Identified genes will be tested by transfection and analysis of the malignant potential of the transfected cells. We postulated the presence a cellular factor that binds to the HIV-1 PBS and limits replication. We identified a clone from a human T cell cDNA expression library in lambda gt11 that could bind the HIV-1 PBS and we have partially characterized it. In separate experiments, we have shown that metabolites of the arachidonate pathway inhibit HIV-1 expression. The two most promising compounds are 12S-HETE and leukotriene B4.
Work is underway to characterize their mechanism of action.