Cyanovirin-N gel as a topical microbicide prevents rectal transmission of SHIV89.6P in macaques.

Abstract

Cyanovirin-N (CV-N), an 11-kDa cyanobacterial protein, potently inactivates diverse strains of HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and also prevents virus-to-cell fusion, virus entry, and infection of cells in vitro. These properties make CV-N an attractive candidate for use as a topical microbicide to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. We evaluated the efficacy of gel-formulated, recombinant CV-N gel asa topical microbicide in male macaques (Macaca fascicularis) that were rectally challenged with a chimeric SIV/HIV-1 virus known as SHIV89.6P. All of the untreated macaques were infected and experienced CD4+T cell depletion. In contrast, none of the macaques that received either 1% or 2% CV-N gel showed evidence of SHIV89.6P infection. Neither CV-N nor placebo gels produced any adverse effects in any macaque following the rectal application. These results indicate that CV-N gel as a topical microbicide can prevent rectal transmission of SHIV in macaques. These studies encourage clinical evaluation of CV-N as a topical microbicide to prevent sexual transmission of HIV in humans.

• Authors: Che-Chung Tsai, Peter Emau, Yonghou Jiang, Baoping Tian, William R Morton, Kirk R Gustafson, Michael R Boyd
• Journal: AIDS research and human retroviruses (AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses) Vol. 19 Issue 7 Pg. 535-41 (Jul 2003) ISSN: 0889-2229 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12921090 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Anti-HIV Agents
• Bacterial Proteins
• Carrier Proteins
• Gels
• cyanovirin N

Topics

• Administration, Rectal
• Animals
• Anti-HIV Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Bacterial Proteins
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Carrier Proteins (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Gels
• HIV-1 (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Lymph Nodes (virology)
• Macaca fascicularis
• Male
• Models, Animal
• Reassortant Viruses (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Safety
• Sexual Behavior
• Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (immunology, prevention & control, virology)
• Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (drug effects, isolation & purification)