HIV envelope pseudotyped virus- an indispensable tool in HIV research
Sandhya Vivekanandan1, Aanand Sonawane1, Luke Elizabeth Hanna2
1Department of Virology and Biotechnology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chetpet, Chennai, 600031, India; University of Madras, Chepauk, Chennai, 600005, India.
Virus Research
|April 30, 2026
Summary
HIV env-pseudotyped viruses are essential research tools, generated by co-transfecting cells for safe, single-round infections. These viruses help study HIV tropism, drug screening, and antibody responses, advancing HIV research.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- HIV env-pseudotyped viruses are crucial for HIV research.
- They are replication-deficient, enabling safe handling in BSL-2 facilities.
- These viruses express diverse HIV envelopes for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for generating HIV env-pseudotyped viruses.
- To summarize their diverse applications in HIV research.
- To discuss sources and limitations of current methods.
Main Methods:
- Co-transfection of HEK293T cells with envelope cassettes and backbone vectors.
- Generation of single-round infectious viral particles.
- Utilizing envelope-deficient backbones lacking essential viral genes.
Main Results:
- Established methods for generating HIV env-pseudotyped viruses are summarized.
- Versatile applications include tropism investigation, drug screening, and antibody studies.
- Different packaging systems, sources, and limitations are discussed.
Conclusions:
- HIV env-pseudotyped viruses are indispensable tools for understanding HIV.
- Their safe and versatile nature facilitates critical research areas.
- This review provides a comprehensive overview of their generation and utility.
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