How HIV moves inside cells to insert its genes
Elucidating HIV-1 nuclear trafficking to integration sites
This project looks at how HIV travels inside human immune cells to reach spots in the nucleus where it inserts its genetic material, which matters for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11332302 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will follow HIV replication complexes inside human immune cells to map the path the virus takes to nuclear regions where it inserts its DNA. The team will work with primary CD4+ T-cells and macrophages and use advanced imaging and molecular tools to study how a human protein called CPSF6 and nuclear filaments guide viral capsids. Experiments are laboratory-based using human cells and engineered mutations rather than giving experimental treatments to people. The goal is to define step-by-step how HIV navigates the nucleus so future therapies might block that process.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people living with HIV and volunteers who can donate blood or immune cells for laboratory research.
Not a fit: This is lab-based basic research, so people seeking immediate clinical treatment or direct personal benefit are unlikely to get direct therapeutic benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets to stop HIV from inserting into human DNA, which might lead to better therapies or cure approaches down the line.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown CPSF6 helps direct HIV to active genomic regions, but turning that knowledge into treatments is still in early stages.
Where this research is happening
Tallahassee, United States
- Florida State University — Tallahassee, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Francis, Ashwanth Christopher — Florida State University
- Study coordinator: Francis, Ashwanth Christopher
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.