Compounds capable of inhibiting hiv-1 infection

Abstract

This invention provides an antibody capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of an HIV- 1 envelope glycoprotein + cell with an appropriate CD4 + cell without cross reacting with the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein or CD4 and capable of inhibiting infection by one or more strains of HIV-1. This antibody is then used to identify a molecule which is important for HIV infection. Different uses of the antibody and the molecule are described.

1 . An antibody capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein+ cell with an appropriate CD4+ cell without cross reacting with the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein or CD4 and capable of inhibiting infection by one or more strains of HIV-1. 
     
     
         2 . A monoclonal antibody of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the complete or a portion of a monoclonal antibody capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein+ cell with an appropriate CD4+ cell without cross reacting with the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein or CD4 and capable of inhibiting infection by one or more strains of HIV-1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         12 . A method of inhibiting HIV-1 infection in a subject comprising administering an effective amount of the pharmaceutical composition of  claim 11  to the subject. 
     
     
         13 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding the complete or a portion of the light chain of a monoclonal antibody capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein+ cell with an appropriate CD4+ cell without cross reacting with the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein or CD4 and capable of inhibiting infection by one or more strains of HIV-1. 
     
     
         14 . An isolated nucleic acid encoding the complete or a portion of the heavy chain of a monoclonal antibody capable of specifically inhibiting the fusion of an HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein+ cell with an appropriate CD4+ cell without cross reacting with the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein or CD4 and capable of inhibiting infection by one or more strains of HIV-1. 
     
     
         15 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for identifying inhibitors of HIV-1 infection comprising steps of:
 (a) contacting an effective amount of a compound with a system which contains HIV-1 gp120, HIV-1 gp41 or a fragment thereof with the molecule of claim  20  under conditions permitting formation of a complex between HIV-1 gp120, HIV-1 gp41 or a fragment thereof and the molecule, so as to inhibit such formation; and   (b) determining the amount of complex formed; and   (c) comparing the amount determined in step (b) with the control which is without the addition of the compound, a decrease in the complex formation indicating that the compound is capable of inhibiting HIV-1 infection.   
     
     
         33 - 39 . (canceled)