Mechanistic investigation of the Inhibitory mechanisms of a novel blockbuster anti-AIDS drug

HIV. nucleoside analog drug, drug inhibitory mechanism, AIDS

Research Mentor: suo.zucai@med.fsu.edu Zucai Suo, Dr.
Department, College, Affiliation: FSU, Medicine
Contact Email: zucai.suo@med.fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor): Nikita Zalenski
Research Assistant Supervisor Email: nikita.zalenski@med.fsu.edu
Faculty Collaborators: Turner Seay
Faculty Collaborators Email: turner.seay@med.fsu.edu

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 3
Relevant Majors: The potential undergraduate researchers should major in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, or biomedical engineering.
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required:
Remote or In-person: In-person
Approximate Weekly Hours: 8 hours, During business hours
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link: I will send my graduate students to the roundtable.

Project Description

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) persists as one of the top ten leading causes of death in certain populations. One significant feature of HIV is its ability to mutate with high frequency, garnering resistance to many historical and current anti-HIV medications. Our research aims to investigate the kinetics of the novel nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), Islatravir, with HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) mutants or human DNA polymerases. Islatravir is undergoing multiple phase II and III clinical trials by Merck, Inc. Our research efforts will help Merck to understand the inhibitory mechanism and potential toxicity of Islatravir at molecular level.

Research Tasks: bench work, data collection and analysis, and prepare simple project report under the guidance of graduate students and Dr. Suo.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Recommended skills: biochemistry and some chemistry skills, and good bench performance.