Project: Leveraging mRNA-lipid nanoparticle technology to reverse HIV latency
Lewin group
This project will build upon the most recent advances in mRNA and lipid nanoparticle technology to investigate a potential curative strategy for HIV. Catalytically inactive CRISPR-Cas9 (CRISPRactivation) has been explored by our lab and others as a strategy to reactivate latent HIV provirus in host cells and induce cytolysis, thereby eliminating latent infection. However, a myriad of novel CRISPRactivation systems have recently been reported that may show superior potency at reversing latency. The student will formulate their own mRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles that encode various forms of the CRISPRactivation machinery, and compare their functionality in various cell line models of latent HIV as well as primary human immune cells. Techniques used: cell culturing including primary cell work, nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, qPCR, flow cytometry.
Contact project supervisor for further
information and application enquiries
Lewin group
4 vacancies
The focus of the Lewin group is to understand why HIV infection persists on antiretroviral therapy and to develop new strategies to eliminate latency. The lab also researches factors that drive liver disease in HIV-hepatitis B virus co-infection. The lab is also actively involved in COVID in relation to pathogenesis, the use of primary tissue models, and developing therapeutics using gene editing strategies.
Lewin group Current Projects
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CRISPR-Cas13b silencing of checkpoint inhibitors for HIV cure
PhD/MPhil, Honours
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Investigating the effects of Methylseleninic Acid on anti-HIV immunity
Honours
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Leveraging mRNA-lipid nanoparticle technology to reverse HIV latency
Honours
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Using CRISPR technologies to permanently silence latent HIV
PhD/MPhil
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.