Discovery and Characterization of Capsid-Targeting Lentiviral Restriction Factors

 As an obligate intracellular parasite HIV, like all viruses, relies on host-encoded factors to complete its life cycle inside the host cell. However, the virus must also evade recognition by specialized host factors that have evolved specifically to defend cells against viral invasion. Here we will further our basic understanding of the adaptation of primate lentiviruses to humans and the mechanisms by which human cells block infection. We foresee that defining host genetic barriers to cross-species transmission and intra-host evolution of lentiviruses will have implications for efforts at achieving a functional HIV cure and for improved HIV therapies.