How HIV capsids enter the nucleus of cells
Official title: Affinity Gradient-Based Transport of HIV Capsid Cores through the Nuclear Pore Complex
Funded at Emory University · NIH-10896193 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the HIV virus gets into cells by figuring out how its protective shell moves through a tiny opening in the cell's barrier, which could help us find new ways to treat HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $195,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI176946-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10896193 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV or those at high risk of HIV infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV or do not have risk factors for HIV may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which HIV capsid cores, which are essential for the virus's ability to infect cells, transport through the nuclear pore complex (NPC) of non-dividing cells. The study aims to understand how these viral structures, which encapsulate the viral genome, can pass through the NPC, a critical barrier in the cell. By analyzing the interactions between HIV capsid proteins and the components of the NPC, researchers hope to uncover the molecular details of this process. This could lead to new insights into HIV infection and potential therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating HIV infections.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on HIV transport mechanisms, this research proposes a novel approach that has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Melcak, Ivo — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Melcak, Ivo
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.