A virion-specific inhibitory molecule with therapeutic potential for human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Matsuda, Z; Yu, X; Yu, Q C; Lee, T H; Essex, M · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 1993

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A potential new approach for gene therapy against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is the design of a nonstructural gene-based virion-specific inhibitory molecule that is packaged with virus to destroy its infectivity. We tested this approach for HIV-1 by using Vpx, a virion-associated protein of HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus. Vpx was incorporated into HIV-1 virions and the resulting cell-free virus lost infectivity in CD4+ human T cells. This demonstrates the therapeutic potential of an accessory gene-based virion-specific inhibitory molecule. Vpx and its derivatives can be regarded as a new class of anti-HIV-1 molecule.

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