HIV‐1 capsid mutants inhibit the replication of wild‐type virus at both early and late infection phases

Abstract

In‐frame mutations were introduced into various portions of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) gag gene, and potentials of the mutants to suppress the replication of wild‐type HIV‐1 were monitored. In contrast to results obtained with matrix and nucleocapsid mutants, almost all capsid mutants blocked HIV‐1 replication completely in single‐round replication assays. A capsid mutant designated C6b was demonstrated to be one of the most efficient inhibitors for HIV‐1 reported to date, and to be effective at both early and late viral replication phases. T‐cells, which are engineered to express the C6b Gag in response to HIV‐1 infection, were perfectly resistant to HIV‐1.