At the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) researchers have discovered the structure of key protein in HIV.

It is believed that the newly found –gp120 is a vital element found on the surface of an exact subgroup of the human immunodeficiency virus, HIV-1. It was further learnt how an antibody attaches itself to gp120 not only making an association with the protein at the same time with CD4 receptor that gp120 uses to gain entry into the body’s T cells.

As the boffins claim, it is a primary stage of development in case of three-dimensional understanding of gp120. Further stating the progress in the field, Caltech postdoctoral scholar Ron Diskin states that this progress may help in developing a vaccine for HIV and having a clear idea of structural information will facilitate better vaccine design.

This research was published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology.