The laboratory of Retrovirology performs fundamental and applied research in the field of chronic viral infections (HIV, HBV, HCV). The activities of the laboratory focus on two research domains, which interact closely: immuno-virology and clinical virology.
IMMUNO-VIROLOGY RESEARCH UNIT
Nowadays HIV-1 and HCV infections are two worldwide health problems. Regarding HIV-1, chemokine receptor CXCR4 is the principal coreceptor used by viruses infecting T- cells and responsible for the onset of AIDS. In addition, CXCR4 plays a prominent role in cancer and tumor biology. In this regard, the development of antagonists of CXCR4 holds promising therapeutic applications.
The objectives of project FNR C09/BM/20 “Mimokine” are the engineering of new phage libraries displaying randomized short N-terminal chemokine fragments called “Mimokines” and their screening on (1) a simplified CXCR4 model, (2) on cells expressing CXCR4 and (3) on purified CXCR4 receptor to isolate CXCR4 binding Mimokines.
Project FNR C10/BM/822389 “3D-SPCAD ” aims to develop a method for 3D structural prediction and molecular dynamics simulation of CXCR4 and CCR5.
The aim of project REC-LRTV-20100708 is to study the molecular basis responsible for the specific recognition of chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7 by their natural and viral ligands. In the field of HCV, the development of new specific antiviral drugs directed against key functions of the viral life cycle and characterized by a high barrier to resistance represents an important challenge.
Project FNR HCV NS2/NS3 aims to unravel the folding and dimerization pathways of the HCV cysteine protease NS2 as well as its molecular interplay with the serine protease NS3. Since 90% of the overall HIV infections occur via mucosal route, a mucosal immune response would help to control viral entry.
The objectives of project REC-LRTV-20101002 are to i) recruit and characterize HIV Exposed Uninfected (EU) subjects in collaboration with Pr Moutschen of the University of Liège, ii) construct phage displayed Env fragments libraries and iii) screen the IgA of EU subjects and long term non-progressors patients with Env fragments phage-displayed libraries.