AI-guided look at how viral and human proteins interact
Interactions of retroviral and host proteins guided by advanced modeling
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11249551
This project uses advanced computer models to map how viral proteins bind human cell proteins to help guide new drug ideas for virus-related infections and cancers.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11249551 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are using cutting-edge AI tools (like AlphaFold2 and Phyre2) to predict the 3D shapes of viral Envelope and Integrase proteins and their human binding partners such as SLC35F2 and BET-family proteins. They will test those computer models with laboratory experiments to confirm how the proteins stick together. The team is also using those structures to search for small molecules that could block harmful viral-host interactions. Results will guide future efforts toward drugs that stop viral entry or integration into cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Potential future candidates would include people with retroviral infections or cancers linked to BET proteins if and when clinical testing of therapies begins.
Not a fit: People without viral infections or whose conditions are unrelated to the specific host proteins studied are unlikely to see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets and lead to therapies that block viral entry or integration and reduce virus-driven disease risks.
How similar studies have performed: AI-based protein prediction has recently improved structural models and helped lab research, but applying these tools to these exact viral-host interactions and drug searches is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES — Newark, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ROTH, MONICA J. — RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: ROTH, MONICA J.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions: Cancer Genes, Cancer-Promoting Gene