Hepatitis C virus NS5A anchor peptide disrupts human immunodeficiency virus.
In the absence of an effective vaccine, there is an urgent need for safe and effective antiviral agents to prevent transmission of HIV. Here, we report that an amphipathic alpha-helical peptide derived from the hepatitis C virus NS5A anchor domain (designated C5A in this article) that has been shown to be virocidal for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) also has potent antiviral activity against HIV. C5A exhibits a broad range of antiviral activity against HIV isolates, and it prevents infection of the three in vivo targets of HIV: CD4(+) T lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells by disrupting the integrity of the viral membrane and capsid core while preserving the integrity of host membranes. C5A can interrupt an ongoing T cell infection, and it can prevent transmigration of HIV through primary genital epithelial cells, infection of mucosal target cells and transfer from dendritic cells to T cells ex vivo, justifying future experiments to determine whether C5A can prevent HIV transmission in vivo.
Bobardt
Michael D
MD
Departments of Immunology and Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Cheng
Guofeng
G
de Witte
Lot
L
Selvarajah
Suganya
S
Chatterji
Udayan
U
Sanders-Beer
Brigitte E
BE
Geijtenbeek
Teunis B H
TB
Chisari
Francis V
FV
Gallay
Philippe A
PA
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000821:virology; D006678:HIV / Q000187:drug effects*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000821:virology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C087036:NS-5 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012324:RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase