Sherry Shu, PhD

  • Research Assistant Professor

Education & Training

  • PhD in Veterinary Bioscience, Ohio State University
  • MS in Veterinary Bioscience, Ohio State University
  • BVM in Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University

Research Interests

While HIV infection has long been considered incurable, the evolving knowledge of HIV persistence offers renewed hope for a cure. Our lab has joined the effort of HIV cure research by exploring the important role of HIV accessory protein Nef on AIDS pathogenesis. We study HIV acute and latent infection using humanized mouse models, as well as cell biology tools. The goal is to better understand the importance of Nef on Nef-induced receptor downregulation and HIV infectivity enhancement during acute and latent infection, and provide molecular insight as to the mechanism of Nef dimer function. My project also provides an important step towards clinical translation of Nef inhibitors targeting the dimerization and factor binding interfaces as a new strategy for antiretroviral therapy. 

Research Lab Affiliation

Smithgall Lab

Publications

Shu ST, Emert-Sedlak LA and Smithgall TE. 2017. Cell-based Fluorescence Complementation Reveals a Role for HIV-1 Nef Protein Dimerization in AP-2 Adaptor Recruitment and CD4 Co-receptor Down-regulation. J Biol Chem. 292: 2670-2678. |  View Abstract

Emert-Sedlak LA, Loughran HM, Shi H, Kulp 3rd JL, Shu ST, Lazo JS, Day BW, Wrobel JE, Reitz AB and Smithgall TE. 2016. Synthesis and evaluation of orally active small molecule HIV-1 Nef antagonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 26: 1480-1484 |  View Abstract

Emert-Sedlak LA, Narute P, Shu ST, Poe JA, Shi H, Yanamala N, Alvarado JJ, Lazo JS, Yeh JI, Johnston PA and Smithgall TE. 2013. Effector kinase coupling enables high-throughput screens for direct HIV-1 Nef antagonists with antiretroviral activity. Chem Biol. 20: 82-91. |  View Abstract

Pene-Dumitrescu T, Shu ST, Wales TE, Alvarado JJ, Shi H, Narute P, Moroco JA, Yeh JI, Engen JR and Smithgall TE. 2012. HIV-1 Nef interaction influences the ATP-binding site of the Src-family kinase, Hck. BMC Chem Biol. 12: 1. |  View Abstract

Shu ST, Nadella MV, Dirksen WP, Fernandez SA, Thudi NK, Werbeck JL, Lairmore MD and Rosol TJ. 2007. A novel bioluminescent mouse model and effective therapy for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Cancer Res. 67: 11859-11866. |  View Abstract