Interaction of HIV envelope with cell surface receptors

National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

A major focus of this project is to identify key steps in the earliest stages of HIV infection that could be exploited in the context of an effective vaccine. In past years we characterized the molecular interaction between HIV gp120 and integrin alpha4beta7, which underlies the gut homing phenotype of HIV during the early stages of disease. In the past year we have focused our efforts on understanding the nature of a specific interaction between integrin alpha4beta7 and the CD4 receptor. Of note gp120 and CD4 engage integrin alpha4beta7 through a common mechanism (shared epitope). This epitope is notable because it is associated with protection in the RV144 vaccine trial. These findings raise a host of new questions related to our understanding of the role of alpha4beta7 -expressing CD4+ T cells in HIV infection. Further studies of these dynamic interactions will provide knowledge that will be key to the development of an HIV vaccine.