National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases other research news

NIAID scientists reported in Science the identification of a cell surface molecule, designated fusin, that they believe acts as a cofactor for the entry of HIV into immune system cells. While CD4 was identified in the 1980s as the primary receptor for HIV on immune system cells, it alone isn't sufficient to allow HIV or HIV-infected cells to fuse with target cells and infect them.

Fusin is a member of the superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. Its normal function hasn't yet been identified. ...