Mburu, D. N.2015-07-062015-07-062013International Journal of Biotechnology and Biochemistry Volume 9, Number 2 (2013) pp. 197-2090973-2691http://spas.ku.ac.ke/images/stories/docs/research/Differential%20Utilization%20of%20CCR5%20Molecules%20from%20Three%20East%20African%20Primate%20Species%20by%20the%20HIV-1%20Envelope%20Glycoprotein.pdfhttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/13107Research ArticleThis study reports the cloning, sequencing, and functional characterization of novel simian homologs of CCR5 from three species of primates (Papio anubis anubis; Colobus guereza and Cercopithecus neglectus ) which are indigenous to East Africa. Identity at the amino acid level to human CCR5 was 97% for molecules from all three primate species. Functional characterization of these coreceptors was performed using a sensitive gene reporter-based cell-cell fusion assay. Despite a high degree of sequence similarity, significant differences in the degree of M-tropic HIV envelope-specific fusion generated by individual coreceptor molecules were demonstrated. Remarkably, two simian CCR5 molecules (Colobus guereza and Cercopithecus neglectus) demonstrated an increased efficiency of HIV-mediated fusion as compared with the human CCR5 molecule. These results provide further evidence that simian CCR5 molecules differ in their ability to facilitate HIV-1 entry, and may have bearing on the investigation of new simian models for HIV-1 pathogenesis.enchemokine receptorolive babooncolobus monkeyde Brazza monkeycell fusion assayArticle