With cutting-edge crystallography and microscopy techniques, Christopher Barnes aims to reveal - in extreme detail - how newly isolated antibodies neutralize HIV-1 by latching onto viral envelope proteins. Barnes also plans to uncover how the virus gains illicit entry into cells by examining the structural changes that help the virus lock into a cellular target. These insights may point out ways to devise even more powerful therapeutics, including rationally designed HIV-1 antibodies, which could help scientists stamp out the shifty virus for good.
HHMI-supported scientists have spent decades at the forefront of HIV and AIDS research. From the early days of the AIDS epidemic to the latest advancements in research, these profiles showcase the dedication and innovation of researchers who have shaped the field. Inspired by the work of HHMI Investigators, Christopher Barnes and his lab focus on studying how HIV makes first contact with host cells – and how the immune system responds. Thirteen project teams involving 70 scientists from 29 institutions are collaborating on basic research targeted at preparedness for future emerging pathogens that could threaten human health.