Understanding how HIV-1 virus structures function inside cells
Official title: Characterizing functionally relevant HIV-1 structures by correlative light and cryo-electron microcopy (CLEM)
Funded at Florida State University · NIH-10765701 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the HIV virus works by using special imaging techniques to see how its protective shell breaks apart when it enters human cells, which could help us find new ways to treat HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tallahassee, United States) |
| Project start | January 18, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $227,999 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI174879-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10765701 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV or those at high risk of HIV infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not infected with HIV or do not have risk factors for HIV are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the HIV-1 capsid, which protects the viral genome and plays a crucial role in its entry into the host cell's nucleus. The project aims to develop advanced imaging techniques to visualize the disassembly of the capsid, a process essential for the virus to integrate its genetic material into the host's DNA. By using a combination of cryo-electron microscopy and light microscopy, researchers will analyze the dynamics of HIV-1 within cells, providing insights into how the virus operates at a molecular level. This could lead to a better understanding of HIV infection and potential therapeutic targets.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or treating HIV infection.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques to study viral structures, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida State University
Tallahassee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Francis, Ashwanth Christopher — Florida State University
- Study coordinator: Francis, Ashwanth Christopher
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
LabGenie: A Patient-Friendly Tool to Help Older Adults Understand Lab Results
A patient-facing, web-based tool will present older adults with clear, visual explanations of their lab test results to support understanding and everyday health decisions.
-
Precision HIV Prevention for Youth: Building a Youth Learning Health Community
A youth-focused approach uses data and community engagement to improve HIV prevention interventions in North Florida.
-
Adolescent HIV Care: Weight Loss Pill + Digital Counseling Trial
A youth-focused trial tests whether adding a weekly semaglutide weight-loss medicine to tailored digital lifestyle coaching helps overweight teens and young adults living with HIV improve weight and heart health.
-
Understanding artemisinin resistance in malaria parasites
This project looks at how malaria parasites change RNA-handling proteins to survive artemisinin drugs, aiming to help people treated for Plasmodium falciparum malaria.
-
SMART: a program to help people who use drugs in Atlanta stay on HIV prevention and treatment
A new program aims to help people who use drugs in Atlanta, especially those who are unhoused or unstably housed, stay connected to HIV prevention and treatment and related services.
-
Combined effects of PrEP and HIV stigma on PrEP adherence in youth at risk for HIV
A small, patient-friendly study will explore how stigma around PrEP and HIV affects whether at-risk youth stick with PrEP, using real data from teens and young adults.
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.