How HIV's outer envelope lets the virus fuse with and enter human cells
Project 1 - Molecular Dynamics of HIV-1 Entry: Visualizing Transient Intermediates
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · DUKE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11397294
Researchers will combine computer simulations and lab imaging to watch fleeting changes in HIV's outer protein that let the virus fuse with human cells, aiming to help people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DUKE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DURHAM, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11397294 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, this project uses powerful computer models alongside cutting-edge laboratory imaging to capture very short-lived shapes of the HIV envelope as it attaches to and fuses with human cells. Teams at Duke will run molecular dynamics simulations and pair them with structural biology experiments to build time-resolved, atom-level pictures of the fusion process. The work leverages shared computational and structural biology cores to develop new methods for observing the unstable 'pre-hairpin' intermediate. Understanding these steps could point to new ways to block infection or design better vaccines.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This specific project does not enroll participants, but people living with HIV would be the population most likely to benefit from or be eligible for related future clinical trials.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those with conditions unrelated to HIV are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal new targets for vaccines or drugs that block HIV from entering cells.
How similar studies have performed: Related structural and simulation approaches have advanced knowledge of viral fusion before, but capturing the transient pre-hairpin intermediate is largely novel and technically challenging.
Where this research is happening
DURHAM, UNITED STATES
- DUKE UNIVERSITY — DURHAM, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HENDERSON, RORY — DUKE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: HENDERSON, RORY
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus