His major interest has been focussed on the structure and regulation of MHC gene expression. He was among the first to biochemically characterize and assess the molecular heterogeneity and polymorphism of the human MHC class II molecular pool. One of his most important achievements was the discovery of the locus AIR-1 encoding the major regulator of MHC class II gene transcription (designated also CIITA, class II transcriptional activator) and the characterization of its function. This discovery made it possible to genetically and molecularly assess the importance of MHC class II expression in the regulation of the immune response.
His recent studies are addressed to the molecular mechanisms of virus-host cell interactions, particularly in retroviral infections, HIV-1 and HTLV, as well as to new appraches of tumor vaccination and anti-tumor therapy by using CIITA
Prof. Accolla has published more than 200 scientific papers in international peer reviewed journals.
To date, his cumulative impact factor (I.F.) is more than 1000 and his H-index is: 50