Wednesday, November 5, 2025 11/5/2025

Exploring HIV-1 Env open conformations for therapeutic intervention

Award Number: R01AI150322
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2030

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Exploring HIV-1 Env open conformations for therapeutic intervention - SUMMARY While current antiretroviral therapies (ART) control viral replication, they are unable to fully restore health or a normal immune status. ART-treated individuals experience several comorbidities, including increased cardiovascular disease, bone disorders, and cognitive impairment. Most importantly, therapy interruption leads to the re-emergence of viral replication and progression to AIDS. Therefore, new approaches aimed at eradicating or functionally curing HIV-1 infection are desperately needed. A promising strategy to eliminate latently infected cells after viral reactivation is the ability of immune cells to mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). The RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial in Thailand elicited only a modest 31.2% protective efficacy. Subsequent analyses indicated that this modest protection was correlated with the generation of IgG antibodies (Abs) with potent ADCC activity with low plasma IgA Abs specific to the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env). This suggests that ADCC may have contributed to the protection observed in the RV144 trial. But key unanswered questions prevent the development of new therapeutic or prophylactic approaches to specifically utilize the ADCC response: What are the structural and conformational features of Envs that are susceptible to ADCC responses? Specifically, what is the basis for the unique phenotype of Envs from the CRF01_AE subtype of HIV- 1, which predominates the Thai AIDS epidemic, and which are intrinsically susceptible to ADCC? Can this phenotype be induced in other Envs through therapeutic intervention? Answering these questions will prove crucial to the design of improved strategies to eliminate HIV-1-infected cells. The long-term goal of the research proposed here is to inform the development of new strategies for utilizing ADCC to eradicate HIV-1. Our central hypothesis is that the sensitivity of HIV-1 to ADCC is determined primarily by two factors: (1) Env conformation, which dictates the exposure of key epitopes targeted by Abs with potent effector function; and (2) properties of the Ab-antigen complex, including the orientation and flexibility of the Fc domain, which determines engagement with the Fc receptor (FcR). A corollary of this hypothesis is that the intrinsic propensity of Envs of different HIV- 1 subtypes to adopt open conformations contributes to their inherent susceptibility or resistance to ADCC. Determining the molecular basis for diverse ADCC sensitivity phenotypes will inform the development of strategies that manipulate Env conformation to stimulate ADCC. We will accomplish this goal using a multifaceted approach involving biophysical, structural, and virological interrogations.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $739,797 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	002	6	9/17/2025	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$174,960
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	6	9/15/2025	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$564,837
2025	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	9/15/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $739,797

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $541,156 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	11/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$487,042
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	001	5	5/16/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$54,114
														Subtotal = $541,156

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $538,456 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SCHOOL	55 LAKE AVE N	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	11/8/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$538,456
														Subtotal = $538,456

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $540,616 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	55 LAKE AVE NORTH	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	11/1/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$540,616
														Subtotal = $540,616

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $536,296 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	55 LAKE AVE NORTH	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	11/6/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$536,296
														Subtotal = $536,296

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $588,001 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS	55 LAKE AVE NORTH	WORCESTER	MA	01655	WORCESTER	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	12/23/2019	NEW	$588,001
														Subtotal = $588,001

Grand Total All Awards = $3,484,322

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Exploring HIV-1 Env open conformations for therapeutic intervention

Award Number: R01AI150322

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2030

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