Inhibition of HIV Infection by Lectin Binding to CD4

The progression of AIDS all over the world has led research laboratories to focus their energy on the identification of molecules that can impair the infection process, Every step of the viral rephcative cycle can be considered as a potential target to block infection. One of the first events in the infection of T-cells by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the binding of the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 to the differentiation antigen CD4 expressed on the host cell (1 -3 ). Among the therapeutic strategies aimed at controllmg HIV disease progression, one was to inhibit or perturb this interaction.