How HIV mutates: host genes that shape HIV mutation and drug resistance
Official title: Viral and host determinants of donor-specific anti-HIV/SIV immunity mediated by APOBEC3-enzyme
Funded at Texas Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11330559 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how human APOBEC3 enzymes influence HIV mutations in people living with HIV, aiming to understand why some viral changes lead to drug resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | June 21, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $816,819 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI179465-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330559 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV or people at risk who could contribute samples or data related to HIV genetics and treatment responses.
✕Less likely to help
The study may not directly benefit individuals who do not have HIV or who do not participate in data/sample sharing.
What this research studies
This project analyzes how human APOBEC3 enzymes (like APOBEC3D/F/G and APOBEC3H variants) drive mutations in the HIV genome and how donor-specific differences affect these patterns. Using a mix of computational analyses of large HIV patient data and laboratory experiments, the team will map how these enzymes interact with HIV and alter treatment responses. The goal is to uncover molecular triggers that determine whether mutations help or hinder the virus, which could guide future therapies. The work could illuminate why some patients’ viruses become more or less susceptible to antiretroviral drugs based on their own genetic makeup.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform personalized approaches to HIV treatment by understanding how patient genetics influence virus evolution and drug resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has shown APOBEC3 enzymes influence HIV mutations; this project seeks to integrate diverse datasets to clarify donor-specific effects, which is a novel but building field.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Biomedical Research Institute
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ebrahimi, Diako — Texas Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Ebrahimi, Diako
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.