| Description |
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). According to the recent statistics published by the United Nations in 2015, there are currently 36.9 million people suffering from AIDS, and tens of millions of people have died from the disease since its discovery. Most patients are treated by a cocktail of inhibitors targeting HIV-1's enzymes protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN). As of now, there exists no cure or vaccination for HIV. An interesting finding that HIV-1 hijacks the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) to efficiently release new virus particles was intensively studied over the past 15 years for its potential to develop a therapeutic target. With current progress in fluorescent methodologies, it is now possible to study the dynamic of individual virions as they assemble in cells and interact with ESCRTs to facilitate their release. The goal here is to create sufficient understanding of the assembly and release mechanism for potential inhibition of HIV-1 production. |
