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They identify a molecule that inhibits the ability of HIV infection

Scientists from Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology in the U.S. have discovered a new agent that could inhibit the ability of HIV infection. The study results are published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry ‘.

The agent, called surfeno disables the action of a factor in semen that greatly increases the viral infection. The surfeno could be used as a supplement in the current HIV microbicides to substantially reduce transmission of HIV during sexual contact.

The surfeno is a small molecule that inhibits the actions of certain molecules of polysaccharides called heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPG, according to its acronym in English) found on the surface of cells. The surfeno also interferes with the action of the promoter of the semen-derived viral infection (SEVI).

Warner explains Greene, head of the study, “surprisingly, although HIV replicates immediately once it is in the body, the virus struggle to establish a main line of infection during sexual transmission. SEVI We have been studying as a factor present naturally in semen of HIV that can convert thousands of times more infectious. Learn more about the surfeno, SEVI inhibitor, could afford to reduce rates of HIV transmission.

SEVI is a byproduct of a common protein in semen and under certain circumstances can increase the infectivity of HIV per 100,000 to facilitate the binding of virus to cells it targets. As most HIV infections occur through sexual contact, SEVI could have a significant impact on HIV transmission rates. The surfeno interferes with the binding of SEVI to target cells and HIV-1 virions but not its decomposition.

Initially, the researchers found that negatively charged polymers such as heparin sulphate, interfere with the binding of SEVI to target cells. This led them to hypothesize that SEVI fibrils bind to target cells by interacting with cell surface HSPG, anionic carbohydrate polymers that occur naturally with a structure resembling the heparin sulfate .

The scientists examined HSPG antagonists could interfere with the binding of SEVI the virus and target cells. They focused on surfeno, identified in 1938 and was known its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. The authors found that increased surfeno inhibits the infectivity of HIV-1 mediated SEVI or semen. After surfeno showed that interferes with the binding of SEVI both HIV target cells and its virions.