The first treatments for HIV-1/AIDS targeted the viral enzymes, reverse transcriptase and protease; more recently, compounds that block viral fusion/entry have also been developed. HIV-1 regulatory proteins are considered to be more difficult drug targets, not least because ways to…
Blog Archives
‘Shock and Kill’ Tactics to Eradicate HIV-1
Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has proved effective at controlling HIV-1 replication, eradication of the virus from an infected individual cannot be achieved with current treatments. Latently infected, resting memory CD4+ T-cells and macrophages act as reservoirs for the…
Deuterium is Go
Concert Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline recently announced a collaboration to develop deuterium-containing medicines, including CTP-518, a partially deuterated version of the HIV protease inhibitor, atazanavir (Reyataz™), marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Reyataz™ is used in combination therapy to treat HIV/AIDS and, for…
New Vaccination Approach Protects Against SIV
In 1984, shortly after the confirmation of HIV as the causative agent of AIDS, the then United States Health and Human Services Secretary declared that a vaccine would be available within two years. Despite intensive efforts in many laboratories around…
Awakening a Dormant Defense Against HIV-1
Despite enormous efforts worldwide, there is still no effective way to prevent transmission of HIV-1. Some non-human primates produce θ-defensins (retrocyclins), which act as HIV-1 entry inhibitors by inhibiting fusion of HIV-1 Env. In humans, however, θ-defensin genes have a…
Cost-Effective Production of HIV Entry Inhibitor, Griffithsin
Topical application of viral entry inhibitors or other microbicides is an attractive strategy to prevent sexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Griffithsin, a protein isolated from the red algae Griffithsia sp which grows off the coast of New…
Myriad Acquires Novel HIV Drug
Myriad Pharmaceuticals recently announced the acquisition, from Panacos Pharmaceuticals, of bevirimat, a novel HIV-1 maturation inhibitor. Bevirimat is a derivative of betulinic acid, a triterpenoid isolated from the leaves of the Chinese herb, Syzygium claviflorum, which was found to have…
HIV-1 Clade is Important in Determining Progression to Dementia
HIV-1 infection is characterized by a wide variety of genetic subtypes in different geographical locations. The predominant subtype found in the western world, clade B, differs substantially from clade C, the main subtype that exists in Africa and Asia. Dementia…
Chemical from Chinese Medicinal Plant can Combat HIV
Telomeres are structures which protect chromosomes during cell division and become progressively shorter as a result; telomerase adds telomere DNA to the ends of chromosomes and increases the potential for cell division. Most non-dividing cells show little or no telomerase…
New Targets to Combat HIV Infection
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) uses host cell surface receptors such as CD4, CCR5 and CXCR4 to gain entry into cells. Recently, monoclonal antibodies and small molecules that block these receptors have joined the armoury of drugs used to combat…
