Structure-Function Study of HIV and Hepatitis C Virus Proteins

Our laboratory performs structure/function studies of viral drug targets using structural, biochemical and computational methods. We use x-ray crystallography and molecular modeling to explore HIV drug resistance, perform structure-based drug design against viruses (HIV and hepatitis C virus) and investigate the problem of molecular recognition and protein flexibility. The objective of our research is to understand and overcome the mechanisms of viral resistance in particular as it relates to HIV. To do this we will determine the structures of multi-drug resistant HIV protease clinical isolates in order to elucidate the mechanisms of HIV drug resistance and help design the next generation of HIV protease inhibitors.

 

Current Research Projects

• Structure-Function Study of HIV Protease Drug Resistance
• Structure-Function Study of HIV Reverse Transcriptase Drug Resistance
• Structure-Function Study of Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Protease
• AIDS Vaccine Project: Study of HIV Gag – MHC Complexes
• Signaling Proteins: Binding Studies and Peptide Mimetics

 

 

Biomedical Research Specialization Areas

• X-ray crystallography of macromolecules
• Bioinformatics, three-dimensional protein modeling and drug design
• Molecular biology and protein chemistry
• Viral genomics and proteomics

Just testing