The major goal of this laboratory is to understand and manipulate the genes of the mouse and human major histocompatibility complexes. Towards this end a variety of approaches are being used, including Classical Genetics, Molecular Biology, and Cellular Immunology. The lab focuses on the recognition of virus infected cells by specific T cells in mouse and humans using LCMV, HIV, and Influenza viruses. Structure function of MHC class I genes is a major effort. Analysis of the phenotypes of mutant class I molecules in terms of their recognition by specific T lymphocytes, and characterization of their mutants by physical chemical analysis of their binding of virus specific peptides. The experiments should provide important insights into understanding how antigen processing regulates immune responses. This has led to projects in vaccine design for HIV.