Jeff Meteer Email: jdm69@pitt.edu Lab: Mellors Lab Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) is an essential protein that is required for viral replication. Its function is to convert the single-stranded viral RNA genome into a double-stranded DNA intermediate that can be integrated into the host genome. HIV-1 RT is a target for a number of antiretroviral drugs, such as the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) 3’-azido-3’-dideoxythymidine (AZT). However, the HIV-1 genome has a high rate of mutation resulting from the low fidelity of RT during reverse transcription which allows for the natural selection of drug resistant virus. I am developing and characterizing novel antiretroviral drugs using rational design.