Farzan, MichaelQuinlan, Brian Donald2014-02-252014-02-252013Quinlan, Brian Donald. 2014. Directed Evolution of Peptide Inhibitors of HIV-1 Entry. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University.http://dissertations.umi.com/gsas.harvard:11297http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11745713The conflict between HIV-1 and the host immune system plays out over a time-scale of months and years, and on a grander scale in the co-evolution of lentiviruses and the immune systems of their host species. Directed evolution of HIV-1 entry inhibitors using controlled randomization together with a display system offers a means of recapitulating one side of this conflict in vitro on an accelerated time-scale. To address limitations in existing display systems, we constructed a vector (pDQ1) integrating phage-display and mammalian-expression systems. This vector displays on phage when expressed in bacteria, and as an Fc-fusion when expressed in tissue culture, thus accelerating the iterative process of randomization, display, and characterization. We demonstrated the utility of this vector in the evolution of a CD4-mimetic peptide.en-USVirologydirected evolutionHIVpeptide inhibitorsPhage displayprotein maturationreceptor mimetic peptidesThesis or Dissertation2014-02-25