How host +TIP proteins attach to HIV's capsid during early infection
Official title: +TIPs as novel host capsid-binding co-factors in early HIV-1 infection
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11310750 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether certain human cell proteins called +TIPs attach to and change the HIV capsid during the virus's earliest steps, which might reveal new ways to block infection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 9, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $734,072 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI172818-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11310750 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV or individuals willing to donate blood or tissue samples for laboratory research, particularly those in early infection stages, would be most relevant to related sample collection efforts.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate changes to their clinical care or those without HIV are unlikely to receive direct or immediate benefit from this basic laboratory-focused research.
What this research studies
Scientists will examine how a group of human cell proteins known as +TIPs (including CLIP-170) bind to the cone-shaped HIV capsid. They will use purified capsid components, biochemical binding tests, structural methods, and cell-based models to see how these proteins affect capsid stability and movement toward the cell nucleus. The team builds on earlier findings about other adaptor proteins (FEZ1, BICD2) and will map the binding sites and mechanisms of +TIP interactions with capsid structures. Understanding these steps could point to new molecular targets to stop HIV very early after it enters cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets to block HIV replication at the earliest stage of infection, informing future therapies or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Related laboratory studies have already identified other host adaptor proteins (FEZ1 and BICD2) that bind the HIV capsid and influence trafficking, while +TIP interactions are newly described and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Naghavi, Mojgan Hosseini — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Naghavi, Mojgan Hosseini
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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.