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Vinay K. Pathak, Ph.D.

Vinay K. Pathak, Ph.D.

  • Center for Cancer Research
  • National Cancer Institute
Head, Viral Mutation Section

RESEARCH SUMMARY

Dr. Pathak has significantly advanced the field of lentiviral molecular virology with his studies of HIV-1 replication in infected cells.  Under his direction, the Viral Mutation Section has developed innovative live-cell microscopy methods to show that, in contrast to most HIV-1 replication models, intact viral cores are transported into the nucleus, complete reverse transcription in the nucleus, and disassemble (uncoat) near their integration sites just before integration.  Dr. Pathak’s group has significantly contributed to our understanding of how HIV-1 replicates in the presence of potent host restriction APOBEC3 proteins and antiviral drugs.  Additionally, Dr. Pathak’s group played a key role in discovering the origin of a newly identified retrovirus, XMRV, and in quelling a potential public health crisis by refuting the controversial claims associating this virus with chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer.

Areas of Expertise

HIV Replication
Host Restriction Factors
Nuclear Import
Development of Novel Therapeutics

Publications

Selected Key Publications

HIV-1 cores retain their integrity until minutes before uncoating in the nucleus

Li C, Burdick RC, Nagashima K, Hu WS, Pathak V
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 118: e2019467118, 2021.
Full-Text Article(link is external)
[ Journal Article ]

HIV-1 uncoats in the nucleus near sites of integration (article awarded 2020 Cozzarelli Prize)

Burdick RC, Li C, Munshi M, Rawson JMO, Nagashima K, Hu W-S, Pathak VK
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 117: 5486-5493, 2020. [ Journal Article ]

Dynamics and regulation of nuclear import and nuclear movements of HIV-1 complexes

Burdick RC, Delviks-Frankenberry KA, Chen J, Janaka SK, Sastri J, Hu W-S, Pathak VK
PLoS Pathog. 13(8): e1006570, 2017. [ Journal Article ]

Minimal contribution of APOBEC3-induced G-to-A hypermutation to HIV-1 recombination and genetic variation

Delviks-Frankenberry KA, Nikolaitchik OA, Burdick RC, Gorelick RJ, Keele BF, Hu W-S, Pathak VK
PLoS Pathog. 12(5): e1005646, 2016. [ Journal Article ]

Recombinant origin of the retrovirus XMRV

Paprotka T, Delviks-Frankenberry KA, Cingoz O, Martinez A, Kung H-J, Tepper CG, Hu W-H, Fivash MJ Jr, Coffin JM, Pathak VK
Science. 333: 97-101, 2011. [ Journal Article ]

Job Vacancies

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Team

picture of Ryan Burdick
Research Biologist
Ryan Burdick, M.S.
A photo of Sushila Kumari 2024
Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting)
Sushila Kumari, Ph.D.
picture of Rokeya Siddiqui
Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting)
Rokeya Siddiqui, Ph.D.
Photo of Akshay
Postdoctoral Fellow (Visiting)
Akshay Deshpande, Ph.D.
A photo of Ellie Bare standing outside
Postbaccalaureate Fellow
Ellie Bare, B.S.

News

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Alumni

Daniel Ackerman, B.S.
2014-2015
Postbaccalaureate Fellow
Masoudeh Masoud Bahnamiri, Ph.D.
2022-2023
Postdoctoral Fellow
Michal Bonar, Ph.D.
2018
Postdoctoral Fellow
Timothy Borbet, Ph.D.
2010-2011
Predoctoral Fellow
Wei Bu, Ph.D.
2007-2010
Postdoctoral Fellow
Chawaree Chaipan, Ph.D.
2009-2012
Postdoctoral Fellow
View All

Covers

Cover graphic of 2020 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Retroviruses Meeting

HIV-1 Uncoats in the Nucleus Near Sites of Integration

Published Date

A recent study published by the research groups of Vinay Pathak and Wei-Shau Hu in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (“HIV-1 uncoats in the nucleus near sites of integration(link is external),” PNAS 117:5486-5493, 2020) was featured on the front cover of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory 2020 Retroviruses Meeting abstract book.  Pathak lab member Ryan Burdick launched the meeting with his talk on the study and reported that HIV-1 uncoats in the nucleus near sites of integration.  Contrary to the prevailing theory for more than 40 years that retroviral uncoating occurs in the cytoplasm, the study team showed that HIV-1 cores are essentially intact as they enter the nucleus, where they complete reverse transcription before uncoating near their sites of integration into the host genome.  These unexpected results fundamentally alter the current understanding of HIV-1 replication, which could lead to the development of more effective strategies and drugs for the treatment of HIV infections.

In the cover image, the left panel shows an HIV-1 capsid localized in the nucleus and the right panel shows a site of transcription of the viral genome at the site where the capsid localized. 

To read more about the study, see the original research article(link is external) and the commentary "Entering and breaking for HIV?(link is external)" in Nature Reviews Microbiology.

This study was also awarded the 2020 PNAS Cozzarelli Prize in Biomedical Sciences and featured on the website of the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (“New study overturns conventional understanding of how HIV infection occurs”).

Citation

Burdick RC, Li C, Munshi MH, Rawson, Nagashima K, Hu W-S, Pathak VK.  Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Retroviruses Meeting Abstract Book, May 2020.