HTS screening and identification of HIV-Tat antagonists

National Center For Advancing Translational Sciences

Investigators

Abstract

Current anti-retroviral combination therapies are extremely effective for controlling HIV that the viral load in circulating T cells is below the level of detection. Despite this success, the early HIV transcript Tat protein persists and has been detected in brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid and in HIV infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Since Tat is the first protein produced by the virus and the master regulator of viral replication, Tat antagonists have the potential for providing a "functional cure" for the viral infection. During this period, the collaborative team worked to complete optimization and miniaturization of an HIV-tat assay, and pilot screening was pursued to validate the approach for larger-scale screening efforts.