Monday, October 26, 2015
NIAID scientists create two-headed protein to deplete HIV reservoir
Illustration of how the engineered protein facilitates destruction of latently HIV-infected immune cells.
1) Protein and cells, from left to right: engineered protein with yellow-and-black CD3-binding end and thick black HIV-binding end; latently HIV-infected helper T cell (blue); inactivated killer T cell (red).
2) Protein binds to CD3 receptor on helper T cell, activating it so the helper T cell starts making HIV and displaying pieces of virus (red) on its surface.
3) Protein binds to HIV fragment on helper T cell and CD3 receptor on killer T cell, activating the killer T cell and bringing the two cells close together.
4) Activated killer T cell destroys HIV-infected helper T cell.
Credit: NIAID
See larger image.
1) Protein and cells, from left to right: engineered protein with yellow-and-black CD3-binding end and thick black HIV-binding end; latently HIV-infected helper T cell (blue); inactivated killer T cell (red).
2) Protein binds to CD3 receptor on helper T cell, activating it so the helper T cell starts making HIV and displaying pieces of virus (red) on its surface.
3) Protein binds to HIV fragment on helper T cell and CD3 receptor on killer T cell, activating the killer T cell and bringing the two cells close together.
4) Activated killer T cell destroys HIV-infected helper T cell.
Credit: NIAID
See larger image.
A new protein created by the NIAID Vaccine Research Center awakens resting, HIV-infected immune cells and directs their destruction in lab studies. The protein potentially could contribute to a cure for HIV by helping deplete the reservoir of long-lived, latently HIV-infected cells that can start making the virus when a person stops taking anti-HIV drugs.
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