How HIV-1 moves into macrophages and spreads via a special cell pathway
Official title: Role of CLIC/GEEC pathway in VCC formation and HIV-1 transmission from macrophages
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11553243 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how HIV-1 particles are captured by macrophages and transmitted to other cells using a specific cell-entry route called the CLIC/GEEC pathway.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $703,409 |
| NIH project number | 1R56AI197882-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11553243 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals living with HIV-1 or people with a related immunological condition, for whom macrophage-virus interactions are relevant to disease progression.
✕Less likely to help
The study is laboratory-based; direct therapeutic benefit to patients is not guaranteed, and results may primarily advance scientific understanding.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how myeloid cells grab HIV-1 particles through Siglec-1 interactions with viral gangliosides, funnel them into a virus-containing compartment, and use CLIC/GEEC pathways to potentially transmit the virus to T cells. By mapping the steps that move HIV-1 into the VCC and identifying the role of dynamin-2, the study aims to pinpoint how cellular transport mechanisms contribute to infection. The work combines cell biology approaches with imaging and molecular perturbations to unravel how disruption of this pathway affects virus spread. The insights could inform strategies to block cell-to-cell transmission in HIV-1 biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could identify new targets to block HIV-1 transmission from macrophages to T cells, potentially reducing viral spread.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work has shown that the CLIC/GEEC pathway can influence VCC formation and trans-infection in macrophages, suggesting a promising albeit still exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
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Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spearman, Paul W. — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Spearman, Paul W.
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.