title: Abasic phosphorothioate oligomers inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcription and block virus transmission across polarized ectocervical organ cultures.
abstract: In the absence of universally available antiretroviral (ARV) drugs or a vaccine against HIV-1, microbicides may offer the most immediate hope for controlling the AIDS pandemic. The most advanced and clinically effective microbicides are based on ARV agents that interfere with the earliest stages of HIV-1 replication. Our objective was to identify and characterize novel ARV-like inhibitors, as well as demonstrate their efficacy at blocking HIV-1 transmission. Abasic phosphorothioate 2' deoxyribose backbone (PDB) oligomers were evaluated in a variety of mechanistic assays and for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection and virus transmission through primary human cervical mucosa. Cellular and biochemical assays were used to elucidate the antiviral mechanisms of action of PDB oligomers against both lab-adapted and primary CCR5- and CXCR4-utilizing HIV-1 strains, including a multidrug-resistant isolate. A polarized cervical organ culture was used to test the ability of PDB compounds to block HIV-1 transmission to primary immune cell populations across ectocervical tissue. The antiviral activity and mechanisms of action of PDB-based compounds were dependent on oligomer size, with smaller molecules preventing reverse transcription and larger oligomers blocking viral entry. Importantly, irrespective of molecular size, PDBs potently inhibited virus infection and transmission within genital tissue samples. Furthermore, the PDB inhibitors exhibited excellent toxicity and stability profiles and were found to be safe for vaginal application in vivo. These results, coupled with the previously reported intrinsic anti-inflammatory properties of PDBs, support further investigations in the development of PDB-based topical microbicides for preventing the global spread of HIV-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Immunology and Vaccine Science, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fraietta
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Immunology and Vaccine Science, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Yvonne M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Immunology and Vaccine Science, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Karissa L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lozenski
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Deena
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ratner
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Immunology and Vaccine Science, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Alina C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Boesteanu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Immunology and Vaccine Science, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Aidan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.affiliation: Southern Research Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lackman-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Isaac J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Zentner
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Irwin M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Chaiken
authors.affiliation: HIV Drug Resistance Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Suhman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: HIV Drug Resistance Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart F J
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: LeGrice
authors.affiliation: Southern Research Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.affiliation: Southern Research Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Marie K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mankowski
authors.affiliation: Southern Research Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Natalie M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Immunology and Vaccine Science, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hope
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Phalguni
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Main Line Fertility Center, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Immunology and Vaccine Science, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wigdahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Center for Immunology and Vaccine Science, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA peter.katsikis@drexelmed.edu.
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Katsikis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology; D003855:Deoxyribose / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D054735:Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048348:Reverse Transcription / Q000187:drug effects*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014621:Vagina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D053586:Virus Internalization / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C584933:CCR5 protein, human; C527276:CXCR4 protein, human; D054735:Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D003855:Deoxyribose