Live imaging system to visualize the retro-transcribed viral DNA genome

Abstract

A recombinant lentiviral vector comprising a coding sequence for an OR protein fused to a coding sequence for a fluorescent protein or a subunit of a fluorescent protein, and a promoter active in human cells operatively linked to the coding sequences. A recombinant lentivirus comprising a recombinant genome comprising an RNA that generates an ANCH sequence upon retrotranscription. A recombinant eukaryotic cell comprising a genomically integrated DNA copy of the recombinant lentiviral vector. A method of observing lentiviral DNA in a eukaryotic cell, comprising: providing a recombinant eukaryotic cell that produces a fusion protein comprising an OR protein, fused to a fluorescent protein or a subunit of a fluorescent protein; infecting the recombinant eukaryotic cell with a recombinant lentivirus comprising a recombinant genome comprising an RNA that generates an ANCH sequence upon retro-transcription, under conditions sufficient for reverse transcription of the recombinant lentiviral genome comprising an ANCH sequence; allowing the OR protein to bind to the ANCH sequence; and detecting the fluorescent protein or subunit of the fluorescent protein to thereby observe the lentiviral DNA in the eukaryotic cell. This tool can be suitable also for in vivo applications (e.g. humanized mice) as well as for screening of new antiretroviral compounds. The HIV-1 ANCHOR system can be extended to the study of other viruses or for the screening of antiviral compounds, e.g. against SARS-CoV2.

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