![Finding How a Natural HIV-1 Blocker Works]()
The protein SERINC5, found in cell membranes, is known to inhibit HIV-1 from infecting human T cells. But how the protein interfered with HIV-1 was unclear. Now, Felipe Diaz-Griffero, Ph.D., has identified the mechanism. When HIV-1 particles are produced within infected human T cells, SERINC5 becomes incorporated into the membrane of the newly produced viral particles. The presence of SERINC5 in the viral particle changes the shape of the viral envelope, and that change in the envelope’s conformation restricts HIV-1 from invading new T cells. The findings, published online on December 18 in Virology, suggest that a therapeutic version of SERINC5 might be able to inhibit HIV-1 in the bloodstream before the virus can infect T cells. Dr. Diaz-Griffero is associate professor of microbiology & immunology and the Elsie Wachtel Faculty Scholar at Einstein.
Posted on: Monday, February 26, 2018