MULTIPLE BRANCH PEPTIDE CONSTRUCTIONS FOR USE AGAINST HIV

摘要

Multiple branch peptide constructions formed from peptides derived from the V3 loop of gp120 protein of HIV-1, and including the consensus sequence GPGR preceded by 0 to 4 amino acids and succeeded by 2 to 4 amino acids, preferably not including I in the 3 amino acids immediately preceding GPGR and most preferably GPGRAF, show increased receptor affinity and prevent cell-to-cell fusion. They have a direct virostatic effect. Because they present the same peptide sequence several times, these MBPCs are able to neutralize in vitro the different steps of virus envelope/cell membrane fusion, and infected cel l membrane/uninfected cell membrane fusion of several strains of HIV-1 and HIV-2. Notably, they are effective in blockading both CD4 receptors on lymphocytes and macrophages and GalCer receptors on colon epithelial cells. These results open a potential use in treatment o f HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection.