In vitro cell fusion between CD4+ and HIV-1 Env+ T cells generates a diversity of syncytia varying in total number, size and cellular content

Development of a platelet-activating factor antagonist for HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders

“…However, formation of macrophage MGC commonly occurs as a result of the cell’s response to contain microbial infections, stress, immune activation or environmental changes. MGC are also frequently observed during chronic fungal and mycobacterial infections, as well as during viral replication (Helming et al, 2009; Lopez-Balderas et al, 2007; Matucci et al, 2008; Zhu and Friedland, 2006). Microbes can often reside in MGC for prolonged time periods that span months or years.…”

Constrained peptide models from phage display libraries highlighting the cognate epitope-specific potential of the anti-HIV-1 mAb 2F5

“…The results of those immunizations were basically negative despite the presentation of the ELDKWAS (or some longer sequence) peptide on various vectors and the inclusion of a fusion peptide sequence [45] and lipids [46] as parts of the viral structures to optimize the 2F5 antigenic function (see [37] for exhaustive critical analysis of this item). Using a cell-cell fusion system, which was proven to be highly sensitive to inhibitors in our previous experiments [31][32][33][34][35] against 2F5 in this study, we found that mouse antiserum to the both the linear and constrained peptides did not affect fusion while the rabbit antiserum to the linear but not to the constrained peptide decreased fusion by approximately 50% and to 20% at 1:10 and 1:100 dilutions, respectively. Inhibition by mAb 2F5 was not observed in the presence of the 15-mer ELDKWAS-containing peptide competitor of the epitope (Fig.…”

“…The fusogenic HXBc2 cell line was grown in the presence of 1 g/ml tetracycline and selection antibiotics (200 g/ml G418 and 200 g/ml hygromycin) as described previously [31][32][33][34][35][36]. Expression of the gp120/gp41 viral env protein was induced by removing tetracycline by washing the cells with PBS and incubating in RPMI-10 with selection antibiotics for 3 days.…”

“…The cell-cell fusion protocol developed by Huerta et al [31] and subsequently extensively employed by Huerta et al [32], López-Balderas et al [33], Huerta et al [34], Rivera-Toledo et al [35] was used in these experiments to test the anti-mimotope serum antibodies. The protocol involves labeling fusion partner cells with the fluorescent carbocyanines DiI and DiO (Molecular Probes).…”

Evaluation of the Cytopathicity (Fusion/Hemifusion) of Patient-Derived HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins Comparing Two Effector Cell Lines

“…25,26 However, reporter genes are widely used because they are sensitive and quantitative. [15][16][17] In this study, a luciferase reporter gene assay was selected using TZM-bl cells, which contained an HIV-LTR-driven luciferase reporter cassette.…”