HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS, continues to be a major global health problem, killing more than 600,000 people and infecting 1.3 million new people each year. While scientists have learned a lot about how HIV replicates, there are still important gaps in understanding how certain parts of our cells, specifically the lysosomal pathway, affect the viral life cycle.
Dr. Song’s research will explore how HIV uses or is blocked by lysosomes. Early studies from his lab show that some drugs, including one called bafilomycin A1, can stop HIV from multiplying. This drug appears to work by disrupting a number of lysosomal functions.
The 4-year project will focus on three main parts:
- When and how does bafilomycin A1 stop HIV from multiplying?
- What role do lysosome positioning and cholesterol movement play in the HIV life cycle?
- What changes in cells does bafilomycin A1 cause that affect HIV?
By answering these questions, Dr. Song hopes to uncover new ways to block HIV and eventually help in the fight against AIDS by pointing to new treatment options.
