How HIV inserts its genes into human DNA
HIV-1 Intasome Assembly and Function
Researchers are figuring out how the HIV enzyme that inserts viral DNA into human cells works to help people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11141080 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have HIV, this project is looking at how the virus's integrase proteins come together to form the intasome, the molecular machine that inserts viral DNA into your cells. Scientists will map the shapes and assembly steps of these protein complexes using lab-based structural and biochemical methods. They will test different integrase arrangements to see which forms are required for the integration step and where the complex is vulnerable. This is laboratory research focused on the virus machinery and does not provide direct treatment to patients now.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV are the eventual beneficiaries and potential candidates for follow-up drug trials, though this project itself does not enroll patients.
Not a fit: Because this is basic laboratory work, it will not provide immediate clinical treatment or direct health benefit to participants seeking care now.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new weak points in the HIV integration process that lead to drugs able to block viral integration and help people with drug-resistant HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Related structural studies of retroviral intasomes have clarified architectures and helped guide integrase inhibitor development, but applying detailed multimer-assembly insights specifically to HIV-1 is still relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yoder, Kristine E — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Yoder, Kristine E
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.