Matthew Belousoff

Matthew Belousoff

Fulbright Postgraduate Award

Media Profile

"HIV unlike most other organisms and viruses stores its genetic information in the form of RNA (Ribonucleic Acid), instead of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid). I am researching the possibility of an anti-HIV pharmaceutical that will render the mRNA sequence inactive.”

Matthew Belousoff is a Science graduate from Monash University who has achieved first class honours specialising in chemistry. He is currently completing his PhD on an APA at Monash University. Matthew has won a Fulbright Postgraduate Award and will investigate the efficacy of new anti-HIV pharmaceuticals at Professor Yitzak Tor in the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

The World Health Organisation has reported that Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) have reached epidemic proportions throughout the world. At last estimate, the number of HIV/AIDS cases totalled 39.4 million. A huge, 3.1 million people died from AIDS in 2004 alone, with a further 4.9 million new infections recorded. This makes it the leading cause of death by infection today, far surpassing diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

“The search for a cure is essential and the experiments I will undertake in the U.S. are vital to establish whether our drug design strategies are viable, facilitating our quest to develop more potent anti-HIV agents,” stated Matthew.

There are two major forms of HIV; HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is the major form of the virus, but it constantly varies itself due to its ability to undergo mutation. These mutations make it difficult to target the genetic part of the virus, however a section of the virus’ RNA has been found that is constant across all strains of this virus. It is this part of the virus that the proposed anti-HIV agent will attach to.

“During my PhD I have been designing and making chemicals that bind to this part of the virus’ RNA and act like ‘chemical scissors’ which will cut apart the genetic information of the virus, rendering it useless and in effect stopping the formation of new virus,” Matthew added. The ability of these chemicals to stop the production of HIV-1 in vitro will be tested using state-of-the-art facilities available at UCSD.

“Working with Professor Tor will provide invaluable knowledge about the initial drug designs and how they interact with their target and their ability to stop the HIV life cycle. Upon returning to Australia, this knowledge will be used to develop drugs with improved properties,” Matthew said. “The experience gained at UCSD will help to set up appropriate facilities for testing aspects of the anti-HIV activity of future drug designs.”