Grant: Operating Grant

Upon entry into a cell, viruses have two objectives; to maximize the production of progeny virions while minimizing the activation of innate immune sensors that will limit virus replication. Recent work by our group has demonstrated that HIV-1 inhibits host cell protein synthesis, an activity essential to the activation of the innate immune response. However, we have also determined that HIV-1 uses a novel strategy to ensure efficient expression of its own proteins. Understanding how each of these processes is regulated will provide new insights to enhance the innate immune response to HIV-1 and provide tools to selectively inhibit HIV-1 gene expression.