How PSGL-1 on immune cells can block HIV infection
Official title: Mechanisms of PSGL-1 restriction of HIV virion infectivity
Funded at George Mason University · NIH-11411570 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how a protein on immune cells called PSGL-1 can block HIV from infecting cells and how HIV tries to counteract it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | George Mason University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fairfax, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,069,512 |
| NIH project number | 2R01AI148012-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411570 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with HIV infection or at risk of HIV transmission could benefit from insights that lead to novel therapies or preventive strategies.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient benefit until translation to therapies or vaccines is achieved.
What this research studies
Researchers at George Mason University are exploring how PSGL-1, a mucin-like protein on lymphoid and myeloid cells, helps prevent HIV from infecting new cells. They focus on the extracellular domain’s decameric repeats and their role in extending the binding sites away from the cell, which may hinder the virus from attaching to target cells. The work looks at how HIV proteins like Vpu, Nef, and Gag reduce PSGL-1 on virions to maintain infectivity, and whether restoring or enhancing this mechanism could limit viral spread.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform new approaches to reduce HIV infectivity and improve strategies to control reservoirs in infected individuals.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown PSGL-1 can restrict HIV on virions, but the detailed mechanism and therapeutic translation remain to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
George Mason University
Fairfax, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Yuntao — George Mason University
- Study coordinator: Wu, Yuntao
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.