Office: MOLECULAR RADIOLOGICAL BIOSCIE 233
Phone: (970) 491-0726
Education
- PhD, Purdue University
- MS, Chinease Academy of Science, Institute of Microbiology
About
Many viruses—including retroviruses and several pathogens of pandemic potential (PPPs) such as coronaviruses, flaviviruses, and picornaviruses—share a conserved replication strategy that depends on polyprotein precursors containing a virus-encoded protease. These precursors undergo tightly regulated autoprocessing to release mature enzymes essential for viral replication. While mature viral proteases are well-established antiviral targets, their precursor forms remain largely unexplored.
Our lab investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate precursor autoprocessing in HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, and explores novel antiviral strategies targeting this unique process. Recently, we identified small-molecule hit compounds that effectively suppress both wild-type and drug-resistant mutants with comparable efficacy, providing compelling proof of concept for this new therapeutic direction.
We combine molecular virology, cell biology, and fluorescence microscopy with high-throughput screening to uncover new insights and advance the discovery of next-generation antivirals targeting viral protease autoprocessing.
Publications
- High-Throughput Screening and Characterization of Novel Inhibitors Targeting HIV-1 Protease Precursor AutoprocessingScientific Reports 15:35287, 2025
- Assay Development and Validation for Innovative Antiviral Development Targeting the N-Terminal Autoprocessing of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease PrecursorsViruses 16:1218, 2024
- Targeting HIV-1 Protease Autoprocessing for High-throughput Drug Discovery and Drug Resistance AssessmentSci Rep, 9:301, 2019
- Context-dependent Autoprocessing of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Protease PrecursorsPLoS One, 13:e0191372, 2018
- The HIV-1 Late Domain-2 S40A Polymorphism in Antiretroviral (or ART)-exposed Individuals Influences Protease Inhibitor SusceptibilityRetrovirology, 13:64, 2016
- A Functional Interplay between Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Protease Residues 77 and 93 Involved in Differential Regulation of Precursor Autoprocessing and Mature Protease ActivityPLoS One, 10:e0123561, 2015
- Understanding HIV-1 Protease Autoprocessing for Novel Therapeutic DevelopmentFuture Med Chem, 5:1215, 2013
- Flexible Catalytic Site Conformations Implicated in Modulation of HIV-1 Protease Autoprocessing ReactionsRetrovirology 8:79, 2011
- Modulation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Protease Autoprocessing by Charge Properties of Surface Residue 69J Virol 83:7789, 2009
- Functions of Early (AP-2) and Late (AIP1/ALIX) Endocytic Proteins in Equine Infectious Anemia Virus BuddingJ Biol Chem 280:40474, 2005
- Differential Effects of Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics on Equine Infectious Anemia Virus Particle ProductionJ Virol 78:882, 2004
- Characterization of RNA Elements That Regulate Gag-Pol Ribosomal Frameshifting in Equine Infectious Anemia VirusJ Virol 77:10280, 2003
