Elucidating The Mechanism Of Action Of Dendrimer Nanoparticles Against HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$559,354.00
Summary
Dendrimers are nanoparticles with highly branched structures and they are being developed as topical microbicides to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. This study will determine how dendrimers block HIV entry into host cells so that we can design more effective inhibitors and microbicides.
Mechanisms Underlying APOBEC3G Restriction Of HIV-1
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,075.00
Summary
In the fight against worldwide HIV-AIDS, understanding natural cell defenses to the HIV virus may identify new virus targets and strategies to block HIV in humans. Here, we will use state-of-the-art, high resolution, fluorescent microscopy to understand how the recently identified cell protein, APOBEC3G, blocks the HIV life cycle in human cells. We anticipate that APOBEC3G will stop HIV from invading the nucleus of human cells to defend against HIV, a strategy we can apply to new therapies.
The Role Of Chemokines In Establishing HIV Latency
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,049.00
Summary
Although antiviral therapy is effective in controlling HIV, therapy must be continued life-long because the virus cannot be cleared from long lived infected CD4+ T cells that are silently or latently infected. In this proposal we will explore the mechanism of how HIV can enter these resting CD4+ T-cells and establish long lived latent infection. Understanding this process may potentially lead to new strategies to cure HIV infection.