The Bosque laboratory is a member of the DC Center for AIDS Research (DC CFAR) within the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. The existence of latent reservoirs of HIV-infected cells constitutes the major impediment towards viral eradication. We are investigating the mechanisms that control HIV persistence to develop novel strategies that can safely be used towards an HIV cure. Our studies are focused in understanding these mechanisms using a combination of primary cell models of latency that emulate the latent reservoir found in HIV patients, animal models and cells isolated from HIV-infected participants. Our research encompasses the discovery and the characterization of novel molecules aimed towards reactivation of latent HIV as well as enhance immune effector function to promote clearance of latent viruses by the immune system. Furthermore, the Bosque lab is investigating the mechanisms by which HIV establishes a latent reservoir in CD4 T cells, how this reservoir is maintained long term, and how sex hormones and hormone replacement therapies influence HIV cure strategies.