The Role Of Vif In Enhancing HIV Replication And Effecting The Integrity Of The Replication Complexes Of HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,200.00
Summary
HIV-AIDS is still one of the leading causes of infectious human fatality worldwide. The genome of HIV encodes six viral accessory proteins that are necessary for viral replication and infection. One of these genes, viral infectivity factor (vif), is essential for production of infectious virus. Exactly how this viral protein works within the cell is not clear at present. Current literature suggests that Vif acts in some way to enhance reverse transcription, one of the early stages of the viral l ....HIV-AIDS is still one of the leading causes of infectious human fatality worldwide. The genome of HIV encodes six viral accessory proteins that are necessary for viral replication and infection. One of these genes, viral infectivity factor (vif), is essential for production of infectious virus. Exactly how this viral protein works within the cell is not clear at present. Current literature suggests that Vif acts in some way to enhance reverse transcription, one of the early stages of the viral life cycle. We aim to investigate the action of Vif in stabilizing early HIV reverse transcription complexes to understand how it acts to enhance HIV replication and viral infection. The early stages of HIV replication are critical for establishing infection and hence ideal targets for therapeutic intervention. This research will help understand how Vif works in a cell and affects the infectivity of HIV viral particles and may be suggestive of potential targets for development of anti-viral drugs.Read moreRead less
Molecular Diagnosis And Therapy Of Autoimmune Disease Using Translational And Reverse Translational Approaches
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,331,372.00
Summary
We plan to translate our recent discoveries on human gene variants and molecules produced by immune cells (follicular T cells) into effective therapies for autoimmune diseases. This will involve understanding the mechanisms by which the genes and molecules regulate immune tolerance, stratifying patients with autoimmune disease using newly identified biomarkers, trialling existing biologicals according to affected molecular pathway, and taking novel targets through to commercialisation.
I am an immunologist determining the development and function of the dendritic cell system, including its role in autoimmunity and resistance to infection.