An improved microtiter assay for evaluating anti-HIV-I neutralizing antibodies from sera or plasma

Background: The anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibody assay is widely used in AIDS vaccine research and other experimental and clinical studies. The vital dye staining method applied in the detection of anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibody has been used in many laboratories. However, the unknown factor(s) in sera or plasma affected cell growth and caused protection when the tested sera or plasma was continuously maintained in cell culture. In addition, the poor solubility of neutral red in medium (such as RPMI-1640) also limited the use of this assay. Methods: In this study, human T cell line C8166 was used as host cells, and 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)- 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) instead of neutral red was used as vital dye. In order to avoid the effect of the unknown factor( s), the tested sera or plasma was removed by a washout procedure after initial 3 - 6 h culture in the assay. Result: This new assay eliminated the effect of the tested sera or plasma on cell growth, improved the reliability of detection of anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibody, and showed excellent agreement with the p24 antigen method. Conclusion: The results suggest that the improved assay is relatively simple, highly duplicable, cost-effective, and well reliable for evaluating anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies from sera or plasma.

Structural and functional characterization of the human CCR5 receptor in complex with HIV gp120 envelope glycoprotein and CD4 receptor by molecular modeling studies

The entry of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into cells depends on a sequential interaction of the gp120 envelope glycoprotein with the cellular receptors CD4 and members of the chemokine receptor family. The CC chemokine receptor CCR5 is such a receptor for several chemokines and a major coreceptor for the entry of R5 HIV type-1 (HIV-1) into cells. Although many studies focus on the interaction of CCR5 with HIV-1, the corresponding interaction sites in CCR5 and gp120 have not been matched. Here we used an approach combining protein structure modeling, docking and molecular dynamics simulation to build a series of structural models of the CCR5 in complexes with gp120 and CD4. Interactions such as hydrogen bonds, salt bridges and van der Waals contacts between CCR5 and gp120 were investigated. Three snapshots of CCR5-gp120-CD4 models revealed that the initial interactions of CCR5 with gp120 are involved in the negatively charged N-terminus (Nt) region of CCR5 and positively charged bridging sheet region of gp120. Further interactions occurred between extracellular loop2 (ECL2) of CCR5 and the base of V3 loop regions of gp120. These interactions may induce the conformational changes in gp120 and lead to the final entry of HIV into the cell. These results not only strongly support the two-step gp120-CCR5 binding mechanism, but also rationalize extensive biological data about the role of CCR5 in HIV-1 gp120 binding and entry, and may guide efforts to design novel inhibitors.

Molecular epidemiology of the heterosexual HIV-1 transmission in Kunming, Yunnan Province of China suggests origin from the local IDU epidemic

Molecular epidemiological investigation was conducted among injecting drug users (IDUs) (n = 11) and heterosexuals (n = 15) in Kunming, Yunnan Province of China. HIV-1 genotypes were determined based on the nucleotide sequences of 2.6-kb gag-RT region. The distribution of genotypes among IDUs was as follows: CRF07_BC (5/11) and CRF08_BC (5/11); subtype B' (1/11). Similarly, a majority of Kunming heterosexuals (14/15) were infected with CRF07_BC (4/15), CRF08_BC (6/15), or subtype B' (4/15), known to predominate among IDUs in China. This contrasts with trends in the coastal regions of China and surrounding southeastern Asian countries, where CRF01_AE predominates among heterosexuals. The heterosexual HIV-1 epidemic in Kunming thus appears to derive from the local IDU epidemic. Of note, subtype B' was the most prevalent strain among heterosexuals before 1997, while CRF07_BC and CRF08_BC became predominant in 2002, indicating a transition of HIV-1 genotype distribution between the early and the more recent samples from Kunming heterosexuals.

In vitro anti-HIV and -HSV activity and safety of sodium rutin sulfate as a microbicide candidate

Sodium rutin sulfate (SRS) is a sulfated rutin modified from the natural flavonol glycoside rutin. Here, we investigated its in vitro anti-HIV and -HSV activities and its cytotoxic profile. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of SRS against HIV-1 X4 virus IIIB, HIV-1 R5 isolates Ada-M and Ba-L were 2.3 +/- 0.2, 4.5 +/- 2.0 and 8.5 +/- 3.8 mu M with a selectivity index (SI) of 563, 575 and 329, respectively. Its IC50 against primary R5 HIV-1 isolate from Yunnan province in China was 13.1 +/- 5.5 mu M, with a Sl of 197. In contrast, unsulfated rutin had no activity against any of the HIV-1 isolates tested. Further study indicated that SRS blocked viral entry and virus-cell fusion likely through interacting with the HIV- I envelope glycoprotein. SRS also demonstrated some activity against human herpes simplex virus (HSV) with an IC50 of 88.3 +/- 0.1 mu M and a Sl of 30. The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) of SRS was >3.0 mM, as determined in human genital ME 180, HeLa and primary human foreskin fibroblast cells. Minimum inhibitory concentration of SRS for vaginal lactobacilli was >3.0 mM. These results collectively indicate that SRS represents a novel candidate for anti-HIV-1/HSV microbicide development. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Isolation and characterization of a rhabdovirus from co-infection of two viruses in mandarin fish

Co-infection of two viruses has been observed in mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), but the two viruses have not been characterized. In this study, a rhabdovirus has been isolated from the co-infected two viruses extracted from the diseased mandarin fish, and its morphological structure and partial biochemical and biophysical characteristics have been observed and analyzed. The isolated rhabdovirus has a typical bullet shape, and is therefore called S. chttatsi rhabdovirus (SCRV). And, the isolated rhabdovirus produced a higher titer (10(8.5) TCID50 ml(-1)) than did the co-infecting viruses (10(6.5) TCID50 ml(-1)). Subsequently, the viral genome RNA was extracted, and used as template to clone the complete nucleoprotein (N) gene by RT-PCR amplification. Cloning and sequencing of the SCRV N protein revealed 42%-31% amino acid identities to that of trout rhabdovirus 903/87 and the rhabdoviruses in genus Vesiculovirus. SDS-PAGE separation of the isolated SCRV and other two rhabdoviruses also revealed obvious polypeptide profile difference. Moreover, the anti-SCRV N protein antibody was prepared, and the anti-SCRV N protein antibody only could recognize the SCRV N protein, whereas no antigenicity was detected in other two rhabdoviruses. The data suggested that the SCRV should be a rhabdovirus member related to the genus Vesiculovirus in the Rhabdoviridae. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Three different viruses observed from the tissues of diseased mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi

Three different kinds of viruses, the spherical virus SCSV with a diameter of about 280 nm, the rhabdovirus SCRV with a size about 250 x 120 nm, and the baculovirus SCBV with a size about 200 x 100 nm, were observed from the tissues of diseased mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi with outbreak of infection and acute lethality. This phenomenon implicated that the reason why the epizootic disease of mandarin fish could not be quenched by only one kind of virus vaccine can be explained by the fact that the fish may be infected by different kinds of viruses. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the complexity of virus pathogens in the prevention strategy for mandarin fish diseases.

Viruses' complete genomes classification based on geometrical learning

In this paper, we proposed a method of classification for viruses' complete genomes based on graph geometrical theory in order to viruses classification. Firstly, a model of triangular geometrical graph was put forward, and then constructed feature-space-samples-graphs for classes of viruses' complete genomes in feature space after feature extraction and normalization. Finally, we studied an algorithm for classification of viruses' complete genomes based on feature-space-samples-graphs. Compared with the BLAST algorithm, experiments prove its efficiency.

HIV-1 C亚型密码子优化gp120负载人DC疫苗的构建及体外功能

目的构建HIV-1C亚型gp120负载人树突状细胞(dentriti ccell,DC)疫苗,并对其体外功能进行初步检测。方法利用Amaxa细胞核转染技术将pcDNA3.1-gp120质粒转染至人成熟DC,以Western blot检测gp120的表达。通过流式细胞仪检测DC表面共刺激分子的变化、混合淋巴细胞反应、CD8+T细胞表面活化分子CD25的表达及其分泌IFN-γ的变化。结果通过Western blot检测,gp120在DC中得到了正确表达。经流式细胞仪检测,DC表面分子CD80表达率由刺激前的33.34%上升至43.20%,CD86表达率由刺激前的60.08%上升至90.34%;负载gp120DC刺激淋巴细胞增殖率为86.72%;CD8+T细胞表面分子CD25表达率由刺激前的5.27%上升至74.21%,IFN-γ的表达率达37%。结论负载了HIV-1gp120的人树突状细胞能够显著刺激淋巴细胞的增殖、增强CD8+T细胞表面活化分子CD25表达以及促进CD8+T细胞分泌IFN-γ,为下一步DC治疗性疫苗的体内研究奠定基础。

基于Vif-APOBEC3G相互作用的抗HIV-1药物研究

载脂蛋白B mRNA编辑酶催化多肽样蛋白3G(apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalyticpolypeptidelike3G,APOBEC3G或A3G)是人体天然抗病毒分子,可以使病毒逆转录形成的cDNA的胞嘧啶(C)脱氨为尿嘧啶(U),产生鸟嘌呤(G)→腺嘌呤(A)超突变,导致病毒转录产物突变,从而达到抑制病毒复制的作用。HIV-1的辅助蛋白Vif,可与APOBEC3G相互作用并导致其被降解,使得这一天然抗病毒机制失效,进而增强了HIV的感染力。Vif与APOBEC3G这种相互作用为抗HIV药物提供了新靶点。针对Vif-APOBEC3G相互作用的抗HIV抑制剂已经成为研究热点。本文综述了Vif和APOBEC3G的结构、二者的相互作用,以及基于这一相互作用的抗HIV-1抑制剂研究进展。

6-(1H-吲哚-3-甲基)-5-乙基-3H-嘧啶-4-酮类化合物的合成及抗HIV活性研究

基于二氢烷氧苄基嘧啶酮(DABO)类非核苷类逆转录酶抑制剂(NNRTIs)的构效关系研究,设计合成了2个新的6-(1H-吲哚-3-甲基)-5-乙基-3H-嘧啶-4-酮类化合物,并采用C8166细胞进行了体外抗HIV活性测试,为新型S-DABO类非核苷类逆转录酶抑制剂结构修饰提出了新的设想.

天花粉蛋白抗HIV．1构效关系及机制探讨

目的研究TCS抗HIV-1的构效关系并对机制进行探讨。方法蛋白工程技术构建14个TCS突变 体，测定各种TCS突变体的细胞毒性和抗HIV恬性。结果活性中心突变体TCSM(120—123)与TcSEl60A／E189A在失 去绝大部分RI活性的同时，也几乎完全失去抗HIV活性。而另一个活性中心突变体TCSRl22G，RI活性下降160 倍，却仍保留一定的抗HIV活性。TCSC末端删除突变体(TCS(2，TCSo和TCScl。)抗HIV活性的下降(1．4—4．8 倍)与其RI活性呈平行下降(1．2—3．3倍)；分别在C末端加上末端19个氨基酸延伸肽或KDEL信号肽的突变体 TCscl9。与TQkDEL，虽然保留全部的RI活性，但却几乎完全失去抗HIV活性；TCS抗原决定簇位点突变后对TCS 抗HIV．1括性没有显著影响，但当在抗原决定簇突变体所引入的Cys残基上加上PEG20K后，这些突变体则显著降 低了抗HIV-1的活性。TCS不能抑制HIV一1进入宿主细胞；对感染细胞和未感染细胞的融合没有抑制作用；TCS 也不能抑制HIV一1 rRT活性；TCS对病毒颗粒的直接杀伤作用不大。结论TCS抗HIV-1活性与其Rl活性显著 相关，但似乎又不是唯一的决定因素；TCS C末端氨基酸的突变影响其抗HIV．1活性；在C末端增加KDEL信号肽 序列及19aa尾肽并不能增加其抗HIV活性；抗原决定簇突变体以及PEG20K偶联TCS抗原决定簇突变体体外抗 HIV-1活性下降；抗HIV．1机制可能与对感染细胞的间接作用有关。

AIDS猕猴模型在HIV疫苗研究中的应用

：对HIV 疫苗的研究一直是国际上艾滋病方面研究的热点和难点。动物模型则为疫苗研究必不可缺少的 重要工具，缺乏合适的动物模型很大程度上制约了AIDS疫苗的研究。目前在国际上SIV 或SHIV 感染的猕猴模 型为最常用的AIDS研究模型，受猕猴背景及病毒特性等多种因素的影响，使得以上两种模型在HIV疫苗研究中 仍存在一定的局限性。为了更好地发挥猕猴模型在HIV疫苗研究中的巨大潜力，开发理想的AIDS猕猴模型已成 为目前HIV疫苗研究的首要任务。本文简要介绍了AIDS疫苗的研发策略、研发概况以及SIV／SHIV猕猴模型在 HIV疫苗中的应用，并对其中存在的问题及其应用前景进行了探讨。

纳米银体外抗HIV 活性的研究

［ 目的］ 制备纳米银颗粒并检测其抗人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV） 活性及其体内外毒性， 探讨纳米银体外抗 HIV 的作用机制。［ 方法］ 在体外培养C8166 细胞中加入不同浓度的纳米银， 检测其体外细胞毒性CC50； 不同病毒株 感染细胞， 同时加入不同浓度的纳米银， 孵育后检测细胞病变及病毒抗原， 检测纳米银对HIV 的抑制作用。纳米银滴鼻 处理小鼠， 检测小鼠体重变化， 并进行病理切片， 观察纳米银滴鼻处理小鼠的肝、肾及肺组织的病理变化。［ 结果］ 纳米银颗粒对C8166 细胞毒性的CC50 为105.73 μg ／ ml， 抑制HIV 实验株HIV-1IIIB， HIV-2CBL-20 诱导细胞病变的 EC50 分别为26.56 μg ／ ml 和35.47 μg ／ ml； 抑制HIV-1IIIB p24 抗原产生的EC50 为9.80 μg ／ ml； 直接杀病毒作用的EC50 为 12.08 μg ／ ml。纳米银经滴鼻处理的小鼠， 其体重及肝、肾及肺组织切片与对照组比较， 均无明显改变。［ 结论］ 纳米 银有较好的抗HIV 活性， 作用机制可能主要通过直接杀病毒来抑制HIV 的复制； 纳米银在呼吸道黏膜局部应用无明显 的毒副作用， 作为黏膜表面抗病毒药物， 值得进一步深入研究。