Structure of HIV protein key to cell entry; finding holds promise for HIV vaccine development

Using protein engineering and two different cutting-edge structural biology imaging techniques, researchers have developed a detailed picture of the protein largely responsible for enabling HIV to enter human immune cells and cause infection. An in-depth understanding of the atomic structure of the HIV envelope trimer - or Env, the three-component protein found on HIV's surface - is critical to better understanding how HIV gains entry into cells and for creating potential HIV vaccines...