Cyanovirin-N gel as a topical microbicide prevents rectal transmission of SHIV89.6P in macaques.
Cyanovirin-N (CV-N), an 11-kDa cyanobacterial protein, potently inactivates diverse strains of HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and also prevents virus-to-cell fusion, virus entry, and infection of cells in vitro. These properties make CV-N an attractive candidate for use as a topical microbicide to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. We evaluated the efficacy of gel-formulated, recombinant CV-N gel asa topical microbicide in male macaques (Macaca fascicularis) that were rectally challenged with a chimeric SIV/HIV-1 virus known as SHIV89.6P. All of the untreated macaques were infected and experienced CD4+T cell depletion. In contrast, none of the macaques that received either 1% or 2% CV-N gel showed evidence of SHIV89.6P infection. Neither CV-N nor placebo gels produced any adverse effects in any macaque following the rectal application. These results indicate that CV-N gel as a topical microbicide can prevent rectal transmission of SHIV in macaques. These studies encourage clinical evaluation of CV-N as a topical microbicide to prevent sexual transmission of HIV in humans.
Tsai
Che-Chung
CC
Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA. cctsai@u.washington.edu
Emau
Peter
P
Jiang
Yonghou
Y
Tian
Baoping
B
Morton
William R
WR
Gustafson
Kirk R
KR
Boyd
Michael R
MR
D000285:Administration, Rectal; D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005782:Gels; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000821:virology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012449:Safety; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005782:Gels; C107733:cyanovirin N