Professor Edward Campbell
Microbiology and Immunology
UIC
Chicago, Illinois

Monday, October 24, 2016
3:00 pm (CT)
3269 Beckman Institute

Abstract

During infection, the viral capsid core mediates key aspects of infection, protecting the viral genome from cytoplasmic DNA sensors while ultimately ensuring the nuclear import of the genome during infection. It must perform these functions while, at the same time, evading recognition by capsid targeting antiviral proteins, such as TRIM5α. When these steps in infection become dysregulated, the resulting activation of innate immune signaling pathways can substantially alter the course of infection and pathogenesis. However, these steps of infection have remained among the least well understood aspects of HIV-1 infection. This seminar will discuss studies from our lab which seek to understand the mechanism and consequences of capsid engagement by TRIM5α, a retroviral restriction factor, and other cellular factors, including the microtubule motor KIF5B and its adaptor, Nup358, which facilitate the normal uncoating and nuclear import of the viral genome during infection.