The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 23, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 19, 1993
David B Weiner, Merion, PA (US);
David Nathan Levy, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Trustees of The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (US);
The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed toward methods of identifying compounds which inhibit the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viral protein R (Vpr) from stimulating the differentiation of undifferentiated cells. This invention takes advantage of the observation that cell lines from rhabdomyosarcomas, which are tumors of muscle origin, have been used as models of CD4-independent HIV infection. These cell lines can be induced to differentiate in vitro. The vpr gene of HIV-1 is sufficient for the differentiation of the human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line TE671. Differentiated cells are characterized by great enlargement, altered morphology, lack of replication, and high level expression of the muscle-specific protein myosin. Morphological differentiation and inhibition of proliferation of other transformed cell lines following vpr expression was also observed. This invention also relates toward methods of identifying compounds which inhibit HIV Vpr binding to Gag. These screening methods should facilitate the identification and development of antiviral agents.