"Jefferson researchers identify new mechanism of blocking HIV-1 from entering cells"

Researchers from the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson have found new drugs which block HIV-1 from entering the bodies cells. in the article it says cellular invasion by HIV-1 requires the planned action of two proteins on the viral surface. "This requires the association of two distinct regions of gp41 called N-HR and C-HR. Anti-HIV-1 agents known as fusion inhibitors target the N-HR or C-HR and disrupt their association, which prevents the virus from entering into the host cell. One drug that works like this is Fuzeon (Roche), and there are other agents in the pipeline. " after these drugs come together they lead into a dead conformation from which the protein cannot spread. This means that if the drug is released into the body it can kill the proteins that are responsible for HIV-1. the drugs have not been fully studied to the point where there might be an extension of the study to understand the limitation of the drugs.
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/11/30/jefferson_researchers_identify_new_mechanism_of_blocking_hiv1_from_entering_cells.html