AVIAN INFLUENZA H5N1 HEMAGGLUTILIN PSEUDOTYPED LENTIVIRAL VECTOR SYSTEM FOR RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF ANTIVIRALS AND NEUTRALIZING POLYPEPTIDES

摘要

Influenza glycoproteins HA and NA were efficiently incorporated onto HIV vector particles which could transduce different cell lines in a trypsin-dependent manner. Simultaneous expression of NA and M2 maximized vector production and transduction. Interestingly, the H5N1-pseudotyped HIV vector was sensitive to oseltamivir (tamiflu, an NA inhibitor), amantadine (an M2 inhibitor) or HA peptides independently. This H5N1 -pseudotyped HIV vector has been adapted for high- throughput screening of drug candidates such as small molecules, peptides or antibodies which can be safely performed in a biosafety level 2 environment. The H5N1 -pseudotyped HIV vector system mimics the influenza virus entry process and can greatly accelerate drug discovery to prepare against the next pandemic.