Retroviral Biology and Antivirals Group

Highlights from our working group include:

• Discovered that a vaginal microbiota metabolite strengthens the cervicovaginal epithelial barrier that could help prevent HIV and other STIs
• Discovery of a vaginal microbiota metabolite with anti-inflammatory effects on cervicovaginal epithelial cells that could help prevent HIV and adverse birth outcomes
• Discovery of a vaginal microbiota metabolite, lactic acid, that is more potent than acidity alone in killing HIV and is a major factor in cervicovaginal secretions responsible for HIV virucidal activity ex vivo.
• Discovered a novel retrovirus circulating in fruit bats that is similar to koala retrovirus
• Discovered that bats encode a diverse number of APOBEC3 and tetherin genes, major classes of intrinsic antiviral genes
• Identification and characterisation of endogenous retroviruses in bats
• Discovery of small chemical building blocks (fragments) with mechanism of action distinct to HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors used in the clinic
• Structure-activity relationship studies of dendrimer microbicides against HIV and genital herpes revealing that the dendrimer SPL7013 is the most potent against both viruses
• Successful completion of a phase I dendrimer microbicide, SPL7013 Gel (VivaGel) clinical trial in healthy women demonstrating retention of HIV-1 and HSV-2 inhibitory activity.
• Discovery of a novel mutation, N348I in the C-terminal domain of the HIV reverse transcriptase which confers resistance to zidovudine and nevirapine
• Demonstration that potent members of a class of HIV-1 drugs called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors block the production of viral particles by increasing the processing of viral polyproteins inside the host cell