Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026

A High-throughput Cre-Lox Activated Viral Membrane Fusion Assay to Identify Inhibitors of HIV-1 Viral Membrane Fusion
Published on: August 14, 2018
Post-entry restriction of retroviral infections
Greg J Towers1, Stephen P Goff
1Wohl Virion Center, Department of Immunology and Molecular Pathology, Windeyer Institute, University College London, 46 Cleveland St., London W1T 4JF, UK.
Abstract:
Pathogenic retroviruses have driven the evolution of several dominant-acting mechanisms able to block infection and protect the host. These are exemplified by the mouse gene Fv1, which encodes a Gag-like protein able to protect against murine leukemia virus (MLV) infection. The block is saturable, occurs after reverse transcription and is directed against the viral capsid gene. Several other mammalian species are also able to block MLV infection with the same capsid specificity. A human gene with this activity has been named Ref1. Recently, primates have been shown to restrict a variety of retroviruses only very distantly related to MLVs through a gene named Lv1. Restricted viruses include MLV as well as lentiviruses such as human immunodeficiency viruses 1 and 2, simian immunodeficiency virus and equine infectious anemia virus. In each case the block to one retrovirus can be saturated by co-infection with a second restricted virus. The possible mechanisms of action, and evolutionary consequences of restriction, are reviewed.
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
Retroviruses
Mechanisms of Retrovirus-induced Cancers
Viruses with RNA Genomes

