Peter Buontempo

Mapping resistance to the CCR5 co-receptor antagonist vicriviroc using heterologous chimeric HIV-1 envelope genes reveals key determinants in the C2-V5 domain of gp120.

Several small molecule drugs that bind to the host CCR5 co-receptor and prevent viral entry have been developed for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. The innate variability found in HIV-1 envelope and the complex viral/cellular interactions during entry makes defining resistance to these inhibitors challenging. Here we found that mapping determinants in the gp160 gene from a primary isolate RU570-VCV(res), selected in culture for resistance to the CCR5 entry inhibitor vicriviroc, was complicated by inactivity of the cloned envelope gene in pseudovirus assays. We therefore recombined the envelope from RU570-VCV(res) into a highly active and susceptible ADA gp160 backbone. The chimeric envelopes generated robust signals in the pseudovirus assay and a 200 amino acid fragment, encompassing a C2-V5 region of the RU570-VCV(res) envelope, was required to confer resistance in both the single-cycle assay and in replicating virus. In contrast, a chimeric envelope that contained only the V3-loop region from this resistant virus was completely susceptible suggesting that the V3-loop changes acquired are context dependent.

Structure-Function Analysis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp120 Amino Acid Mutations Associated with Resistance to the CCR5 Coreceptor Antagonist Vicriviroc

ABSTRACT Vicriviroc (VCV) is a small-molecule CCR5 coreceptor antagonist currently in clinical trials for treatment of R5-tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. With this drug in development, identification of resistance mechanisms to VCV is needed to allow optimal outcomes in clinical practice. In this study we further characterized VCV resistance in a lab-adapted, VCV-resistant RU570 virus (RU570-VCVres). We show that K305R, R315Q, and K319T amino acid changes in the V3 loop, along with P437S in C4, completely reproduced the resistance phenotype in a chimeric ADA envelope containing the C2-V5 region from RU570 passage control gp120. The K305R amino acid change primarily impacted the degree of resistance, whereas K319T contributed to both resistance and virus infectivity. The P437S mutation in C4 had more influence on the relative degree of virus infectivity, while the R315Q mutation contributed to the virus concentration-dependent phenotypic resistance pattern observed for RU570-VCVres. RU570-VCVres pseudovirus entry with VCV-bound CCR5 was dramatically reduced by Y10A, D11A, Y14A, and Y15A mutations in the N terminus of CCR5, whereas these mutations had less impact on entry in the absence of VCV. Notably, an additional Q315E/I317F substitution in the crown region of the V3 loop enhanced resistance to VCV, resulting in a stronger dependence on the N terminus for viral entry. By fitting the envelope mutations to a molecular model of a recently described docked N-terminal CCR5 peptide consisting of residues 2 to 15 in complex with HIV-1 gp120 CD4, potential new interactions in gp120 with the N terminus of CCR5 were uncovered. The cumulative results of this study suggest that as the RU570 VCV-resistant virus adapted to use the drug-bound receptor, it also developed an increased reliance on the N terminus of CCR5.

SCH 43478 and analogs: in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy of novel agents for herpesvirus type 2

SCH 43478 and analogs are a class of non-nucleoside antiviral agents that have potent and selective activity against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The IC50 for these compounds in plaque reduction analysis using Vero cells ranges from 0.8 to 2.0 microg/ml. All compounds have a LC50 > 100 microg/ml in cytotoxicity analysis. Mechanism of action studies suggest that these molecules have an effect on the transactivation of viral immediate early (alpha) gene expression. Time of addition studies indicate that antiviral activity of these analogs is limited to the initial 2-3 h after infection and is not due to inhibition of viral adsorption or penetration. Analysis of HSV protein expression demonstrates that SCH 49286 inhibits the accumulation of viral immediate early (alpha) gene products. SCH 43478 demonstrates statistically significant efficacy (P < 0.05) in the guinea pig genital model of HSV infection. Following subcutaneous administration in a therapeutic treatment regimen, SCH 43478 (90 mg/kg/day) is efficacious in reducing the number and severity of lesions and the neurological complications of acute HSV infection. Thus, SCH 43478 and analogs are anti-herpesvirus agents with a unique mechanism of action.

SCH 38057: a picornavirus capsid-binding molecule with antiviral activity after the initial stage of viral uncoating.

The activity of a new water-soluble molecule, SCH 38057, against picornaviruses is described. SCH 38057 inhibited plaque formation of selected entero- and rhinoviruses in a range of 10.2 to 29.1 microM (50% endpoint) and had a therapeutic index of 10 against poliovirus type 2 (polio 2) in HeLa cells. When administered orally or subcutaneously, SCH 38057 protected mice infected with either coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) or echovirus-9 from mortality. The molecule provided a low level of protection against thermal inactivation of virus, indicating that SCH 38057 interacts with the picornavirus capsid. Binding studies with [3H]SCH 38057 revealed that the molecule binds to CVB3 and human rhinovirus 14 (HRV14) in a ratio of 29 and 19 molecules per viral particle, respectively. The affinity constant for SCH 38057 binding to CVB3 was 7.0 x 10(-4) M. When added to cultures of infected cells at 3 h after infection, SCH 38057 markedly inhibited viral RNA synthesis. This finding with lack of inhibition of attachment and loss of infectious virus after attachment were interpreted to indicate that, although SCH 38057 binds to the viral capsid, the molecule exerts its antiviral effect after the initial stage of picornavirus uncoating, i.e., after conversion of the 156S infectious viral particle to smaller subviral species.

Antipicornavirus activity of SCH 47802 and analogs: in vitro and in vivo studies.

SCH 47802 and its derivatives are potent inhibitors of enteroviruses in vitro. The IC50 for SCH 47802 ranges from 0.03 to 10 micrograms/ml when tested against a spectrum of enteroviruses in plaque reduction assays. The compounds have in vitro therapeutic indices of at least 81 based on viral cytopathic effect (CPE) assays. The in vitro activity of SCH 47802 translates into in vivo activity in the murine model of poliovirus encephalitis. In an oral dosing regimen, SCH 47802 protects mice from mortality at 60 mg/kg per day. Consistent with the in vivo efficacy, pharmacokinetic analyses after oral dosing with SCH 47802 demonstrate serum levels of the compound above the in vitro IC50 for poliovirus for at least 4 h. SCH 47802 and its active analogs stabilize poliovirus to thermal inactivation indicating that the compounds bind to the virus capsid. Mechanistic studies with poliovirus indicate that SCH 47802 acts early in viral infection. This series of molecules represents potential candidates for the treatment of human enterovirus infections.

Quantifying the relationship between HIV-1 susceptibility to CCR5 antagonists and virus affinity for antagonist-occupied co-receptor.

Previous studies have demonstrated that HIV-1 develops resistance to CCR5 antagonists by gaining the ability to use drug-occupied co-receptor. However, the effects of CCR5 antagonists on the affinity of virus-co-receptor interactions have been difficult to quantify. We developed a pharmacological model for allosteric interaction at G-protein coupled receptors to analyze the effect of different CCR5 antagonists on infection by three laboratory adapted viruses with low, moderate and high susceptibility to the inhibitors. Infection data for these viruses fitted a model in which susceptibility to inhibition by CCR5 antagonists was directly related to fold reduction in virus affinity for CCR5. Dissociation constants for CCR5 antagonists calculated from the modeled data were consistent with values obtained by standard methods, suggesting that this approach can quantify pharmacologically relevant changes in co-receptor:ligand affinity in the context of infection of whole cells by authentic HIV-1 particles.

Phase I pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic results of novel anti-neutropenic factor for the prevention and treatment of febrile neutropenia.

e14085Background: Anti-Neutropenia Factor - RHO (ANF-RHO) is a novel pegylated version of native human recombinant G-CSF protein. ANF-RHO has distinct biophysical and biological properties that pro...

Primary human hepatocyte culture for the study of HCV.

Research since 1983 has demonstrated that human hepatocytes can be isolated, cultured, and used for biological investigations, including studies of gene transcription and drug metabolism (1,2). In addition, the ability to cyropreserve hepatocytes has facilitated clinical research of hepatitic cell transplantation (3). We have used primary human heptocytes as host tissue for viral infection with hepatitis C. The availability of HCV-infected livers has also allowed for the culturing and analysis of HCV-positive cells. Our laboratory (4) and others (5) have confirmed the ability of these cells to display molecular markers of HCV replication. This chapter will review the basic steps of hepatocyte isolation and culturing and analysis for HCV by RT-PCR. We have also attempted to indicate alternative techniques that may be better suited to an individual investigators needs.