How HIV-1 forms and releases new virus particles from infected cells
Biochemical, Biophysical, and Structural Mechanisms of HIV-1 Budding and Release
Scientists are looking at how HIV uses cell machinery to make and release new virus particles, aiming to find weak points that could help people living with HIV in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11242073 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at the molecular steps HIV uses to assemble and leave infected cells. The team will use biochemical experiments, single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, and comparisons across species to map how the viral Gag protein and host ESCRT proteins interact and how factors like retroCHMP3 can block release. Most work is done in the lab with purified proteins and cellular models to build detailed structural models of the release process. The findings could point to new ways to stop HIV from spreading in the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV-1 who are willing to donate blood or tissue samples for laboratory analysis or who can take part in related translational studies would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those seeking immediate changes to their current treatment would not directly benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal molecular targets for drugs that block HIV from leaving infected cells, potentially reducing viral spread.
How similar studies have performed: Prior structural and cellular studies have clarified many steps of HIV assembly and ESCRT function, but turning these findings into therapies to block virus release remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Berkeley, United States
- University of California Berkeley — Berkeley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hurley, James H — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Hurley, James H
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.