The Molecular Mechanism of HIV Entry
| dc.contributor.advisor | Rini, David A. | en_US |
| dc.contributor.author | Falconieri, Veronica | en_US |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Subramaniam, Sriram | en_US |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2015-02-11T04:16:13Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2015-02-11T04:16:13Z | |
| dc.date.created | 2014-05 | en_US |
| dc.date.issued | 2014-03-26 | en_US |
| dc.date.submitted | May 2014 | en_US |
| dc.description.abstract | One of today’s greatest health challenges is stopping the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV’s only surface protein is the envelope glycoprotein (Env), therefore Env is a major target for HIV intervention and treatment. The exact details of Env-mediated virus entry are still unclear. However, recent cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) data have shed light on some of Env’s mechanism and 3D structure. Due to the wealth of 3D data from disparate sources, a comprehensive 3D model reflecting the most current understanding of Env was needed for use by the scientific community. An effective way of explaining this critical research to the lay audience was also needed. Cyro-EM and X-ray crystallography datasets were used to create a 3D model of Env. The known conformational changes that Env undergoes upon binding to its target receptors were animated, and plausible intermediate conformations were filled in based on steric restraints. A video tailored for the lay audience explaining Env’s role in HIV entry and incorporating the new model was created with a combination of 2D and 3D animation. The animation was then shown to researchers in order to evaluate its accuracy and individuals with no advanced biology experience in order to evaluate its engagingness and understandability. The animation created through this project reflects the most current understanding of how the Env mechanism works. Researchers who evaluated the animation appreciated the overall animation but readily identified the hypothetical portions and details that had been left out for the sake of the lay audience. The lay audience viewers found the animation understandable and interesting, and responded positively to the molecular mechanism being presented in the context of the cellular interactions and general biology of HIV. This animation and the feedback received provide a strong foundation toward improved methods of communicating molecular biology to the lay audience through visualization, as well as using a 3D model to inform ongoing research. | en_US |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://jhir.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/37252 | |
| dc.language | en | |
| dc.publisher | Johns Hopkins University | |
| dc.subject | HIV | en_US |
| dc.subject | molecular | en_US |
| dc.subject | visualization | en_US |
| dc.subject | animation | en_US |
| dc.subject | Env | en_US |
| dc.subject | 3D | en_US |
| dc.title | The Molecular Mechanism of HIV Entry | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
| dc.type.material | text | en_US |
| thesis.degree.department | Art as Applied to Medicine | en_US |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Medical and Biological Illustration | en_US |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Johns Hopkins University | en_US |
| thesis.degree.grantor | School of Medicine | en_US |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | en_US |
| thesis.degree.name | M.A. | en_US |
Files
License bundle
1 - 1 of 1