Journal of Antivirals & Antiretrovirals
Open Access
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 1948-5964
+44 1300 500008
Shailendra K. Saxena
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: JAA
HIV-1 clade B and C Tat proteins diff erentially modulate expression of neuropathogenic molecules. Th erefore, we analyzed in silico structural and RNA binding domain variance between HIV-1 clade B and C Tat protein to elucidate their diff erential roles in clade specifi c pathogenesis. Our analysis reveals amino acid variations in HIV- 1 clade B and C tat protein, which may signifi cantly alter viral transcription and gene expression. Variation in number of hydrogen bonds, helixes and turns observed in HIV-1 clade B tat protein than HIV-1 clade C lead to structural stability and better role in HIV/AIDS progression. For the fi rst time we have shown signifi cantly higher RNA-binding domains in HIV-1 clade B compared to HIV- 1 clade C, suggesting an effi cient role in clade-specifi c pathogenesis. Our analysis exhibited the presence of a novel conserved CTL epitope in Tat protein specifi c to HIV-1 clade C from India and USA, which may be potent in peptide/DNA based cross-clade rational vaccine design and diagnostics. Collectively, our study reveal that due to variance in the structural and RNA binding domains of the Tat protein between HIV-1 clade B and C, it may have plausible role in diff erential clade-specifi c pathogenesis. Our results may facilitate development of therapeutics and preventive strategies imparting clue for pathogenesis.
Dr Shailendra Saxena is a Medical Microbiologist at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in India. He has a wide-ranging experience in infectious diseases research and previously worked with World Health Organization, United Nations, and University of Arizona, USA. His group is internationally recognized for its research on RNA viruses. His several papers have been published in various high impact factor journals with high citation in various peer-reviewed journals, prestigious books and monographs. He has received many awards and honors including the Fogarty International Center, NIH (USA) MERIT Award, and named as ?Global Leader in Science? by The Scientist magazine (USA) and ?International Opinion Leader / Expert? involved in the vaccination for JE by IPIC (UK).