A CXCR4/CD4 Pseudotype Rhabdovirus That Selectively Infects HIV-1 Envelope Protein-Expressing Cells

• Published in: Cell 1997-09, Vol.90 (5), p.841-847
• Main Authors: Mebatsion, Teshome, Finke, Stefan, Weiland, Frank, Conzelmann, Karl-Klaus
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AIDS/HIV; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; CD4 Antigens - metabolism; Cricetinae; GTP-Binding Proteins - metabolism; HeLa Cells; HIV Infections - therapy; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-1 - growth & development; HIV-1 - physiology; human immunodeficiency virus 1; Humans; Kidney - cytology; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; rabies virus; Receptors, CXCR4; Receptors, HIV - metabolism; Recombinant Fusion Proteins - physiology; Rhabdoviridae - chemistry; Rhabdoviridae - growth & development; Rhabdoviridae - physiology; rhabdovirus; Viral Envelope Proteins - metabolism; Virus Latency - physiology; Virus Replication - physiology
• ISSN: 0092-8674; 1097-4172
• DOI: 10.1016/S0092-8674(00)80349-9

We show that a cellular virus receptor functions in the envelope of a virus, allowing selective infection of cells displaying the receptor ligand. A G-deficient rabies virus (RV) pseudotyped with CD4- and CXCR4-derived proteins selectively infected cells expressing HIV-1 envelope protein. Envelope protein or CD4 antibodies blocked virus entry. Pseudotype virus formation was most efficient with chimeric receptor proteins possessing the cytoplasmic tail of the RV G spike protein (CXCR4-RV and CD4-RV). While CXCR4-RV was incorporated when expressed alone, CD4-RV incorporation required CXCR4-RV as a carrier protein, indicating a mechanism by which oligomeric surface proteins are sorted into the RV envelope. Viral vectors bearing virus receptors in their envelope may be useful reagents for targeting virus-infected cells in vivo.