Method for the identification of compounds capable of abrogating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of dendritic cells and T-lymphocytes

An in vitro method for the identification of agents capable of inhibiting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection of dendritic cell-T lymphocyte conjugates found in skin and mucous membranes related to skin, comprising the following steps:

• a) contacting a first skin explant with an agent to be assayed for its ability to inhibit HIV infection of dendritic cell-T lymphocyte conjugates;
• b) floating the first skin explant dermal side down in culture medium at 37.degree. C.;
• c) allowing dendritic cells and T-lymphocytes to emigrate from the skin explant of (b) and form dendritic cell-T lymphocyte conjugates;
• d) floating a second control skin explant dermal side down in control culture medium, which is not contacted with the agent of step (a), at 37.degree. C.;
• e) allowing dendritic cells and T-lymphocytes to emigrate from the skin explant of step (d) and form dendritic cell-T lymphocyte conjugates;
• f) exposing said conjugates of both the first and second skin explants to infectious HIV;
• and,
• g) determining whether said conjugates become productively infected with HIV;
• wherein a decrease in the level of HIV infection in conjugates from the first skin explant, as compared to conjugates in the second skin explant, is indicative of said agent being capable of inhibiting HIV infection of dendritic cells and T-lymphocytes obtained from skin and mucous membranes related to skin.