Developing a vaccine against HIV has been very difficult mainly because HIV is highly variable. Many different avenues of overcoming this difficulty are being researched, including interfering with HIV attachment to host cells. In all stages of HIV infection, the viral envelope glycoprotein (gp120) is necessary for attachment to CD4 surface proteins on human cells. To identify potential reagents for blocking gp120/CD4 interaction, a random peptide library was constructed in search of a peptide capable of binding to gp120's CD4 binding site. The library was screened using an E. coli two-hybrid system, and yielded 53 peptides that interact with a mimic of gp120's CD4 binding site.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Bartley, Andrew

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-031010-092407

Advisor

• Adams, David S.

Year

• 2010

Sponsor

• UMass Medical School

Date created

• 2010-03-10

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright