HIV blocks immune alarm signals by targeting IPS-1 to weaken interferon responses
Official title: HIV Targeting of IPS-1/MAVS to Block Type I Interferon
Funded at Western University of Health Sciences · NIH-11411774 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in people with HIV explores how the virus disrupts a key alarm system (interferon) by manipulating a molecule called IPS-1 to help the virus hide and replicate.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Western University of Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pomona, United States) |
| Project start | June 19, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $144,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R03AI194999-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals living with HIV who have CD4+ T cells and macrophages susceptible to HIV infection.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient’s disease is controlled by other immune pathways or if the mechanism proves non-targetable, benefits may be limited.
What this research studies
This project looks at how HIV interferes with the body’s early immune defenses by targeting IPS-1, a protein that normally helps trigger interferon responses in immune cells like CD4+ T cells and macrophages. The research will examine the specific ways HIV proteins Vpu and Nef degrade IPS-1 and blunt interferon signaling, which allows the virus to persist. By understanding this mechanism, the study aims to identify points where new therapies could restore the immune alarm and better control HIV infection. The work uses biochemical approaches to map interactions and degradation pathways in human immune cells relevant to HIV infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to boost interferon responses and help design therapies that limit HIV replication in patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows HIV can manipulate interferon pathways; this proposal builds on that foundation and seeks more precise mechanisms involving IPS-1.
Where this research is happening
-
Western University of Health Sciences
Pomona, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanchez, David Jesse — Western University of Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Sanchez, David Jesse
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.