Lbachir Benmohamed

Lbachir Benmohamed, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at the UCI School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency mechanisms and their impact on immunopathology, particularly in corneal scarring. His work investigates how viral latency in trigeminal ganglia correlates with disease severity and immune responses.

Key findings include the relationship between HSV-1 latency-associated transcript (LAT) levels and corneal scarring severity, as well as the role of CD8+ T cell exhaustion in viral reactivation. His studies utilize mouse models to analyze immune markers like PD-1, cytokines, and macrophage activity in infected tissues.

Recent articles explore latency reactivation dynamics, CD8 T cell功能, and M2 macrophage contributions to protective immunity against HSV-1 ocular infections. This research bridges virology, immunology, and clinical ophthalmology to address herpes-related vision disorders.