AIDS-Related Structural Biology Program

For 25 years, NIGMS has supported the structural characterization of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) enzymes and viral proteins. This support has been instrumental in the development of antiretroviral drug therapies, such as protease inhibitors. NIGMS continues to support the characterization of viral proteins and is now expanding its program to include cellular and viral complexes. These complexes represent the fundamental interactions between the virus and its host target cell and, as such, also represent potential new targets for therapeutic development.