How HIV copies itself inside immune cells
Lentivirus Replication Strategy and Pathogenesis
This project looks at how HIV copies its genetic material in CD4 and myeloid immune cells to understand how the virus overcomes cellular defenses.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311382 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, scientists are studying the step-by-step process HIV uses to make DNA from its RNA inside immune cells. The team focuses on how a host protein called SAMHD1 limits building blocks for viral replication and how viral features like the central PPT and reverse transcriptase help the virus finish copying its genome. Researchers will use laboratory models of CD4 T cells and myeloid cells and biochemical experiments to compare viral replication strategies. The goal is to explain why some cells are harder for the virus to infect and how the virus escapes those blocks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV or volunteers able to donate blood or immune cells would be the most relevant candidates for sample-based parts of this research.
Not a fit: Patients looking for an immediate new treatment or cure should not expect direct personal benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for drugs that block HIV replication in cells that currently help the virus persist.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have identified SAMHD1 and reverse transcriptase roles in HIV replication, and this project builds on that knowledge while testing less-explored mechanisms like the central PPT.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kim, Baek — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Kim, Baek
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.