Inhibitors and Probes of HIV-1 Cell Fusion

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The long term goals and objectives of our project "Inhibitors and Probes of HIV-1 Cell Fusion" are to identify and engineer protein and small molecule therapeutics, probes and vaccine immunogens that can be translated for the treatment and long acting inhibition of HIV/AIDS. Subprojects include design and development of new gp41-derived peptides and proteins that have dual functions as inhibitors and immunogens, discovery and high resolution structural characterization of new carbohydrate binding proteins that potently inhibit HIV-1 Entry through carbohydrate-mediated interactions with HIV gp120/gp41, discovery of natural product inhibitors of HIV-1 cell entry, and structural and mechanistic studies of HIV-1 Envelope-coreceptor interactions. Though great progress has been achieved in developing treatments for and extending the life expectancies of HIV infected individuals, we do not have a cure for this disease and many challenges remain including the development of drug resistance, the cost and availability of treatments, and prevention strategies that are available to all. Our research program aims to overcome some of these challenges through increased understanding of the viral entry process and development of novel classes of therapies with an emphasis on biomolecules and antibody fusions.