How viruses shift which cells they infect to escape the immune system
Escape by Shifting: Viral Entry Tropism Shift as an Evolutionary Mechanism of Immune Evasion
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · NIH-11248864
This project looks at how HIV and similar viruses change which cell receptors they use, which can help people with HIV understand why some infections get worse faster.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (TAMPA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11248864 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This work examines how viruses like HIV change the receptors they use to enter different kinds of cells. The team analyzes viral sequences from people with HIV and performs laboratory tests to see which mutations let the virus switch coreceptors and avoid antibodies. They will build a map of a virus's possible receptor choices, called a "receptor utilization space," and study how immune pressure pushes the virus to explore that space. The approach combines patient-derived viral data, evolutionary analyses, and cell-based experiments to link specific mutations with changes in disease behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who are willing to provide blood or viral samples, especially those whose virus shows signs of coreceptor change, would be the most relevant participants.
Not a fit: People without HIV, or those unwilling to provide samples, are unlikely to gain direct benefit from participating in this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could clarify why some HIV infections progress faster and point to new ways to prevent or treat viruses that escape immunity by switching receptors.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work has linked HIV coreceptor switching to faster progression and the investigators' earlier studies identified driver mutations that enable antibody escape, but the broader "escape by shifting" concept is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
TAMPA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA — TAMPA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SONG, HONGSHUO — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
- Study coordinator: SONG, HONGSHUO
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