Research Highlights

Direct Restriction of Virus Release and Incorporation of the Interferon-Induced Protein BST-2 into HIV-1 Particles

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In their paper, "Direct Restriction of Virus Release and Incorporation of the Interferon-Induced Protein BST-2 into HIV-1 Particles" published in the March 2010 issue of PloS Pathogens, NMCIR researchers, in collaboration with Kathleen Fitzpatrick and John Guatelli of the UCSD School of Medicine show that the cellular protein BST-2 is involved in retaining newly formed HIV-1 virions on the surface of cells. NCMIR scientists used immunolabeling in combination with electron tomography to demonstrate the intimate association of BST2 with the virus particles in the plasma membrane.  This suggests that the incorporation of BST-2 into virions may prevent them from escaping the infected cell and be a key aspect of the protein's broadly restrictive activity against enveloped viruses.

Full text: http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1000701

Related Publication

Fitzpatrick K, Skasko M, Deerinck TJ, Crum J, Ellisman MH, et al. 2010 Direct Restriction of Virus Release and Incorporation of the Interferon-Induced Protein BST-2 into HIV-1 Particles. PLoS Pathog 6(3): e1000701. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000701