Reconsidering targeted toxins to eliminate HIV infection: you gotta have HAART.
The success of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has inspired new concepts for eliminating HIV from infected individuals. A major obstacle is the persistence of long-lived reservoirs of latently infected cells that might become activated at some time after cessation of therapy. We propose that, in the context of treatment strategies to deliberately activate and eliminate these reservoirs, hybrid toxins targeted to kill HIV-infected cells be reconsidered in combination with HAART. Such combinations might also prove valuable in protocols aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission and establishment of infection immediately after exposure to HIV. We suggest experimental approaches in vitro and in animal models to test various issues related to safety and efficacy of this concept.
Berger
E A
EA
Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. edwardvberger@nih.gov
Moss
B
B
Pastan
I
I
D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000187:drug effects; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011533:Proviruses / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; C057689:CD4-Pseudomonas toxin; D005098:Exotoxins; D015686:Gene Products, env; D000922:Immunotoxins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014118:Toxins, Biological