Description
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and related viruses require co-receptors to infect target cells. Some G protein-coupled receptors including CCR5, CXCR4, CCR3, CCR2b, and CCR8 in the chemokine receptor family, and four new human molecules GPR15, STRL33, GPR1, and V28 have been recently identified as HIV co-receptors. The genes encoding human and monkey GPR15/BOB (for G proteincoupled receptor 15 and brother of Bonzo) have been cloned. This novel g proteincoupled receptor serves as co-receptor for SIV and for strains of HIV-2 and M-tropic HIV-1. The ligand for GPR15 is under investigation