Native HIV Protein U

Product Overview

This peptide was derived from HIV-1 vpu.

Nature

Native

Tag/Conjugate

Unconjugated

Purity

Affinity purified

Concentration

Please see the vial label for concentration

Preservative

None

Storage

2-8°C short term, -20°C long term

Introduction

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a member of the retrovirus family) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. HIV infects vital cells in the human immune system such as helper T cells (specifically CD4+ T cells), macrophages, and dendritic cells. HIV infection leads to low levels of CD4+ T cells through three main mechanisms: First, direct viral killing of infected cells; second, increased rates of apoptosis in infected cells; and third, killing of infected CD4+ T cells by CD8 cytotoxic lymphocytes that recognize infected cells. When CD4+ T cell numbers decline below a critical level, cell-mediated immunity is lost, and the body becomes progressively more susceptible to opportunistic infections.

Keywords

Human immunodeficiency virus; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Lentivirus; Retroviridae; Vpu; Viral Protein U; Vpu protein