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Synthetic peptides coupled to the lipotripeptide P3CSS induce in vivo B and Thelper cell responses to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

To evaluate the ability of the lipotripeptide P3CSS to increase peptide-specific immune responses in vivo, we immunized mice from different inbred strains (BALB/c, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6) with the 22-mer lipopeptide conjugates P3CSS-[RT-(522-543)] and P3CSS-[RT-(528-549)] of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) which included an immunodominant Th epitope [i.e. RT-(528-543)] characterized previously. Analysis of T and B cell responses to these lipopeptide conjugates indicated that specific Th responses could be readily induced in vivo. The peptide segments could also efficiently prime mice for secondary recognition of native RT. The use of shorter peptides permitted a delineation of the minimal T cell recognition site of this RT C-terminal region [i.e. RT-(528-540)]. Close to this T cell epitope we identified a B cell determinant containing the motif EQVD [RT-(546-549)] which was recognized in three different strains of mice (H-2b, H-2d and H-2k). A comparison with X-ray analysis of the C-terminal region of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase indicated exposed positions of these Th and B cell epitopes. Both the presence of T and B cell sites and its limited polymorphism make the region RT-(528-549) a promising candidate for vaccine design. The use of the P3CSS adjuvant/carrier principle as a nontoxic adjuvant may be of major importance in the development of vaccines applicable to humans.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Direct observation of reverse transcriptases by scanning tunneling microscopy.

First images on a nanometer scale of reverse transcriptases (RT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and of the Moloney murine leukemia virus (MuLV) obtained by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) are reported. The common feature of the observed molecules is a ring-type or horseshoe shape with hole diameters of approximately 30 A. The STM images are compared with high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and existing structure predictions. The similarities of the structural data obtained by STM and TEM and their agreement with the structure prediction for the RT of HIV-1 shows the principal possibility to image such biomolecules by STM.

Crystallization↗

[Analysis of contact interfaces of HIV reverse transcriptase subunits].

Analysis of structure and features of subunit contact areas of reverse transcriptase (RT) HIV was done. The amino acid residues from contact areas of RT subunits are more conservative than the rest residues of the protein. Estimation of contribution of the amino acid residues from contact areas in binding energy of subunits showed that binding energy is mostly localized on the several amino acid residues of the dimer interface (hot spots). The majority of these hot spots form several clusters on contact surfaces. Analysis of these clusters allows to predict the region on the contact area of protein dimer that can be useful for design the inhibitors of dimerization of RT HIV.

Amino Acids↗

Single-step kinetics of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase mutants responsible for virus resistance to nucleoside inhibitors zidovudine and 3-TC.

Two mutants of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) associated with high-level resistance of the virus to AZT (RT-AZT: D67N, K70R, T215Y, K219Q, and M41L) or 3-TC (RT-3TC: M184V) were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. None of these mutants showed significant changes in the affinity and kinetics of binding to a DNA/DNA primer/template. RT-AZT was investigated in detail with respect to its kinetics of incorporation of nucleotides. No change in the relative rates of TMP and AZTMP incorporation could be detected for RT-AZT with respect to wild type RT. These results imply that there is no increased discrimination against AZTTP in the mutant. This was found for DNA/DNA and DNA/RNA primer/template. Additionally, rapid kinetics of incorporation of 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-monophosphate (a possible metabolite of AZT) were investigated and compared with TMP incorporation, but no difference in its relative rates of incorporation between wild type RT and RT-AZT was detected. In contrast, the already very slow rate of incorporation of 3-TCMP seen with wild type enzyme was drastically reduced (by a factor of 23 and 36 with DNA/DNA primer/template and DNA/RNA primer/template, respectively) for RT-3TC, showing a clear correlation between in vitro and in vivo effects. The affinity of 3-TCTP to the RT-3TC-primer/template complex was not affected by the mutation M184V. A 1.6-fold cross-resistance to ddATP, the converted form of the prodrug ddI, could also be shown for RT-3TC, but no cross-resistance to ddCTP was detected. Additionally, rapid kinetics of AZTMP incorporation by RT-3TC were investigated. There was an indication of a slightly higher rate of incorporation of AZTMP by RT-3TC than wild type RT.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Different patterns of inhibition of avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase activity by 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate and its threo isomer.

The two isomers 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate (erythro-AZT-TP) and 1-(3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-beta-D-xylofuranosyl)thymine 5'-triphosphate (threo-AZT-TP) were studied as inhibitors of the reverse transcriptase activity of avian myelobastosis virus. Kinetic analysis of the (rA)n X (dT)12-18 (a standard template primer complex of polyriboadenylate and oligodeoxythymidylate of indicated length)-directed reaction revealed that erythro-AZT-TP was a competitive inhibitor with respect to dTTP, whereas threo-AZT-TP was a noncompetitive inhibitor. The apparent Ki values, as calculated from Dixon plots, were 0.48 and 5.5 microM, respectively, compared with a Km value for dTTP of about 70 microM. These results indicate that erythro-AZT-TP had an approximately 150-times-higher affinity to the enzyme than dTTP had and that the avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase had different binding sites for the two isomers.

Avian Leukosis Virus↗

Infectious amplification of wild-type human immunodeficiency virus from patients' lymphocytes and modulation by reverse transcriptase inhibitors in vitro.

The relative in vitro potency of nine human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors was evaluated in a coculture assay which measures the frequencies of infectious primary cells from HIV-positive patients by the limiting dilution technique and measures their apparent reduction under increasing concentrations of drugs. An advantage of this assay is that it utilizes a variety of wild-type viruses not selected by in vitro propagation. Potency ranking placed the (-)-L-enantiomer of 2',3'-dideoxy-5-fluoro-3'-thiacytidine [(-)-FTC], an oxathiolane pyrimidine nucleoside analog (90% effective concentration = 55 nM), before 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (DDC) (74 nM), (-)-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC) (300 nM), 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) (530 nM), TIBO R82913 (670 nM), and 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (DDI) (6,400 nM). HIV from AZT-naive patients' lymphocytes was more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of (-)-FTC, 3TC, or DDC than was highly AZT-resistant HIV obtained from AZT-treated patients' cells, indicating partial cross-resistance between thymidine and cytidine analogs. Combined inhibitory concentrations of AZT with (-)-FTC, 3TC, DDC, and DDI produced synergistic interactions as determined by the multiple-drug effect analysis. Synergistic interactions were demonstrable with AZT plus (-)-FTC or with AZT plus DDC with cells bearing AZT-resistant HIV. The inhibitory concentrations of AZT established by this cell-to-cell virus transmission assay are closer than those determined by the conventional assay system to the extracellular AZT concentrations required in patients' plasma to achieve comparable levels of HIV inhibition in vivo.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Inhibition of reverse transcriptases by flavonoids.

Selected naturally occurring flavonoids were shown to inhibit three reverse transcriptases (RT): avian myeloblastosis (AMV) RT, Rous-associated virus-2 (RAV-2) RT and Maloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV) RT when poly (rA)oligo(dT)12-18 or rabbit globin mRNA were used as template. Amentoflavone, scutellarein and quercetin were the most active compounds and their effect was concentration-dependent. The enzymes exhibited differential sensitivity to the inhibitory effects of the flavonoids. The compounds also inhibited rabbit globin mRNA-directed, MMLV RT-catalyzed DNA synthesis. Amentoflavone and scutellarein inhibited ongoing new DNA synthesis catalyzed by RAV-2 RT. Kinetic studies were performed in an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of action of amentoflavone and scutellarein. A model is proposed for the mechanism of action of the flavonoids on RT activity.

Animals↗

Gln145Met/Leu changes in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase confer resistance to nucleoside and nonnucleoside analogs and impair virus replication.

The frequencies of multidrug resistance-associated mutations at codons 145, 151, and 69 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) gene in strains from a group of 3,595 highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-experienced patients were 0.22, 2.36, and 0.86%, respectively. Several amino acid substitutions different from the recently reported Gln145Met change (S. Paolucci, F. Baldanti, M. Tinelli, G. Maga, and G. Gerna, AIDS 17:924-927, 2003) were detected at position 145. Thus, amino acid substitutions selected at position 145 were introduced into the wild-type HIV type 1 (HIV-1) RT gene by site-directed mutagenesis, and recombinant HIV strains were assayed for their drug susceptibilities. Only Met and Leu substitutions at position 145 of the HIV-1 RT conferred multidrug resistance, while other amino acid changes did not. Lower levels of replication of the Gln145Met recombinant strain compared with those of both Gln151Met and wild-type recombinant strains were observed. In in vitro inhibition assays, expression and purification of the recombinant Gln145Met HIV-1 RT revealed a strong loss of catalytic efficiency of the mutated enzyme, as well as significant resistance to both zidovudine and efavirenz. Specific amino acid substitutions in the HIV RT nucleotide-binding pocket might affect both antiretroviral drug recognition and binding and decrease the level of virus replication, possibly by interfering with the enzyme activity. This finding may explain the lower frequency of Gln145Met/Leu mutations observed compared with the frequencies of Gln151Met/Leu mutations and the insertion at position 69 in HAART-experienced patients.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Application of directly coupled LC-NMR-MS to the structural elucidation of metabolites of the HIV-1 reverse-transcriptase inhibitor BW935U83.

The human in vivo metabolism of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor 5-chloro-1-(2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-erythro-pentofuranosyl)uracil (BW935U83) was studied using 19F NMR spectroscopy, directly coupled LC-NMR and LC-NMR-MS. The number and relative proportions of the drug metabolites were obtained from 19F NMR spectra of whole human urine. The novel use of the continuous-flow 19F detected LC-NMR experiment yielded chromatographic retention times and 19F chemical shifts for the parent drug, the glucuronide conjugate of the parent and an early eluting polar metabolite. The parent drug and its glucuronide conjugate were easily characterised by directly coupled 1H LC-NMR spectroscopy and two-dimensional TOCSY experiments. The identification of the second metabolite was achieved using 19F NMR and directly coupled 1H LC-NMR-MS which furnished the molecular weight, and through the use of MS-MS techniques, information on the fragment ions. This species was identified as 3-fluoro-ribolactone.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Comparison of dual nucleoside-analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitor regimens with and without nelfinavir in children with HIV-1 who have not previously been treated: the PENTA 5 randomised trial.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment options for children with HIV-1 are limited. We aimed to compare activity and safety of three dual-nucleoside analogue reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) regimens with or without a protease inhibitor in previously untreated children with HIV-1. METHODS: In our multicentre trial, we randomly assigned 36 children to zidovudine and lamivudine, 45 to zidovudine and abacavir, and 47 to lamivudine and abacavir. Children who were symptom-free (n=55) were also randomly assigned to receive nelfinavir or placebo. Children with more advanced disease received open-label nelfinavir (73). Primary endpoints were change in plasma HIV-1 RNA at 24 and 48 weeks for the NRTI comparison and occurrence of serious adverse events for both randomised comparisons. Analyses were by intention to treat. FINDINGS: Children had a median CD4 percentage of 22% (IQR 15-29) and a mean HIV-1 RNA concentration of 5.0 log copies/mL (SD 0.8). One child was lost to follow-up and one died of sepsis. At 48 weeks, in the zidovudine/lamivudine, zidovudine/abacavir, and lamivudine/abacavir groups, mean HIV-1 RNA had decreased by 1.71, 2.19, and 2.63 log copies/mL, respectively (estimated in absence of nelfinavir) (p=0.02 after adjustment for baseline factors). One child had a hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir; and three with possible reactions stopped abacavir. There were 24 serious adverse events--six in the symptom-free children (all on nelfinavir), but none were attributed to nelfinavir. INTERPRETATION: Regimens containing abacavir were more effective than zidovudine/lamivudine. Such regimens could be combined with protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for safe and effective treatment of previously untreated children with HIV-1.

Adolescent↗

Column selection and method development for the determination of the enantiomeric purity of investigational non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

DPC 961 and DPC 083 are investigational non-nucleoside reversed transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) being evaluated for the treatment of HIV infections (Corbett et al., Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1999;43:2893-2897). Both compounds are chiral and are synthesized as single enantiomers by an asymmetric synthetic pathway (Magnus et al., Tetrahedron Lett 2000;41:3015-3019). A chiral method was developed to control the enantiomeric purity of the drug substance and to monitor for any chiral inversion in the drug substance and in the tablet formulation during stability studies. Three columns were evaluated: Chiralpak AD, Chirobiotic V, and Whelk-O. All three columns have broad applicability and can resolve enantiomers of compounds of very diverse molecular structure and polarity. The three columns were evaluated with various mobile phase compositions for their ability to resolve the racemic mixtures of DPC 083, DPC 961, and their respective enantiomers and for their selectivity toward the synthetic impurities of the two drug substances. Nonaqueous mobile phases were selected because the two drugs are poorly water soluble. The separation between the unwanted enantiomer of DPC 083 and DPC 961, which is a major impurity of DPC 083, in particular, was closely monitored. The final method was fully validated and is used for the routine testing of the drug substance and tablets.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Human antibodies responsible for binding inhibition and polymerization inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase.

Using a solid-phase non-radioisotopic (non-RI) reverse transcriptase (RT) assay, antibodies inhibiting human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RT activity (RTI antibody) were investigated for their ability to inhibit binding of RT to a template-primer and DNA polymerization. The RTI antibody inhibited the binding of RT to the template-primer (BI antibody), and directly reacted with the RT-template-primer complex and inhibited enzymatic activity (PI antibody). The RTI antibody interfered with formation of the RT-template-primer complex suggesting that it recognized the antigenic site involved in template-primer binding of RT molecules. Since deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) blocked inhibition of the RT activity by the PI antibody, the antigenic site recognized by the PI antibody may be closely related to the dNTP binding site. The seropositivities of the BI and PI antibodies were 84.6% and 91.2%, respectively, in HIV-1-infected individuals; healthy individuals, HTLV-I-positive individuals, autoimmune disease patients and leukemia patients were all seronegative. No significant correlation of residual RT activities was observed when BI and PI antibodies were compared (r = 0.688). It is possible that the epitopes recognized by the BI antibody differs from those recognized by the PI antibody. The assays described are able to detect BI and PI antibodies in the sera of HIV-1-infected individuals.

Animals↗

Antibodies to reverse transcriptase in HIV infection and progression to AIDS.

Serum antibodies to the reverse transcriptase (ART) of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) were sequentially determined by ELISA in a group of 41 HIV-seropositive male homosexuals and 101 matched healthy controls, over 1.5-6 years (mean follow-up 3.25 years). Mean ART levels were significantly higher in the patient group as compared to the controls (195 +/- 75 vs. 75 +/- 45 absorbance (A) units; P less than 0.05). When analyzed in parallel with clinical evaluation and T-cell subset determinations, a "surge" in ART activity was associated with a more favourable course: eleven patients whose ART profile showed an increase greater than 100 A units (mean delta A 159.6 units) showed an attenuated decrease of CD4+ (T helper) lymphocytes with a mean time of 42.5 months to reach a CD4+ number of 400 cells/mm3. In contrast, 25 matched seropositive patients whose ART remained constant became CD4+ less than 400 cells/mm3 within a mean time of 10.8 months (P less than 0.05). These results as well as individual patients' data support a surge in serum ART as a favourable prognostic indicator, and may indicate a protective role for this antibody which should be followed up and possibly utilized in the treatment or in the design of a vaccine against HIV-1.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay for mouse androgen receptor mRNA.

A quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for mouse androgen receptor (AR) mRNA was developed to study relative changes in AR gene expression. Serial dilutions of a standard comprising a fragment of the ampicillin resistance gene flanked by the primer sequences of the AR mRNA were added to a constant amount of total RNA for RT-PCR. Primers were designed to generate a 541-bp fragment of mouse AR mRNA (target [T]) and a 460-bp fragment of the standard (S). PCR products were resolved by gel electrophoresis and quantitated by densitometry. A standard curve was generated for each sample by plotting the logarithm of T/S products vs the logarithm of the amount of S added. The amount of T was determined from the standard curve where intensities of PCR products of T and S were equal. The assay was validated by measuring the relative abundance of AR mRNA in 10 mouse tissues, and results were consistent with studies of AR expression in rat tissues. Assay reproducibility, tested by repeating assays on four different tissues on different days from the RT step, had a coefficient of variation of 6-16%. The current assay is thus both reproducible and valid in quantitation of mouse AR mRNA.

Adrenal Glands↗

[The study on purification and characterization of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase from a recombinant strain of E. coli].

Of the HIV proteins, reverse transcriptase(RT) has been probably the most useful target protein for screening and designing of its specific inhibitors. Because retroviral replication is absolutely dependent on both the RNase H and the polymerase function of RT and, so far as is now known, RT does not play a direct role in the life cycle of a normal cell. Under suitable fermentation conditions in our experiments, HIV-1 RT was highly expressed in E. coli JM109(pKRT-2)* by inducing the trc promoter with isopropyl-beta-Dthiogalactopyranoside(IPTG). 1. 1 mg of purified RT was obtained from one liter culture of bacteria by DEAE-cellulose and phosphaellulose chromatography. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified RT showed two major protein bands of 66 kD and 51 kD, indicating that the purified RT was a heterodimer composed of two subunits. Results of enzyme assay showed that the purified RT had high activity(1.4 x 10(4) umit/mg). We also improved the reaction system of enzyme assay. The effect of PFA on HIV-1 RT was determined with the improved enzyme assay and the mechanism of inhibition was non-competitive with respect to substrate consistent with the reports of Dr. Bo Oberg. This suggests that the purified HIV-1 RT by this simple method can be applied to the anti HIV-1-drug screening. (*E. coli JM109(pKRT2) was obtained from NIAID, NIH; pKRT2 from Dr. Richard D'Aquila and Dr. William C. Summers.)

Escherichia coli↗

Optimization of the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for the detection of circulating prostate cells.

The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is a sensitive technique that can detect prostate-specific messenger RNA in circulating blood. Many authors have studied the potential of RT-PCR as a staging technique in prostate cancer (PC). Clinical sensitivity and in some cases specificity has been disappointing. Few authors have been able to correlate RT-PCR result with patient stage. We have compared the results of using two different RT-PCR protocols with different sensitivities on blood samples from prostate cancer patients. An 80-amplification-cycle nested primer RT-PCR assay had a detection limit of 10 prostate cells and a 50-cycle RT-PCR could detect 20 cells in 5 ml blood. The 80-cycle assay detected prostate mRNA in four of 10 female samples, whereas the 50-cycle assay detected it in none. There was little difference in the assays' ability to detect prostate mRNA in advanced PC patients. The 50-cycle assay could differentiate between hormone-escaped, stable hormone-treated and untreated localized PC patients, whereas the 80-cycle assay could not. Each blood sample must be assayed several times with RT-PCR to avoid false-negative results and, if this is done, assay specificity can be increased with little effect on clinical sensitivity.

False Negative Reactions↗

Interaction of HIV reverse transcriptase with structures mimicking recombination intermediates.

Interactions between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) and structures mimicking intermediates proposed to occur during recombination (strand transfer) were investigated. One mechanism proposed for strand transfer is strand exchange in which a homologous RNA (acceptor) "invades" a donor RNA.DNA duplex (replication intermediate) on which DNA synthesis is occurring. The acceptor displaces the donor of the duplex and binds to the DNA. During exchange a transient trimeric structure forms. A model structure was designed with a replication intermediate to which an acceptor RNA was bound. The acceptor was bound to the 5'-end of the DNA over a 54-base region, whereas the donor associated with the DNA 3'-end over a 28-base region. The dimeric constituents of the trimer (acceptor RNA.DNA and donor RNA.DNA) were also constructed. The acceptor RNA.DNA formed a branched structure in this case. Results showed that RT could cleave the RNA portion of all the structures examined. Association with junction substrates was less stable as determined by off-rates. On the trimer, RT cleaved both RNAs but showed a clear preference for cleaving the donor RNA region. This preference was accentuated by HIV nucleocapsid protein (NC). Results suggest that during recombination RT generally associates with the donor-RNA portion of the trimer and the acceptor RNA is protected but not immune from cleavage. The partial protection likely allows the acceptor RNA to more easily complete strand exchange and shield this RNA to provide a means to salvage replication if the DNA were to dissociate from the cleaved donor RNA.

DNA Replication↗