How APOBEC proteins block HIV and how the virus gets around them
Structural Basis of APOBEC Functions and HIV Restriction
Researchers are working to learn how natural APOBEC proteins attack HIV and how HIV disables them, with the hope of informing future treatments for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11190689 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use high-resolution structural methods and biochemical tests to see exactly how APOBEC proteins bind viral genetic material and how HIV's Vif protein targets APOBECs for destruction. They will combine purified protein studies, cell-based experiments using viral models, and comparisons across different APOBEC and Vif variants to map the interactions. Findings will aim to reveal weak points in the virus's defense that could be targeted by new therapies or drugs that protect APOBEC function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV or those willing to donate blood samples for HIV research would be the most relevant patient groups for related future studies.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate treatment or those without HIV are unlikely to gain direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to boost the body's natural antiviral defenses or to drugs that stop HIV from neutralizing APOBEC proteins.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown APOBEC proteins can block HIV and that Vif counters them, but detailed structural pictures of these interactions remain incomplete and are a current area of discovery.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Xiaojiang S — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Chen, Xiaojiang S
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.