Exploration of cellular host factor required for HIV-1 infection and approaches to overcome multi-drug resistant HIV-1

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24390032
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Environmental pharmacy
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: MISUMI Shogo 熊本大学, 生命科学研究部, 教授 (40264311)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKAMUNE Nobutoki 熊本大学, イノベーション推進機構, 准教授 (60322749) ; SHOJI Shozo 熊本大学, 生命科学研究部, 名誉教授 (60040317)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: HIV-1 / 宿主因子 / ウイルス複製 / 変異 / 根治療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Current drugs against HIV-1 inhibit the function of viral enzymes, namely, RT, integrase, and protease. While these are especially proving useful in combination therapy, drug resistance could still be generated. Therefore, future directions towards a more effective therapy for HIV-1 infection will rely on the development of novel therapeutic strategies rather than conventional strategies, which target only viral proteins. HIV-1 exploits multiple host proteins during infection, suggesting that the possibility of interrupting virus-host interactions may be an important pathway for the development of antiviral therapies. In concept, this type of antiviral agent developed through this pathway could minimize the generation of drug-resistant mutants because the virus must maintain the ability to interact with the relatively immutable host proteins. Thus, the interaction between the host and viral proteins may offer some potential applications for therapies against HIV-1.

Free Research Field

ウイルス学