Development of novel HIV-1 latency reversing agents

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Colin JacobsonHIV-1 establishes a highly stable latent reservoir early in infection, necessitating lifelong combinational antiretroviral therapy. Elimination of the latent reservoir remains a significant roadblock for a functional HIV-1 cure. The “shock and kill” approach involves using a latency reversing agent (LRA) to activate the dormant provirus into viral gene expression, followed by clearance of the infected cell. Many LRAs exhibit off-target gene activation, resulting in undesired toxicity in vitro and side effects in vivo. We have discovered and developed a novel series of highly potent LRAs that specifically reactivate HIV-1 gene expression, while avoiding off-target effects