJ, Koehler JE

IL-15 drives CD8 T cell cycling and differentiation in chronic HIV-1 infection (VIR6P.1162).

The Journal of Immunology

souheil younes, carey shive, Arnold Reynaldi, Michael Freeman, Soumya Panigrahi, Jacob Estes, Jodi Anderson, Timothy Schacker, Miles Davenport, Joseph McCune, Peter Hunt, Sulggi Lee, Sergio Serrano-Villar, David Canaday, Cheryl Cameron, Rafick-Pierre Sekaly, Benigno Rodriguez, Scott Sieg, Michael Lederman

HIV-infected individuals with low CD4/CD8 ratio despite effective antiretroviral therapy exhibit altered T cell subsets, heightened CD8+ T cell activation, and increased risk of non-AIDS morbidity and mortality.

PLoS pathogens

Serrano-Villar S, Sainz T, Lee SA, Hunt PW, Sinclair E, Shacklett BL, Ferre AL, Hayes TL, Somsouk M, Hsue PY, Van Natta ML, Meinert CL, Lederman MM, Hatano H, Jain V, Huang Y, Hecht FM, Martin JN, McCune JM, Moreno S, Deeks SG

Low proportions of CD28- CD8+ T cells expressing CD57 can be reversed by early ART initiation and predict mortality in treated HIV infection.

The Journal of infectious diseases

Lee SA, Sinclair E, Jain V, Huang Y, Epling L, Van Natta M, Meinert CL, Martin JN, McCune JM, Deeks SG, Lederman MM, Hecht FM, Hunt PW

Impact of HIV on CD8+ T cell CD57 expression is distinct from that of CMV and aging.

PloS one

Lee SA, Sinclair E, Hatano H, Hsue PY, Epling L, Hecht FM, Bangsberg DR, Martin JN, McCune JM, Deeks SG, Hunt PW

A comprehensive analysis of common genetic variation in prolactin (PRL) and PRL receptor (PRLR) genes in relation to plasma prolactin levels and breast cancer risk: the multiethnic cohort.

BMC medical genetics

Lee SA, Haiman CA, Burtt NP, Pooler LC, Cheng I, Kolonel LN, Pike MC, Altshuler D, Hirschhorn JN, Henderson BE, Stram DO

Chapter 40 Body weight, menopausal hormone therapy, and risk of breast cancer.

Treatment of the Postmenopausal Woman

Anna H. Wu, C. Leigh Pearce, Darcy V. Spicer, Sulggi Lee, Malalcolm C. Pike

Complexity of Plasmodium falciparum infections and antimalarial drug efficacy at 7 sites in Uganda.

The Journal of infectious diseases

Lee SA, Yeka A, Nsobya SL, Dokomajilar C, Rosenthal PJ, Talisuna A, Dorsey G

Postmenopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer risk: the Multiethnic Cohort.

International journal of cancer

Lee S, Kolonel L, Wilkens L, Wan P, Henderson B, Pike M