Ciniso Shabangu shares how his scientific journey—from early hepatitis and cancer research in Taiwan to advanced NeuroHIV studies at the UNC HIV Cure Center—has shaped his commitment to understanding how viruses persist in the body. His work now focuses on uncovering how HIV hides in the brain and the technologies driving those discoveries.
Can you tell us about your scientific background and how your research interests developed over time?
As a post-doc working with the HIV Cure Center and the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, my research focuses on how viruses persist in the body and rewire the immune system. I began my biomedical training and PhD research at Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan, where I focused on hepatitis viruses and liver cancer biology, developing skills in molecular biology, liquid biopsy assays, and biomarker discovery. I explored how hepatitis C and D viruses contribute to liver cancer and tested liquid biopsy and circulating tumor cell assays as early detection tools. I also developed next-generation sequencing pipelines to improve biomarker discovery in both laboratory and clinical settings.
What is the focus of your current postdoctoral research in HIV neuroimmunology?
As an HIV Cure Fellow, a training program that provides resources and mentorship for early-career scientists focused on persistent HIV reservoirs, my postdoctoral work has shifted to HIV neuroimmunology. I study how HIV hides in brain immune cells called microglia, even in people receiving suppressive therapy. I’m currently conducting NeuroHIV research with Dr. Guochun Jiang.
How can HIV continue to affect the brain even when someone is on effective treatment?”
Despite suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-1 persists in rare, latently infected brain immune cells, contributing to chronic neuroinflammation and long-term viral persistence. Microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, are increasingly recognized as a major viral reservoir, yet the molecular and functional consequences of HIV infection under ART remain poorly defined. This study aims to understand the effects that HIV has on the brain while someone is on ART.
My recent research study is “SPP1⁺ Microglia Drive Immune-Evasive HIV Reservoirs in the Brain of People with HIV on Suppressive ART via IFN–MHC-I Pathway Reprogramming.” We integrated single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing with cell–cell communication modeling, differential gene expression, pathway enrichment, and structural analysis to profile HIV-infected and uninfected microglia from postmortem brains of ART-suppressed individuals. Rare, latently infected yet transcriptionally active SPP1⁺ microglia persist in ART-suppressed brains, where they reshape the neuroimmune landscape through IFN-I–driven pro-inflammatory signaling, immune checkpoint dysregulation, and MHC-I modulation.
How has this fellowship shaped your scientific training and supported your long‑term research goals?
This fellowship has allowed me to apply cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell transcriptomics and viral integration mapping. I learned how to combine multi-omics analyses with functional validation to uncover the mechanisms of immune evasion in the brain. These experiences directly support my long-term goal of becoming an independent investigator working at the intersection of immunology, infectious disease, and oncology. This project forms the basis of my current manuscripts and will serve as the foundation for future career development grants. This fellowship gives me access to outstanding mentorship and advanced technologies, allowing me to explore how HIV persists in the brain and how those findings may help guide future cure strategies both locally and globally.
How has your personal background shaped your commitment to HIV cure research?
My interest in HIV cure research is deeply personal. I grew up in Eswatini (Swaziland), one of the countries most affected by HIV, where I witnessed the epidemic’s impact on families and communities. This background fuels my determination to contribute to cure-focused science that not only advances fundamental knowledge but also has a real-world impact. The HIV Cure Fellowship, under the mentorship of Dr. Guochun Jiang, provides me with the training and platform to pursue this vision, and ultimately, to make a lasting contribution to the global fight against HIV.