Interaction of HIV RNA with peptides detected by acoustic shear wave sensor operated in an on-line format

Acoustic wave sensors are now widely used in various clinical applications because they allow real-time data to be rapidly obtained. In this chapter we describe the use of the thickness shear mode (TSM) acoustic wave sensor to study the interaction between the transactivation responsive region (TAR) of the HIV-1 mRNA and short peptides derived from the regulatory Tat protein as well as with two inhibitor molecules, namely neomycin and streptomycin. The interaction between the TAR-Tat system is a target for the development of antiviral drugs.