title: HIV takes double hit before entry.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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. r.w.sanders@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Rogier W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Sanders
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D038301:Virus Inactivation; D053586:Virus Internalization; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus