How HIV particles change shape to become infectious
Determining the molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 maturation
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE · NIH-11142995
Researchers are using large-scale computer simulations to learn how HIV particles transform into their infectious form, with the goal of helping people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11142995 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From your perspective, scientists will build detailed computer models that mimic an HIV particle as it matures. They will combine simpler coarse-grained models with detailed atom-level simulations to follow how viral proteins are cleaved and how the capsid and membrane reorganize. The team will use existing structural data (including cryo-EM results) to guide and validate the simulations. Findings are intended to reveal specific structural steps that could be targeted by future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV, particularly those with drug-resistant virus, are the people most likely to benefit from therapies informed by this work in the future.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those whose infection is already well controlled on current antiretrovirals are unlikely to see immediate personal benefit from this basic-science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could pinpoint new structural steps in HIV maturation that become targets for next-generation antiviral drugs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior structural and simulation studies have resolved parts of HIV capsid structure and some maturation steps, but applying full-scale combined coarse-grained and atomistic simulations to map the entire maturation pathway is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE — Newark, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PERILLA JIMENEZ, JUAN ROBERTO — UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
- Study coordinator: PERILLA JIMENEZ, JUAN ROBERTO
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.