ADVANCES IN MECHANISMS OF HIV-1 ATTACKING HOST CELLS AND INHIBITORS IN RELATED STEPS
HIV-1进攻靶细胞的机制及相应环节抑制剂

HIV-1 is the most popular and destructive virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV-1 attacks CD4+ cells specifically by two steps: 1. binding to the receptors on the target cell membranes by viral surface glycoprotein gp120; 2. fusing with the plasma membrane through the transmembrane glycoprotein gp41. After these two steps, the viral nucleoproteins and genetic materials are injected into the target cell and replicated in it. The cell membrane stability is disrupted. The inner and outer environments of cells lose balance, and lead to the death of cells. These acquired achievements of studying the mechanism of HIV-1 attacking target cells provide us with new ideas for exploiting effective anti-HIV/AIDS drugs.