Journal
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY
Volume 36, Issue 4-5, Pages 244-253Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0684.2007.00242.x
Keywords
anti-HIV microbicide candidate; binding entry; inhibitor of HIV; griffithsin; virucide
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Funding
- Intramural NIH HHS Funding Source: Medline
- NCI NIH HHS [N01-CO-12400] Funding Source: Medline
- NCRR NIH HHS [RR00166] Funding Source: Medline
- NIAID NIH HHS [N01-AI-15450] Funding Source: Medline
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Background The predominant mode of HIV-1 transmission is by heterosexual contact. The cervical/vaginal mucosa is the main port of HIV entry in women. A safe and effective topical microbicide against HIV is urgently needed to prevent sexual transmission. Hence, we evaluated griffithsin (GRFT), a 12.7 kDa carbohydrate-binding protein, both native and recombinant GRFT, potently inhibited both CXCR4-and CCR5-tropic HIV infection and transmission in vitro. Methods The antiviral efficacy of native and recombinant GRFT against CXCR4-and CCR5-tropic HIV and SHIV strains and SIVmac251 was evaluated by in vitro assays. We also evaluated the time course of antiviral activity and stability of GRFT in cervical/vaginal lavage as a function of pH 4-8. Results Griffithsin blocked CXCR4-and CCR5-tropic viruses at less than 1 nm concentrations and exhibited a high potency. GRFT was stable in cervical/vaginal lavage fluid and maintained a similar potency of anti-HIV activity. GRFT is not only a highly potent HIV entry inhibitor, but also prevents cell fusion and cell-to-cell transmission of HIV. Conclusions The in vitro efficacy of GRFT revealed low cytotoxicity, high potency, rapid onset of antiviral activity and long-term stability in cervical/ vaginal lavage. GRFT is an excellent candidate for anti-HIV microbicide development.
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