This thesis examines the Soviet AIDS epidemic as a social and political crisis rather than solely a medical one. Through newspapers, diaries, and government documents, the research reveals how AIDS contributed to growing public distrust in Soviet institutions and became part of the broader crises preceding the collapse of the Soviet Union.

This research develops a rapid, light-based method to study viral fusion, the first step of infection. By applying split NanoLuc technology to HIV, it reveals strain-specific fusion behaviors and unexpected regulatory steps, providing tools that can accelerate responses to future pandemics such as COVID-19.

A $2 portable HIV test chip that combines PCR-level sensitivity with home-test simplicity. Using magnetic microparticles, custom probes, and automated processing, it delivers rapid color-change results from a single drop of blood. The system could diagnose HIV and other viruses quickly, affordably, and anywhere.

Chronic diseases exhaust the body’s CD8 T cells, weakening their ability to fight infections and cancer. This research identifies CD7 as a key driver of T-cell exhaustion. Removing CD7 keeps T cells active, boosts cytokine production, and improves control of tumors and viruses—offering a promising new immunotherapy target.