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Updated: Dec 1, 2025
07:22
A High-throughput Cre-Lox Activated Viral Membrane Fusion Assay to Identify Inhibitors of HIV-1 Viral Membrane Fusion
Published on: August 14, 2018
6.8K
HIV fusion: Catch me if you can
Solène Denolly1, François-Loïc Cosset1
1CIRI-Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Team EVIR, Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm, U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, ENS Lyon, Lyon, France.
The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|November 7, 2020
Summary
Viral fusion with host cells is complex and rarely visualized. Researchers used advanced microscopy to observe HIV fusion intermediates, revealing how Serinc proteins block complete cell entry.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Enveloped viruses like HIV enter cells via membrane fusion.
- Fusion intermediates are transient and difficult to study.
- Understanding fusion is key to blocking viral entry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To visualize intermediate steps of HIV-cell membrane fusion.
- To investigate the role of Serinc proteins in fusion inhibition.
Main Methods:
- Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET)
- Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy
- Utilized cell membrane-derived vesicles (blebs)
Main Results:
- Successfully visualized transient intermediates of the HIV fusion process.
- Demonstrated that Serinc proteins actively interfere with complete membrane fusion.
- Provided structural insights into the mechanism of fusion inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Serinc proteins act as fusion inhibitors by disrupting intermediate stages.
- Visualizing fusion intermediates offers new targets for antiviral strategies.
- This study advances our understanding of viral entry mechanisms.
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