A 人妻中出视频 of Utah 人妻中出视频-led multi-institutional research center that studies the inner workings and vulnerabilities of HIV, the human immunodeficieny virus that causes AIDS, recently received a five-year, $28 million grant renewal from the National Institutes of 人妻中出视频.
Since its founding in 2007, the has published more than 300 research papers that have led to a better understanding of HIV and its potential treatments.
, the center鈥檚 director and professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry at U of U 人妻中出视频, is leading 20 research teams from 12 institutions. With the grant renewal, the researchers will focus on:
- Determining how HIV infects cells,
- Understanding how host cells defend against the virus,
- Analyzing how the virus becomes dormant and rebounds, and
- Developing next-generation tools and methodologies to better understand the structure and mechanisms of HIV.
"The outstanding science stemming from this program is changing an understanding of HIV/AIDS, other viral diseases, and cellular biology, enabling the development of novel therapeutics such as lenacapavir and D-peptide inhibitors," says Rachel Hess, MD, associate vice president for research at U of U 人妻中出视频, referring to two investigational drugs with roots in CHEETAH.
From deep understanding to investigational drugs
Just a half-century ago, HIV infection almost inevitably led to serious illness and death. Today鈥檚 antiretroviral therapies can suppress the virus and prevent symptoms, but improvement is still needed. If these drugs aren鈥檛 taken daily, the virus can rebound and acquire drug resistance. The medicines can also cause difficult side effects. The underpinnings for two new investigational drugs that could help circumvent these issues are based on years of research by CHEETAH scientists.
The outstanding science stemming from this program is changing an understanding of HIV/AIDS, other viral diseases, and cellular biology, enabling the development of novel therapeutics such as lenacapavir and D-peptide inhibitors.
, professor of human genetics at U of U 人妻中出视频, turns to evolution for inspiration, noting that many animals are not as susceptible as humans to disease caused by HIV. He is collaborating with fellow CHEETAH scientists to explore whether a gene found in mice and squirrel monkeys that prevents HIV from exiting cells after replicating could become the basis for a new type of antiviral.
By contrast, Owen Pornillos, PhD, a CHEETAH investigator from the 人妻中出视频 of Virginia who received his doctorate from the U, takes advantage of his biochemistry expertise to take a different approach. In a collaborative project with several CHEETAH Center members, he is removing the virus from the complex environment of the host cell and bringing it to the test tube. By adding back specific ingredients a few at a time, the team is identifying key virus and host cell components that are essential for early stages of viral infection and replication. Combining this approach with new microscope technologies is allowing them to visualize these steps with unprecedented clarity.
"CHEETAH is committed to doing excellent science and is always planning for where we envision the field will be five years from now," Pornillos says. "It鈥檚 exciting to be a part of it."
These diverse tactics are providing valuable insights into virology and biology, and uncovering targets for new types of therapeutic intervention.
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