Alpha-complementation assay for HIV envelope glycoprotein-mediated fusion.

The fusion reaction mediated by viral envelope glycoproteins proceeds through an ordered series of conformational changes in the envelope glycoprotein. Fusion inhibitors have been developed that target glycoprotein subunits, arresting the reaction at different points in the process. We report the development of a novel method for detecting viral glycoprotein-mediated fusion that is based on the principle of alpha-complementation of beta-galactosidase.

Association of chemokine-mediated block to HIV entry with coreceptor internalization.

Chemokines inhibit entry of HIV into CD4(+) T cells more effectively than into macrophages or transfected adherent cells. Here, we tested whether chemokine receptor internalization could account for cell type differences in the effectiveness of chemokines. Infection of CEM T cells expressing stably transduced wild-type CCR5 was much more readily inhibited by chemokine than were transduced HOS cells.