HIV-derived HR1 peptides modified to form stable trimers, and their use in therapy to inhibit transmission of human immunodeficiency virus

摘要

Provided are synthetic peptides comprising amino acid sequence from the HR1 region of HIV-1 gp41, and having one or more amino acid substitutions in a hydrophobic domain of the HR1 region of HIV-1 gp41. As a result of the one or more amino acid substitutions in the hydrophobic domain, synthetic peptide self-assembles into trimers in solution. Also provided are trimers resulting from self-association of synthetic peptide. Additionally provided are methods of using these compositions to inhibit transmission of HIV to a target cell, or to inhibit HIV fusion to a target cell, wherein the methods involve adding an effective amount of synthetic peptide (or trimer formed therefrom) to inhibit viral transmission or viral fusion, respectively.