Where HIV builds new virus particles inside immune cells
Mechanisms that determine subcellular sites of HIV-1 assembly
Researchers are figuring out how HIV builds new virus particles inside infected immune cells to help develop better treatments for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11110494 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks inside infected cells to find the places where HIV’s Gag protein assembles new virus particles, focusing on how a Gag region called MA, cellular tRNA, and a lipid called PI(4,5)P2 guide that process. Using molecular biology, biochemical tests, and high-resolution imaging in human-relevant cell models, the team will map where Gag is made and how it moves to the cell membrane. They will test how interactions between MA, tRNA, and membrane lipids direct assembly and how that affects virus release and spread between cells. The work is lab-based and aims to connect basic mechanisms to how HIV spreads in the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV or those willing to donate blood or tissue samples for lab research would be the most relevant contributors to this work.
Not a fit: Because this is basic laboratory research, it is unlikely to provide direct or immediate treatment benefits to participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to block HIV assembly and reduce virus spread, informing future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Related lab studies have clarified how viral proteins assemble in cells and have led to drug targets for other viruses, but the specific role of tRNA in HIV MA localization is a newer area of study.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ono, Akira — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Ono, Akira
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.