Research at the Interface between Chemistry and Virology:  Development of a Molecular Flashlight

Although industrial researchers have been involved in interdisciplinary studies pertaining to virology for several decades, the participation of academic chemists has been significantly increased owing to the importance of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus which leads to the onset of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). The Center for Disease Control estimates that almost 20 million people have been infected by HIV worldwide. The compelling need for effective antiviral therapies for HIVinfected persons, together with rapid advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of virus replication, has resulted in an explosion of interest in antiviral agents and approaches to antiviral therapies