Method of monitoring HIV assembly and maturation
AssigneeThe UAB Research Foundation
InventorPeter E. Prevelige, JR.
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Abstract
The present invention provides methods to characterize the structure, stability, and intersubunit interfaces between the matrix, capsid, and nucleocapsid domains of the Gag polyprotein during HIV capsid assembly and maturation. A method of screening for compounds that promote or inhibit viral assembly and maturation is disclosed. A novel mass spectrometry based approach to measure hydrogen/deuterium exchange profiles is also disclosed. Quantitative data resulted from these studies may lead to well defined capsid assembly assays that can be adapted for rapid antiviral drug screening.
Claims12
A method of screening for a compound that modulates viral assembly and maturation comprising the steps of:
- maintaining viral structural protein in a soluble form;
- triggering assembly of said viral structural protein;
- contacting said viral structural protein with a candidate compound or a control compound that does not inhibit viral assembly;
- and
- monitoring viral assembly, wherein an increase or decrease of viral assembly in the presence of said candidate compound compared to control compound indicates said candidate compound promotes or inhibits viral assembly respectively.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.