Use of a single monoclonal antibody to determine the susceptibilities of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 clinical isolates to acyclovir.

This report describes a flow cytometry drug susceptibility assay that uses a single fluorochrome-labeled monoclonal antibody to determine the acyclovir susceptibilities of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or type 2 clinical isolates. This assay yields 50% effective doses (drug concentrations that reduce the number of antigen-positive cells by 50%) for HSV clinical isolates that are equivalent to those obtained with the plaque reduction assay.

Evidence that a prominent cavity in the coiled coil of HIV type 1 gp41 is an attractive drug target.

Synthetic C peptides, corresponding to the C helix of the HIV type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 envelope protein, are potent inhibitors of HIV-1 membrane fusion. One such peptide is in clinical trials. The crystal structure of the gp41 core, in its proposed fusion-active conformation, is a trimer of helical hairpins in which three C helices pack against a central coiled coil.

Crystal structure of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gp41 core: conserved helical interactions underlie the broad inhibitory activity of gp41 peptides.

The gp41 subunit of the envelope protein complex from human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV) mediates membrane fusion during viral entry. The crystal structure of the HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain core in its proposed fusion-active state is a six-helix bundle. Here we have reconstituted the core of the SIV gp41 ectodomain with two synthetic peptides called SIV N36 and SIV C34, which form a highly helical trimer of heterodimers.

Rhesus macaques previously infected with simian/human immunodeficiency virus are protected from vaginal challenge with pathogenic SIVmac239.

Nontraumatic vaginal inoculation of rhesus macaques with a simian/human immunodeficiency virus (SIV/HIV) chimera containing the envelope gene from HIV-1 89.6 (SHIV 89.6) results in systemic infection (Y.

Utility of SHIV for testing HIV-1 vaccine candidates in macaques.

Intravenous injection of SHIV (simian/human immunodeficiency virus, chimeric virus) into rhesus macaques resulted in a viremia in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and the generation of anti-HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus type 1) envelope immune responses. A challenge stock of a SHIV containing HIV-1 HXBc2 envelope glycoproteins was prepared from infected rhesus monkey peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The minimum animal infectious dose of the SHIV stock was determined and used in a challenge experiment to test protection.