Paul A. Johnston, PhD is the primary investigator for his research High-Throughput Discovery of Chemical Probes for HIV-1 Nef Function funded by National Institutes of Health.
Nef is an HIV-1 accessory factor essential for viral pathogenesis and immune escape of HIV- infected cells. Many Nef functions require self-association (dimerization), and Nef dimers bind to and co-opt host proteins and redirect them towards HIV-1 replication and the spread of infection. Small molecules that interfere with Nef dimerization may represent a new approach to HIV/AIDS therapeutics. Johnston’s lab will use the Nef-dimerization BiFC assay to screen a 60,000 compound library to identify hit compounds that prevent or disrupt Nef dimerization and would have the potential to be developed into new antiretroviral HIV-1 drug leads. The most potent and selective inhibitors of HIV-1 Nef function will progress into a medicinal chemistry lead optimization effort to develop novel HIV/AIDS therapeutics.
Johnston is a research associate professor in the pharmaceutical sciences department at the School of Pharmacy.
