Understanding HIV-1 persistence in CD4+ T cells at the nanoscale
Official title: In Situ Structural Biology of HIV-1 Transcription and Latency in CD4⁺ T Cells
Funded at University of Oxford · NIH-11405985 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to map how HIV hides in CD4+ T cells by looking at the cell’s structure at the tiniest scales.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Oxford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oxford, United Kingdom) |
| Project start | June 23, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $170,980 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AI200512-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11405985 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals living with HIV or HIV-infected samples where CD4+ T cells are analyzed for latent proviruses could contribute.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV or without access to samples related to HIV latency would not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project will use advanced imaging to see where HIV proviruses sit inside intact cell nuclei and how their surroundings relate to whether they are silent or active. By combining light and electron microscopy with cryo-ET, researchers will compare active and silent proviruses in both cell lines and patient-derived T cells. The goal is to reveal the structural rules that govern HIV persistence, which could inform future strategies to target latent virus. Results will come from very detailed pictures of chromatin, nuclear bodies, and transcriptional machinery within individual cells.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could guide new approaches to disrupt HIV latency and move closer to a functional cure.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that cell-level structure can influence HIV latency, but this project adds nanoscale, single-provirus visualization in primary cells.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Oxford
Oxford, United Kingdom Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Peijun — University of Oxford
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Peijun
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.