Novel Antiviral Agents Targeting HIV Entry and Transmission

Studies of the mechanism of HIV entry and transmission have identified multiple new targets for drug development. A range of inhibitors have demonstrated potent antiretroviral activity by interfering with CD4-gp120 interaction,coreceptor binding or viral-cell fusion in preclinical and clinical studies. One of these agents,fusion inhibitor enfuvirtide,is already in clinical use. Here we review the progress in the development of specific entry inhibitors as novel therapeutics. The potential of entry inhibitors as topical microbicides to block HIV transmission is also discussed.     

靶向HIV-1 vif的高效siRNA的筛选及慢病毒介导的体外抗病毒研究

RNAi技术在艾滋病治疗研究中已展现出巨大的潜力,兼具高效抑制特性和保守性的siRNA靶位是其获得成功应用的重要基础.本研究选择以HIV-1 vif基因为靶区筛选高效保守的RNAi序列,共选择设计了30个识别不同位点的siRNA序列,以pSUPER为载体构建了相应的shRNA表达质粒.通过与pNL4-3质粒在293FT细胞中进行共转染抑制实验,以及对初筛获得的高效序列进行保守性分析显示siRNA-vif37序列具有高效抑制效率和较好的保守性特征.通过与pGL3-vif报告质粒的共转染实验证明siRNA-vif37具有vif基因抑制特异性.带有shRNA-vif37表达元件的重组慢病毒转导后的MT-4细胞在HIV-1NL4-3体外攻毒实验中可显示出较有效的抑制病毒复制的能力,本研究进一步对转导后细胞进行克隆化筛选,获得稳定整合shRNA-vif37表达元件的MT-4-vif37细胞克隆,该细胞具有显著的抑制病毒复制的能力,在高攻毒剂量下仍可获得良好的抑制效果.本研究为进一步应用RNAi技术进行新型艾滋病治疗方法研究提供了重要基础.     

核酸定量检测试验应用于HIV-1感染实验室诊断的探讨

目的:探讨核酸定量检测在HIV-1感染实验室诊断中的应用。方法:选取145例第四代抗原/抗体联合诊断筛查试验为阳性反应的血浆样本,分别用Western印迹和HIV-1核酸定量方法进行检测,综合对比分析2种方法检测结果。结果:Western印迹检出阳性样本120例,不确定样本17例,阴性样本8例;HIV-1核酸定量试验检出结果大于检测限样本131例,其中包括12例Western印迹不确定样本、2例Western印迹阴性样本;有3例Western印迹阳性样本用HIV-1核酸定量检测试验未能检出。结论:核酸定量检测试验对于HIV-1感染阳性样本是一种有效的实验室诊断方法;对HIV-1核酸定量检测结果为"TND"的样本,建议加做Western印迹或结合其他补充试验结果进行综合诊断。     

Antiviral activity of pyridyl imidazolidinones against enterovirus 71 variants

Pyridyl imidazolidinone is a novel class of capsid binder which can inhibit enterovirus 71 (EV71). In this study, we tested the susceptibility of six recombinant viruses with different single-site mutations in VP1. Eleven modified pyridyl imidazolidinones were synthesized and used to probe the interaction between these compounds and the EV71 VP1 protein. We found that the D31N or E98K mutant viruses were susceptible to bulkier compounds, which suggested that mutations at these two sites in VP1 may widen the hydrophobic pocket of VP1, allowing bulkier compounds to enter and interfere VP1-receptor binding. Additionally, the Y116H mutant was more resistant to pyridyl imidazolidinone compounds containing a methyl group in the central position of the hydrophobic linker. When a trifluoromethyl group was substituted for the methyl group in the middle of the linker chain, the inhibitory effect was totally abolished in the Y116H mutant, suggesting that the interaction between Tyr (Y) 116 of VP1 and the central position of the linker chain of pyridyl imidazolodinone is very important for drug efficacy. A V192M mutant was resistant to most of the derivatives, indicating that residue 192 is a key mutation for resistance to pyridyl imidazolidinone.     

HIV整合酶在大肠杆菌中的表达纯化及其应用

采用pThioHisB系统表达HIV-1整合酶P31蛋白,目的蛋白的表达量达到菌体蛋白的30%左右.通过包涵体洗涤和离子交换层析,蛋白纯度高于95%.用纯化后的P31抗原制备成条带免疫试纸条,检测HIV参考品血清时表现了很好的灵敏度和特异性.本研究为进一步开发HIV-1血清学诊断试剂盒奠定了基础.     

Crystal structure of cyclophilin A complexed with a binding site peptide from the HIV-1 capsid protein.

The cellular protein, cyclophilin A (CypA), is incorporated into the virion of the type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) via a direct interaction with the capsid domain of the viral Gag polyprotein. We demonstrate that the capsid sequence 87His-Ala-Gly-Pro-Ile-Ala92 (87HAGPIA92) encompasses the primary cyclophilin A binding site and present an X-ray crystal structure of the CypA/HAGPIA complex. In contrast to the cis prolines observed in all previously reported structures of CypA complexed with model peptides, the proline in this peptide, Pro 90, binds the cyclophilin A active site in a trans conformation. We also report the crystal structure of a complex between CypA and the hexapeptide HVGPIA, which also maintains the trans conformation. Comparison with the recently determined structures of CypA in complexes with larger fragments of the HIV-1 capsid protein demonstrates that CypA recognition of these hexapeptides involves contacts with peptide residues Ala(Val) 88, Gly 89, and Pro 90, and is independent of the context of longer sequences.     

HIV-1整合酶链转移反应抑制剂的荧光筛选方法

整合酶被认为是抗HIV-1药物研究的理想靶点之一。为了建立便捷高效的整合酶链转移反应抑制剂筛选方法,首先将HIV-1整合酶原核表达载体pNL-IN转化入大肠杆菌感受态细胞BL21(DE3)进行原核表达,并用镍琼脂糖凝胶进行亲和纯化,获得了纯度和活性均较高的整合酶重组蛋白;然后设计了生物素标记的供体DNA和FITC标记的靶DNA,用链霉亲和素磁珠捕获反应体系中的DNA产物;最后用荧光分析仪检测DNA产物的荧光信号,并计算待测样品的抑制率。用已知整合酶抑制剂S-1360和MK-0518对筛选方法进行了验证,测定结果与已有实验数据相当,表明本筛选方法能够有效应用于HIV-1整合酶链转移反应抑制剂的筛选。与现有的整合酶链转移反应抑制剂筛选方法相比,本筛选方法步骤更为简化、耗时更短、成本更低。     

HIV假病毒用于p24抗原检测试剂研制的研究

为了解决在研制新型HIV检测试剂盒时遇到的p24蛋白阳性对照物保存不便、阳性对照物稳定性不高以及蛋白结构和聚集形式与天然HIV病毒的p24存在差异等问题,通过将改造的HIV-1骨架质粒pNL43 EGFP R-E-和包膜蛋白质粒pGX-C共转染293T细胞后分离细胞培养液,获得具有单轮感染活性的HIV-1假病毒。通过对此假病毒颗粒的天然衣壳蛋白p24和市售HIV检测试剂盒中的p24蛋白阳性对照物的阳性反应有效性和保存稳定性的检测,证明了HIV-1假病毒p24蛋白具有更易保存、更稳定、更接近天然病毒p24蛋白的优点,适宜作为HIV检测试剂盒阳性对照物。     

Stereoselective Approach to the Z-Isomers of Methylenecyclopropane Analogues of Nucleosides: A New Synthesis of Antiviral Synguanol

Stereoselective synthesis of antiviral synguanol (1) is described. Reaction of 6-benzyloxy-2-(dimethylaminomethyleneamino)purine (10) with ethyl (cis,trans)-2-chloro-2-(chloromethyl) cyclopropane-1-carboxylate (2c) under the conditions of alkylation-elimination gave (Z)-6- benzyloxy-2-formylamino-9-[(2-carbethoxycyclopropylidene)methyl]purine (11) but no E,N⁹-isomer. Minor amounts of (Z)-6-benzyloxy-2-formylamino-7-[(2-carbethoxy-cyclopropylidene)methyl]purine (13) were also obtained. Hydrolysis of compounds 11 and 13 in 80% acetic acid afforded (Z)-9-[2-(carbethoxycyclopropylidene)methyl]guanine (14) and (Z)-7-[2-(carbethoxy- cyclopropylidene)methyl]guanine (15). Reduction of 14 furnished synguanol (1). Reaction of N⁴-acetylcytosine (7) with ester 2c led to (Z,E)-1-(2-carbethoxycyclopropropylidenemethyl)cytosine (8, Z/E ratio 6.1:1). Basicity of purine base, lower reactivity of alkylation intermediates as well as interaction of the purine N³ or cytosine O² atoms with the carbonyl group of ester moiety seem to be essential for the observed high stereoselectivity of the alkylation-elimination. The Z-selectivity is interpreted in terms of E1cB mechanism leading to a transitory “cyclic” cyclopropenes which undergo a cyclopropene-methylenecyclopropane rearrangement.     

Architecture and Assembly of HIV Integrase Multimers in the Absence of DNA Substrates

We have applied small angle x-ray scattering and protein cross-linking coupled with mass spectrometry to determine the architectures of full-length HIV integrase (IN) dimers in solution. By blocking interactions that stabilize either a core-core domain interface or N-terminal domain intermolecular contacts, we show that full-length HIV IN can form two dimer types. One is an expected dimer, characterized by interactions between two catalytic core domains. The other dimer is stabilized by interactions of the N-terminal domain of one monomer with the C-terminal domain and catalytic core domain of the second monomer as well as direct interactions between the two C-terminal domains. This organization is similar to the “reaching dimer” previously described for wild type ASV apoIN and resembles the inner, substrate binding dimer in the crystal structure of the PFV intasome. Results from our small angle x-ray scattering and modeling studies indicate that in the absence of its DNA substrate, the HIV IN tetramer assembles as two stacked reaching dimers that are stabilized by core-core interactions. These models of full-length HIV IN provide new insight into multimer assembly and suggest additional approaches for enzyme inhibition.     

HIV整合酶在大肠杆菌中的表达纯化及其应用

采用pThioHisB系统表达HIV-1整合酶P31蛋白,目的蛋白的表达量达到菌体蛋白的30%左右。通过包涵体洗涤和离子交换层析,蛋白纯度高于95%。用纯化后的P31抗原制备成条带免疫试纸条,检测HIV参考品血清时表现了很好的灵敏度和特异性。本研究为进一步开发HIV-1血清学诊断试剂盒奠定了基础。     

Recognition of HIV-1 capsid by PQBP1 licenses an innate immune sensing of nascent HIV-1 DNA

1. Download : Download high-res image (101KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

The Molecular Architecture of HIV

Assembly of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is driven by oligomerization of the Gag polyprotein at the plasma membrane of an infected cell, leading to membrane envelopment and budding of an immature virus particle. Proteolytic cleavage of Gag at five positions subsequently causes a dramatic rearrangement of the interior virion organization to form an infectious particle. Within the mature virus, the genome is encased within a conical capsid core. Here, we describe the molecular architecture of the virus assembly site, the immature virus, the maturation intermediates and the mature virus core and highlight recent advances in our understanding of these processes from electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography studies.     

A vector projection approach to predicting HIV protease cleavage sites in proteins

A vector projection method is proposed to predict the cleavability of oligopeptides by extended-specificity site proteases. For an enzyme with eight specificity subsites the substrate octapeptide can be uniquely expressed as a vector in an 8-dimensional space, whose eight bases correspond to the amino acids at the eight subsites, P₁, P_1′, P_2′, P_3′ and P_4′, respectively. The component of such a characteristic vector on each of the eight bases is defined as the frequency of an amino acid occurring at a given site. These frequencies were derived from a set of octapeptides known to be cleaved by HIV protease. The cleavability of an octapeptide can then be estimated from the projection of its characteristic vector on an idealized, optimally cleavable vector. The high ratio of correct prediction vs. total prediction for the data in both the training and the testing sets indicates that the new method is self-consistent and efficient. It provides a rapid and accurate algorithm for analyzing the specificity of any multisubsite enzyme for which there is no coupling between subsites. In particular, it is useful for predicting the cleavability of an oligopeptide by either HIV-1 or HIV-2 protease, and hence offers a supplementary means for finding effective inhibitors of HIV protease as potential drugs against AIDS. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

打靶恒河猴CD4~+ T细胞的TRIM5α基因影响其感染HIV的能力

目的:探讨打靶恒河猴CD4~+ T细胞的TRIM5α基因对其感染HIV-1能力的影响。方法:从恒河猴的外周血中通过磁珠分选获得CD4~+ T细胞,并采用流式检测阳性率。构建打靶TRIM5α基因的TALEN质粒,通过电转导入CD4~+ T细胞,流式分选出转染TALEN质粒的细胞,提取基因组T7E1酶切检测打靶效率。HIV-1病毒感染打靶TRIM5α的CD4~+ T细胞,并通过ELASA检测病毒感染的情况。结果:成功地从恒河猴的外周血中分选出了CD4~+ T细胞,流式检测阳性率为99.5%。打靶TRIM5α基因的TALEN质粒转染CD4~+ T细胞的转染效率约为24.8%,并可成功打靶TRIM5α,打靶效率约为40%。ELASA检测结果表明打靶TRIM5α的恒河猴CD4~+ T细胞对HIV病毒的感染能力增强。结论打靶恒河猴CD4~+ T细胞的TRIM5α基因可使其易感HIV病毒,为进一步建立恒河猴HIV-1感染动物模型奠定基础。