Watching how HIV particles mature into infectious virus
Imaging protease activation and maturation of single HIV-1 particles
Researchers are using glowing tags and special microscopes to watch how HIV particles change as they become infectious, which could help people living with HIV in the long run.
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 ID | NIH-11233316 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team attaches fluorescent donor and acceptor tags to viral proteins so that when the HIV protease cuts its targets the fluorescence changes and can be seen in real time. They record single-virus assembly and protease activation using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy and link those movies to high-resolution electron images using correlative light-electron microscopy. The work tests how cell membrane lipids, such as ceramide produced by nSMase2, influence the timing of protease activation and virus maturation. Most experiments are done in lab-grown cells and use validated FRET-based probes to detect protease activity at the level of single particles.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who are willing to donate blood or tissue samples to a research lab (likely at Emory University) would be potential candidates for any future sample-collection activities.
Not a fit: People without HIV or those seeking immediate changes to their clinical care are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new ways to block HIV from becoming infectious and point to targets for future treatments or prevention strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Similar single-virus imaging and FRET-probe approaches have been used and lipid effects on HIV maturation have been reported, but directly visualizing protease activation in single particles is a relatively new application.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Melikian, Gregory B — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Melikian, Gregory B
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.