Cyanovirin-N inhibits AIDS virus infections in vaginal transmission models.

Abstract

The cyanobacterial protein cyanovirin-N (CV-N) potently inactivates diverse strains of HIV-1 and other lentiviruses due to irreversible binding of CV-N to the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120. In this study, we show that recombinant CV-N effectively blocks HIV-1(Ba-L) infection of human ectocervical explants. Furthermore, we demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of CV-N gel in a vaginal challenge model by exposing CV-N-treated female macaques (Macaca fascicularis) to a pathogenic chimeric SIV/HIV-1 virus, SHIV89.6P. All of the placebo-treated and untreated control macaques (8 of 8) became infected. In contrast, 15 of 18 CV-N-treated macaques showed no evidence of SHIV infection. Further, CV-N produced no cytotoxic or clinical adverse effects in either the in vitro or in vivo model systems. Together these studies suggest that CV-N is a good candidate for testing in humans as an anti-HIV topical microbicide.

• Authors: Che-Chung Tsai, Peter Emau, Yonghou Jiang, Michael B Agy, Robin J Shattock, Ann Schmidt, William R Morton, Kirk R Gustafson, Michael R Boyd
• Journal: AIDS research and human retroviruses (AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses) Vol. 20 Issue 1 Pg. 11-8 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 0889-2229 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15000694 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

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

Topics

• Administration, Intravaginal
• Animals
• Anti-HIV Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Bacterial Proteins
• Carrier Proteins (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Cervix Uteri (virology)
• Culture Techniques
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Female
• HIV Infections (drug therapy, virology)
• HIV-1 (drug effects, genetics, pathogenicity)
• Humans
• Macaca fascicularis
• Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (drug therapy, virology)
• Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (drug effects, genetics, pathogenicity)
• Vagina (virology)