My clinical translational research is focused on the impact of reproductive hormones, both endogenous and exogenous on genital tract mucosal immunity and the vaginal microbiome in HIV-infected and at risk women.  The  goal of this work is to identify the biologic mechanisms that mediate changes in genital tract immunity and the vaginal microbiome in the setting of high progesterone states e.g. progesterone-dominant hormonal contraceptives and low estrogen states e.g. menopause as these states represent periods of vulnerability for HIV acquisition and transmission.  The long-term goal of this research is to develop targeted interventions to augment these hormonally responsive changes in the genital tract in order improve genital tract health and HIV prevention.

Scherzer R, Greenblatt RM, Merhi ZO, Kassaye S, Lambert-Messerlian G, Maki PM, Murphy K, Karim R, Bacchetti P. Use of antimullerian hormone to predict the menopausal transition in HIV-infected women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2017;216:46.e1-11.

Murphy K, Mitchell CM. The Interplay of Host Immunity, Environment on Risk of Bacterial Vaginosis and Associated Reproductive Health Outcomes. J Infect Dis 2016; Aug 15;214 Suppl 1:S29-35.

Murphy K, Richardson BA, Dezzutti CS, Marrazzo J, Hillier SL, Hendrix CW, Herold, BC. Levels of Genital Tract Defensins and Cytokines Differ between HIV-Uninfected US and African Women.  Am J Reprod Immunol 2015; 74(4):313-22. 

Murphy K, Irvin SC, Herold BC. Research gaps in defining the biological link between HIV risk and hormonal contraception.  Am Journal of Reprod Immunol 2014;72(2):228-35

Murphy K, Hoover DR, Shi Q, Cohen M, Gandhi M, Golub ET,  Gustafson DR, Pearce CL, Young M, Anastos K.  Association of self-reported race with AIDS death in continuous HAART users in a cohort of HIV-infected women in the United States.   AIDS 2013; 27:2413-2423.

McFall AM, Dowdy DW, Zelaya CE, Murphy K, Wilson TE, Young MA, Gandhi M, Cohen MH, Golub ET, Althoff KN for the Women’s Interagency HIV Study.  Understanding the disparity: Predictors of virologic failure in women using highly active antiretroviral therapy vary by race and/or ethnicity.  J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2013 Nov 1;64(3):289-98.

Sylla B, Murphy K, Cahir-McFarland E, Lane W, Mosialos G, Kieff E. The lymphoproliferative syndrome gene product SH2D1A associates with p62dok (Dok1) and activates NF-kB. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2000 Jun; 97(13): 7470-5.

Koedood Zhao M, Wang Y, Murphy K, Yi J, Beckerle M, Gilmore T. LIM Domain-Containing Protein Trip6 Can Act as a Coactivator for the v-Rel Transcription Factor. Gene Expression. 1999 Sep; 8(1): 207-217.