University of Washington-Seattle Campus · Microbiology & ImmunologyHIV and COVID-19 Interaction Lab
Megan A O'Connor · Seattle, Washington
Research Focus
Dr. Megan A. O'Connor's lab at the University of Washington focuses on understanding how HIV infection impacts the severity of COVID-19 in immunocompromised individuals. The research investigates the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system during HIV infection, with a special emphasis on the microbiome's role in disease progression. By using nonhuman primate models, the lab aims to uncover the mechanisms that lead to severe disease outcomes in patients with both infections, potentially guiding therapeutic strategies.
SARS-CoV-2HIVimmune dysfunctionmicrobiomepathogenesisdysbiosisCOVID-19inflammationnonhuman primate modelviral infections
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the effects of HIV-induced immune dysfunction on SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis.
AIM 02Evaluate the role of microbial dysbiosis in the severity of COVID-19 among HIV-infected individuals.
AIM 03Assess the inflammatory response in the lung during SARS-CoV-2 infection in the context of HIV infection.
AIM 04Determine the impact of altered immune cell function on the progression of COVID-19 in immunocompromised hosts.
AIM 05Explore the potential for therapeutic interventions targeting the microbiome to mitigate severe COVID-19 outcomes.
Skills the Lab Values
PCR16S ribosomal RNA sequencinganimal handlingviral load assessmentimmunohistochemistrycell cultureflow cytometrymacrophage isolationdata analysisexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications54bottom 13% of dept.422nd of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.7kbottom 11% of dept.434th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.