Wes Sundqust

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About

Wes Sundquist is a leading structural biologist whose research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of HIV assembly, retroviral replication, and cellular membrane trafficking. His seminal work on the HIV-1 Gag protein revealed how the virus hijacks host cellular machinery—particularly the ESCRT pathway—to bud from infected cells, a discovery that reshaped virology and opened new avenues for antiviral drug development. With over 30,000 citations across his career, Sundquist’s contributions include the first high-resolution structures of HIV capsid proteins and the identification of key interactions between viral and host factors. His 2014 study on the binding of the HIV Gag nucleocapsid domain to actin, while less cited, underscores his broader interest in the cytoskeletal dynamics underlying viral assembly. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Sundquist has been recognized with multiple awards, including the NIH Director’s Pioneer Award, and his work continues to inspire researchers exploring the molecular choreography of infection.