Peter R. Shank The laboratory is currently working on the regulatory genes of the AIDS retrovirus HIV-1. We are particularly interested in understanding the mechanism of action of the tat gene. This essential positive regulatory gene is unique among transcriptional activators in that the gene product interacts with an RNA structure at the end of the HIV-1 genome. It is our hope that by understanding the mechanism of action of this gene, we will be able to design effective antiviral therapeutics. We are also examining the action of similar genes from HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV).
Newstein, M. & Shank, P.R. Transient transfection studies to characterize HIV tat transactivation. In: Methods in Molecular Genetics, K.W. Adolph, Ed., Academic Press, Orlando, FL, pp. 56-68, 1994.

Newstein, M., Lee, I.-S., Venturini, D. & Shank, P.R. A chimeric human immunodeficiency virus type I TAR region which mediates high level trans-activates in both rodent and human cells. Virology 197:825-828, 1993.
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Professor
Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1973
Brown University
Bio-Med Center, 629
863-3281
[email protected]
This page was last modified on August 1, 1996.