Title: HIV-1 gp120 V3-loop and Envelope Trimer Stabilization
Shi-hua Xiang, PhD
10:00 am of Aug 28th, 2012
237 Lecture room 

The trimeric human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike is a molecular machine that mediates virus entry into host cells and is the sole target for virus-neutralizing antibodies. The mature Env spike results from cleavage of a trimeric glycoprotein precursor, gp160 into three gp120 and three gp41 subunits. In their research work, Ph.D xiang and his co-worker described a ~11-Å cryo-EM structure of the trimeric HIV-1 Env precursor in its unliganded state. They also described that interprotomer contacts were limited to the gp41 transmembrane region, the torus-like gp41 ectodomain and a trimer-association domain of gp120 composed of the V1, V2 and V3 variable regions. They concluded that the cage-like architecture, which is unique among characterized viral envelope proteins, restricts antibody access, reflecting requirements imposed by HIV-1 persistence in the host.

Dr. Xiang has a M.S. in Huazhong Agricultural University, and a Ph.D in University of Sydney. Following works in University of Sydney, postdoctoral research in the field of HIV/AIDS at Harvard Medical School, and 6 years at Department of Pathology of Harvard Medical School as an instructor, he worked in Pfizer of Sandwich in UK for four months. After that he moved to School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences as assistant professor until now. His work focuses on HIV/AIDS research, bacterial lipolysaccharides (LPS) variation and evolution, cytochrome P450 gene regulation, structure-based modeling and design. He has published 39 papers in the related field.

WELCOME!

Key Laboratary of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms
Yunnan Immunological Society
Aug 21st, 2012