Molecular dynamics simulations show how antibodies may rescue HIV-1 mutants incapable of infecting host cells.

Abstract excerpt

High mutation and replication rates of HIV-1 result in the continuous generation of variants, allowing it to adapt to changing host environments. Mutations often have deleterious effects, but variants carrying them are rapidly purged. Surprisingly, a particular variant incapable of entering host cells was found to be rescued by host antibodies targeting HIV-1. Understanding the molecular mechanism of this rescue...

Topics

• Molecular Dynamics Simulation
• HIV-1
• HIV Envelope Protein gp41
• Humans
• Mutation
• HIV Antibodies