Understanding how HIV-1 infects cells
Official title: Imaging early steps of HIV-1 infection and virus-host factor interactions
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11090336 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work aims to understand the very first steps of how the HIV-1 virus enters and infects human cells.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | June 17, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,127,429 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AI129862-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11090336 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals living with or at risk of HIV-1 infection in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical intervention would not receive direct benefit from this basic science research.
What this research studies
We are looking closely at how the HIV-1 virus sheds its protective outer shell, called the capsid, once it enters a cell. This 'uncoating' process is crucial for the virus to release its genetic material and take over the cell, but we don't fully understand where or how it happens. By using a new way to label the virus's capsid, we can watch these events in real-time. This will help us see exactly when and where the virus becomes vulnerable inside the cell, which could reveal new ways to stop the infection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets for developing antiviral medications that block HIV-1 infection at its earliest stages.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have reported conflicting findings on HIV-1 uncoating, making this novel direct labeling approach a critical step to resolve these discrepancies.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Melikian, Gregory B — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Melikian, Gregory B
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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.