Francesca Lawson

• Mpharm Pharmacy
• The identification and synthesis of novel allosteric integrase inhibitors

The research focuses into a new approach for the treatment of the HIV. HIV causes severe damage to the human immune system, leading to AIDS. This approach involves targeting a specific viral enzyme; integrase, an enzyme which enables HIV to insert its own genetic material into the DNA of a human host cell.

In the past, drugs have been developed which work by affecting the enzyme at its active site. The project focuses on targeting integrase by using a newer approach. This approach involves targeting the enzyme at another region, other than its active site. This is known as allosteric inhibition. The result of allosteric inhibition is that the virus is no longer able to produce new viral particles by using infected cells. The research will identify key components of some current leading compounds responsible for the effect of allosteric inhibition, and synthesising one of the leading compounds identified.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Supervisor: Dr Mark Ashton