Commentary
HIV takes double hit before entry
Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
BMC Biology 2012, 10:99 doi:10.1186/1741-7007-10-99
Published: 7 December 2012Abstract
In the absence of a vaccine or a cure, identification of novel HIV-1 inhibitors remains important. A paper in Retrovirology describes a rationally designed bi-specific protein that irreversibly damages the viral envelope glycoprotein complex via a two-punch mechanism. In contrast to traditional drugs that inhibit essential steps in the viral life cycle at the cell surface or in the infected cells, this inhibitor cripples free virus in the absence of cells.
See research article: http://www.retrovirology.com/content/9/1/104 webcite
