Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 9 of 9
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Structural And Biophysical Investigations Into The Mechanism Of Hiv-1 Envelope Incorporation, Richard Elliot Murphy
Structural And Biophysical Investigations Into The Mechanism Of Hiv-1 Envelope Incorporation, Richard Elliot Murphy
All ETDs from UAB
Recent advancements in drug therapies and patient care have drastically improved upon the mortality rates of HIV-1 infected individuals. Many of these therapies were developed or improved upon using structure-based techniques, which underscores the importance of obtaining atomic level structural data critical to the understanding of essential mechanisms in the replication cycle of HIV-1. One such process which remains poorly understood on the structural level is the incorporation of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) into budding virus particles. The Env protein mediates viral infection of host cells, and there is strong evidence suggesting that incorporation of Env is mediated by an …
Characterizing The Hiv-1 Envelope N-Glycan Shield, Audra Ann Hargett
Characterizing The Hiv-1 Envelope N-Glycan Shield, Audra Ann Hargett
All ETDs from UAB
In 2017, there was an estimated 1.8 million new HIV-1 infections worldwide. Development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine would begin to quell this global pandemic. HIV-1 envelope (Env) glycoprotein is the main vaccine candidate target due to the immune systems ability to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against Env. Approximately 90 N-glycans form a glycan shield that is the primary interface between the virus and host immune system. Key glycan motifs within the glycan shield are targets for bnAbs and are necessary for HIV-1 infectivity. Herein, we explore how naturally occurring mutations alter the glycan shield and HIV-1 Env function. …
T Cell Immunity Directed Against Novel Anti-Sense Cryptic Epitopes And Its Impact On Hiv Viral Evolution, Binghao Jason Peng
T Cell Immunity Directed Against Novel Anti-Sense Cryptic Epitopes And Its Impact On Hiv Viral Evolution, Binghao Jason Peng
All ETDs from UAB
After nearly four decades of scientific research, a global solution in eradicating the human immunodeficiency virus - 1 (HIV-1) pandemic has still yet to be discovered. The advent of antiretroviral therapies (ART) has significantly decreased the diseases burden for those infected with the virus; however, the access to ART is often limited to those with the financial abilities to afford it. For this reason, finding a way to vaccinate against HIV-1 successfully remains a sought-after pragmatic solution to this worldwide health issue. HIV immunological studies have taught us that increasing the breadth of response to the virus holds significant potential …
Cd4 Regulatory T Cells Augment Hiv-1 Expression Of Polarized M1 And M2 Monocyte Derived Macrophages, Tanya Robinson
Cd4 Regulatory T Cells Augment Hiv-1 Expression Of Polarized M1 And M2 Monocyte Derived Macrophages, Tanya Robinson
All ETDs from UAB
Polarization of macrophages is critical for an effective host immune response against invading pathogens. However, the HIV-1 virus can alter the cytokine/chemokine profile of polarized macrophages which may ultimately lead to their increased susceptibility to viral infection. M1 monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) have been shown to suppress CCR5-tropic HIV-1 replication, while M2 MDM promote it. We generated M1 (GM-CSF + IFN-γ + LPS) and M2 (M-CSF + IL-4) MDM with predicted phenotypes and exposed them to a CCR5 (R5) “highly macrophage-tropic” viral strain, HIV-1BaL. M2 MDM had notably higher levels of HIV-1 infection than M1 MDM. We also investigated R5 HIV-1 …
The Multifaceted Role Of Neutrophils In Hiv-1-Infection, Nathan Bowers
The Multifaceted Role Of Neutrophils In Hiv-1-Infection, Nathan Bowers
All ETDs from UAB
In recent years, a new appreciation of the role of neutrophils in regulating the immune system has emerged. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocyte population and are traditionally recognized as essential effector cells of the innate immune system in the host defense against invading organisms. Neutrophils play a critical role in controlling bacterial and fungal infections by multiple mechanisms including phagocytosis, degranulation, and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Neutrophils have been shown to play important roles in viral pathogenesis, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of the function of neutrophils in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). …
Recognition Of Hiv-1 Cryptic Epitopes During Infection And Following Vaccination, Anne Bet
Recognition Of Hiv-1 Cryptic Epitopes During Infection And Following Vaccination, Anne Bet
All ETDs from UAB
Cryptic epitopes (CE) are a unique set of human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I)-restricted peptides that are encoded by alternative reading frames (ARFs) of genes. During human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection, CE translated from either sense or antisense transcripts elicit epitope-specific CD8 T cell responses. Previous studies using simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-vaccinated animals have shown that an increased breadth of CD8 T cell responses is correlated with controlling viral replication, therefore stressing the potential clinical benefit of vaccine-induced T cell responses to a diverse set of viral epitopes. Yet, the genetic profiles and immunological significance of CE remain poorly understood. …
Identification, Molecular Cloning And Characterization Of Transmitted/Founder Hiv-1 Subtype A, D And Ad Viruses And Envelope Glycoproteins, Joshua Baalwa
All ETDs from UAB
A precise molecular identification of transmitted/founder (T/F) HIV-1 genomes responsible for productive infection in humans can be an enabling strategy for elucidating mechanisms of virus transmission, immunopathogenesis and prevention. Previously, we reported a single genome sequencing approach, which when combined with a mathematical model of early random virus diversification, allowed for an unambiguous identification of T/F HIV-1 subtype B and C envelope (env) genes. Here, we apply this method to the identification and molecular cloning of full-length HIV-1 genomes and env genes of the less well-studied, but nonetheless important, HIV-1 subtypes A and D. Twelve subtype A (n=5), D (n=5) …
Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds
Biological Characterization Of Transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1, Tara Grant Edmonds
All ETDs from UAB
Heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type&ndash1 (HIV&ndash1) accounts for the majority of infections worldwide, with women representing the larger percentage of infected individuals. The events leading to the transmission of HIV&ndash1 at mucosal surfaces are not well defined. Based on the observations that transmitted viruses nearly exclusively utilize the CCR5 coreceptor, and that in 80% of heterosexual transmissions a single virus variant establishes infection, there appears to be a selection mechanism that allows only a subset of viruses to be transmitted. This genetic bottleneck suggests that transmitted viruses may possess specific phenotypic and/or genotypic properties that allow for their …
A Functional Analysis Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sushma Jyotika Bhakta
A Functional Analysis Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sushma Jyotika Bhakta
All ETDs from UAB
The retroviral life cycle is separated into two distinct phases of infection. In the first phase, viral enzymes and proteins allow the virus to establish infection. The virus usurps host machinery in the second stage to produce infectious virus. In both phases of the replication cycle, the envelope (Env) glycoprotein (gp) is a key component of infectivity. Env plays a pivotal role in viral entry, by mediating attachment and facilitating fusion of the viral and cellular membranes, and during assembly, where Env must be incorporated into budding virions in order to produce infectious virions. The Env cytoplasmic domain (CD) interacts …