Value of allohaemagglutinins in the diagnosis of a polysaccharide antibody deficiency.

Polysaccharide antibody deficiency is characterized by a poor or absent antibody response after vaccination with an unconjugated pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Allohaemagglutinins (AHA) are antibodies to A or B polysaccharide antigens on the red blood cells, and are often used as an additional or alternative measure to assess the polysaccharide antibody response. However, few studies have been conducted to establish the clinical significance of AHA. To investigate the value of AHA to diagnose a polysaccharide antibody deficiency, pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody titres and AHA were studied retrospectively in 180 subjects in whom both tests had been performed. Receiver operating characteristic curves for AHA versus the pneumococcal vaccine response as a marker for the anti-polysaccharide immune response revealed an area under the curve between 0·5 and 0·573. Sensitivity and specificity of AHA to detect a polysaccharide antibody deficiency, as diagnosed by vaccination response, were low (calculated for cut-off 1/4-1/32). In subjects with only low pneumococcal antibody response, the prevalence of bronchiectasis was significantly higher than in subjects with only low AHA (45·5 and 1·3%, respectively) or normal pneumococcal antibody response and AHA (2·4%). A logistic regression model showed that low pneumococcal antibody response but not AHA was associated with bronchiectasis (odds ratio 46·2). The results of this study do not support the routine use of AHA to assess the polysaccharide antibody response in patients with suspected immunodeficiency, but more studies are warranted to clarify the subject further.

Quantitative structural activity relationship study of bis-tetraazacyclic compounds. A novel series of HIV-1 and HIV-2 inhibitors.

This work describes a study of quantitative structural activity relationships (QSAR) of bis-tetraazamacrocyclic compounds. These compounds represent a novel class of very potent and selective anti-HIV inhibitors, with a new mode of action. The QSAR study correlates structural features of the compounds with anti-HIV activity, resulting in a model which has a high predictive capacity (predictive r2 = 0.79). This predictive model will be of major importance for the design of new anti-HIV inhibitors of this class. Use is made of partial least-squares (PLS) analysis, with the novelty being that structural features derived by inclusion of all sterically allowed conformations for each molecule are included in the analysis. PLS analysis was made of descriptors, including structural parameters, macrocyclic ring size, metal chelating ability, etc., and those features necessary for the observed antiviral activities of these compounds were deduced from the models. Since all sterically allowed conformations are included in the analysis, the flexibility of the molecules is also taken into account. In addition, a correlation is found (indicated by a predictive r2 value of 0.61) between inhibition of HIV-1 (HIV-2) and syncytium formation inhibition in the presence of bis-cyclam analogues, leading to the suggestion of a common target, namely, gp120, being involved in both inhibition of virus replication and syncytium formation.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bis-tetraazamacrocycles that inhibit HIV replication. Effects of macrocyclic ring size and substituents on the aromatic linker.

We have previously described the potent and selective inhibition of several strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) by JM2763, an n-propyl-linked dimer of the 1,4,8,11-tetraazamacrocyclic (cyclam) ring system. Upon further investigation, we have also found that incorporating an aromatic rather than aliphatic linker leads to analogs with higher antiviral potency. The prototype, JM3100 (19a, isolated as the octahydrochloride salt), which contains a p-phenylenebis(methylene) moiety linking the cyclam rings, inhibited the replication of HIV-1 (IIIB) and HIV-2 (ROD) at EC50's of 4.2 and 5.9 nM, respectively, while remaining nontoxic to MT-4 cells at concentrations exceeding 421 microM. In order to identify the structural features of bis-tetraazamacrocycles required for potent activity, we have prepared a novel series of phenylenebis(methylene)-linked analogs, in which the macrocyclic ring size was varied from 12 to 16 ring members. Depending upon the substitution of the phenylenebis(methylene) linker (para or meta), sub-micromolar anti-HIV activity was exhibited by analogs bearing macrocycles of 12-14 ring members but with varying cytotoxicity to MT-4 cells. Furthermore, while we found that identical macrocyclic rings are not required for activity, substituting an acyclic polyamine equivalent for one of the cyclam rings in 19a resulted in a substantial reduction in anti-HIV potency, clearly establishing the importance of the constrained macrocyclic structure. A short series of transition metal complexes of 19a were also prepared and evaluated. Complexes of low kinetic stability such as the bis-zinc complex retained activity comparable to that of the parent compound. Finally, the activity of bicyclam analogs appears to be insensitive to the electron-withdrawing or -donating properties of substituents introduced onto the linker, but sterically hindering groups such as phenyl markedly reduced activity. As a result, several analogs with anti-HIV potency comparable to that of 19a have been identified.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bis-tetraazamacrocycles that inhibit human immunodeficiency virus replication. 2. Effect of heteroaromatic linkers on the activity of bicyclams.

A series of bicyclam analogs connected through a heteroaromatic linker have been synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on HIV-1 (IIIB) and HIV-2 (ROD) replication in MT-4 cells. The activity of pyridine- and pyrazine-linked bicyclams was found to be highly dependent upon the substitution of the heteroaromatic linker connecting the cyclam rings. For example, 2,6- and 3,5-pyridine-linked bicyclams were potent inhibitors of HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication, whereas the 2,5- and 2,4-substituted pyridine-linked compounds exhibited substantially reduced activity and, in addition, were found to be highly toxic to MT-4 cells. We have subsequently discovered that these effects are not unique; amino-substituted linkers also have the potential to deactivate phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bicyclams. A model is proposed to explain the deactivating effects of the pyridine group in certain substitution patterns based on the ability of the pyridine nitrogen to participate in pendant conformations (complexation) with the adjacent azamacrocyclic ring, which may involve hydrogen bonding or coordination to a transition metal. The introduction of a sterically hindering group such as phenyl at the 6-position of the 2,4-substituted pyridine-linked bicyclam appears to prevent pendant conformations, providing an analog with comparable anti-HIV-1 and anti-HIV-2 activities to the parent m-phenylenebis(methylene)-linked bicyclam. The results of this study have been used to develop a quantitative structure-activity relationship model with improved predictive capability in order to aid the design of antiviral bis-azamacrocyclic analogs.

Characterization of HIV-1 strains isolated from patients treated with TIBO R82913.

The drug sensitivities of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates from a group of four untreated and seven TIBO R82913-treated patients were determined in a reverse transcriptase (RT) assay. Five of the treated patients harbored HIV-1 isolates with R82913 sensitivity comparable to that of the isolates of untreated patients, ranging from almost 2-fold higher sensitivity to 13-fold lower sensitivity than that of recombinant p66 RT. From one of the seven treated patients, an HIV-1 strain with a 20-fold reduced sensitivity to R82913 could be isolated; and from another patient, a strain with 100-fold reduced sensitivity (resistance) was isolated. The drug-resistant strain in this patient emerged after 3 weeks of treatment and was due to the Y188L mutation in its RT. On passaging the virus in cord blood lymphocytes, but not in CEM cells, the resistant virus was lost in favor of a different HIV-1 strain harboring the wild-type Y188 with a sensitivity to R82913 comparable to that of wild-type p66 RT. In several HIV-1 isolates (from treated and untreated patients), some HIV-2- and CIVgab-specific amino acids were found. One of these substitutions, that is, I/V179D (from an untreated patient), conferred a sevenfold reduced RT sensitivity to R82913.

The bicyclams, a new class of potent human immunodeficiency virus inhibitors, block viral entry after binding.

The bicyclams represent a new class of highly potent and selective HIV inhibitors. Time-of-addition experiments have previously shown that these compounds interfere with an early event in the viral replicative cycle. Additional experiments have now been carried out in order to investigate in more detail the mechanism of action of these promising compounds. As described in this paper, PCR experiments revealed that no viral DNA was formed following viral infection, thus confining the target(s) of action of the bicyclams to an early stage of HIV infection. An assay, using pseudotype virions containing the envelope of HIV-1 and the genome of a plaque-forming virus (Cocal Virus), pointed to viral entry as the main target of the bicyclams. HIV-1 strains resistant to two prototype bicyclams, JM2763 and SID791 (JM3100), were raised. Results obtained with SID791 with respect to syncytium formation induced by SID791-sensitive and -resistant HIV-1 strains and the cross-resistance observed for dextran sulfate, suggest inhibition of binding and/or fusion as a plausible target of SID791. Additional experiments enabled us to exclude SID791 and JM2763 as binding inhibitors and to conclude that bicyclams block the entry of cell-bound virus. Furthermore, a monoclonal antibody recognising the V3 loop of wild-type gp120 did not bind to this region in the two bicyclam-resistant strains. Our results point to gp120 as a possible target for the HIV-inhibitory effects of the bicyclams.

Antiviral activity of the bicyclam derivative JM3100 against drug-resistant strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Bicyclams have recently been identified as potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) replication. The prototype of this series, JM3100 exhibits anti-HIV potency at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 0.01 micrograms/ml. JM3100 proved to be active when tested against HIV strains resistant to the reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (DDI), 3TC, alpha APA and TIBO, at roughly the same concentrations as for the wild-type strain. The virus was passaged in vitro in the presence of increasing concentrations of either TIBO or alpha APA alone or in combination with JM3100. The combination between TIBO, or alpha APA, and JM3100 delayed the development of TIBO- and alpha APA-resistant strains, without emergence of resistance to JM3100. In separate experiments, it took more than 60 passages (300 days) in MT-4 cells and 20 passages (140 days) in peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) cells for the virus to become resistant to JM3100. The JM3100-resistant virus showed cross-resistance to sulfated polysaccharides such as dextran sulfate (DS), pentosan sulfate (PS), heparin and cyclodextrin sulfate (CDS), suggesting that these compounds may share a common mechanism of action. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of JM3100 on virus-induced syncytium formation was enhanced in the presence of heparin. The results presented here provide further support for the bicyclams as attractive candidate drugs for the chemotherapy of HIV infections.

A two plasmid co-expression system in Escherichia coli for the production of virion-like reverse transcriptase of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Many bacterial expression systems have been developed to study the reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). This enzyme exists in the virions as a heterodimer of a 66 kDa (p66) subunit and a 51 kDa (p51) subunit, originating through proteolytic maturation of the p66 subunit. Most expression systems rely on the processing of p66 by bacterial proteases, this results in a p51 subunit with a non-authentic carboxy-terminus. In contrast, the expression system described produces an RT with an authentic carboxy-terminus. This was achieved by the co-expression of the two subunits of HIV-1 RT, which were each cloned on a different, compatible plasmid in Escherichia coli, and by the use of protease inhibitors during cell lysis. This approach enabled us not only to obtain virion-like RT, as verified by mass spectrometry, but also to monitor the effect of mutations in one or both subunits on the activity of RT and on its sensitivity towards RT inhibitors. The co-expression system described represents a useful method to produce HIV-1 RT, both authentic and mutated, in quantities that allow large-scale studies on the functional organisation of the RT-subunits and the sensitivity of the enzyme to RT inhibitors.

Identification of coryneform Actinomyces neuii by MALDI-TOF MS: 5 case reports and review of literature.

OBJECTIVES: We describe five cases of Actinomyces neuii, isolated from different clinical specimens over a period of five months (from June to October 2011), followed by a review of literature on infections with this micro-organism. METHODS: All Actinomyces neuii strains were cultured or subcultured on horse blood agar. Identification took place using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Identification was confirmed by conventional biochemical tests and API Coryne test strips (BioMérieux SA). Susceptibility testing was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with horse blood, using E-tests (BioMérieux SA). The minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined after 24 and 48 hours of incubation in a 5% CO2 environment. RESULTS: Isolation of this micro-organism was associated with abscesses in two patients and chronic osteomyelitis in one patient. The remaining two patients had positive blood cultures which grew Actinomyces neuii, either as contamination or as catheter-related infection. All Actinomyces neuii identifications were obtained by MALDI-TOF MS and were confirmed by conventional biochemical and API Coryne tests. Identification of one isolate was also confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing. All strains were susceptible to penicillin. One strain showed heteroresistance for macrolides and lincosamides. Minimal inhibitory concentrations were more reliable and easier to read after 48 hours of incubation, as compared to 24 hours. CONCLUSION: MALDI-TOF MS analysis allows rapid and reliable identification of Actinomyces neuii, even at subspecies level.

Sensitivity of human immunodeficiency virus to bicyclam derivatives is influenced by the three-dimensional structure of gp120.

The bicyclams are a new class of anti-human immunodeficiency virus (anti-HIV) compounds targeted at viral entry. From marker rescue experiments, it appears that the envelope gp120 glycoprotein plays an important role in the anti-HIV activity of the bicyclams. Bicyclam-resistant strains contain a number of amino acid changes scattered over the V2 to V5 region of gp120. Experiments aimed at estimating the relative importance of particular amino acid changes with regard to the overall resistance pattern are described. The sequences of some partially bicyclam-resistant virus strains, obtained during the resistance development process, were analyzed, and the corresponding 50% effective concentrations were determined. Selected mutations observed in bicyclam-resistant strains were introduced in the wild-type background by site-directed mutagenesis. In addition, some amino acids were back-mutated to their wild-type counterparts in an otherwise JM3100-resistant strain. The sensitivities of these mutant viruses to bicyclams were determined. Construction of chimeric viruses, carrying the V3 loop of JM3100-resistant virus in a wild-type HIV type 1 HXB2 background, enabled us to investigate the importance of the mutations in the V3 loop of JM3100-resistant virus. From the results described in the report, it can be concluded that single amino acid substitutions do not influence the observed resistance to JM3100. Also, the mutations in the V3 loop are not sufficient to engender even a partially resistant phenotype. We postulate that the overall conformation of gp120 determines the degree of sensitivity or resistance of HIV strains to bicyclams.

Differential inhibitory effects of TIBO derivatives on different strains of simian immunodeficiency virus.

Recently, several classes of compounds have been shown to be extremely selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in vitro. These include the tetrahydro-imidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]-benzodiazepin-2(1H)-one and -thione (TIBO), 1-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)-6-(phenylthio)-thymine (HEPT), dipyridodiazepinone, pyridinone and bis(heteroaryl)piperazine derivatives. The hallmark of these new antiviral compounds is a specific interaction with reverse transcriptase (RT) of HIV-1. They are inactive against HIV-2 and any other viruses tested. Here we describe that, in addition to the HIV-1 strains, two simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strains from African green monkeys (SIVagm3 and SIVagmTYO-1) are also sensitive to the TIBO class of compounds. TIBO and HEPT derivatives block the replication of SIVagm in cell culture at micromolar concentrations. Kinetics of inhibition of SIVagm RT by TIBO are competitive with respect to the natural substrate (dGTP). Amino acid alignments and site-directed mutagenesis point to the critical role of amino acid residues Y181 and Y188 in the sensitivity of HIV-1 RT and SIVagm RT to inhibition by the TIBO derivatives. Antiviral efficacy studies with this range of compounds and using sensitive SIV strains are now feasible in monkeys.

Resistance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase to TIBO derivatives induced by site-directed mutagenesis.

The reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the target enzyme for the tetrahydro-imidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]- benzodiazepin-2(1H)one and thione (TIBO) derivatives, a class of highly potent and selective anti-HIV agents that specifically inhibit HIV-1 but not HIV-2 replication. The amino acid sequence divergence may be held responsible for the differential sensitivity of HIV-1 RT and HIV-2 RT to the TIBO derivatives. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have introduced several amino acid substitutions in the conserved regions of HIV-1 RT. Where applicable, the amino acids were replaced by the corresponding amino acids present in HIV-2 RT. The amino acid residues Y181 and Y188 appeared to be critical for the anti-HIV-1 RT activity of the TIBO derivatives, since substitution of these residues by the corresponding HIV-2 amino acids I181 and L188 resulted in a virtual loss of TIBO sensitivity without loss of enzymatic activity.

The molecular target of bicyclams, potent inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus replication.

Bicyclams are a novel class of antiviral compounds which act as potent and selective inhibitors of the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV-2. They block an early step in the viral life cycle following adsorption to the CD4 receptor and preceding reverse transcription. To identify the molecular target of these compounds, we genetically analyzed variants of the HIV-1 molecular clone NL4-3, which developed resistance against two structurally related bicyclams, JM2763 and the more potent SID791. The resistant strains were obtained after long-term passaging in MT-4 cells in the presence of progressively increasing compound concentrations. Recombinants between selected genes of the resistant strains and the parental NL4-3 provirus were generated by adapting the marker rescue technique to MT-4 cells. The bicyclam-resistant phenotype was rescued by transferring the envelope gp120 gene of bicyclam-resistant virus into the NL4-3 parental genetic background. In the gp120 genes of the resistant strains, we identified several mutations leading to amino acid substitutions in the V3 loop. Furthermore, two substitutions of highly conserved amino acids in close proximity to the disulfide bridges of the V3 and V4 loops were found in both SID791- and JM2763-resistant strains. Additional mutations in regions encoding V3, C4, V5, and C5 were present in SID791-resistant viruses. Recombination experiments with overlapping parts of the envelope gene indicated that most, if not all, of the mutations were necessary to develop the fully SID791 resistant phenotype. The mutations in the C-terminal part of gp120 downstream of the V3 loop sequence conferred partial resistance to JM2763 but did not significantly decrease susceptibility to SID791. The genetic data and the biological properties of the resistant viruses point to inhibition of entry and fusion as the mode of action of the HIV-inhibitory bicyclams. A possible mechanism of binding of bicyclams to gp120 leading to inhibition of unfolding of gp120 and its shedding from the gp41 fusion domain is discussed.

Development of resistance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 to dextran sulfate associated with the emergence of specific mutations in the envelope gp120 glycoprotein.

Polyanionic compounds are known to inhibit the binding of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to CD4+ cells and the subsequent fusion step between the virus and cells. We selected an HIV-1 strain resistant to dextran sulfate (DS) by cultivation of HIV-1 (NL4-3)-infected MT-4 cells in the presence of DS Mr 5000. DS did not inhibit the binding of DS-resistant virus to MT-4 cells or syncytium formation between MOLT cells and HUT-78 cells persistently infected with the DS-resistant virus. In addition, a monoclonal antibody with specificity for the V3 loop of envelope gp120 glycoprotein did not recognize the DS-resistant HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop. The following mutations were found in the gp120 molecule of the DS-resistant HIV-1 strain but not in the wild-type strain: S114N in the V1 loop region; S134N in the V2 loop region; K269E, Q278H, and N293D in the V3 loop region; N323S in the C3 region; a deletion of five amino acids (Phe-Asn-Ser-Thr-Trp) at positions 364-368 in the V4 loop; and R3871 in the CD4 binding domain. Our results suggest that (i) DS interacts with specific amino acid residues in the gp120 molecule, (ii) the virus is able to overcome the inhibitory effect of DS on viral infectivity, (iii) cross-resistance developed against those polyanionic compounds that are structurally related to DS, and (iv) the molecular determinants of HIV cell tropism, syncytium-inducing ability, coreceptor (fusin/ CC-CKR5) utilization, and polyanion resistance seem to be located in the env genome of HIV and specifically in the V3 loop domain.

Highly potent and selective inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus by the bicyclam derivative JM3100.

Bicyclams, in which the cyclam (1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) moieties are tethered via an aliphatic bridge (i.e., propylene, as in JM2763) are potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) (E. De Clercq, N. Yamamoto, R. Pauwels, M. Baba, D. Schols, H. Nakashima, J. Balzarini, Z. Debyser, B. A. Murrer, D. Schwartz, D. Thornton, G. Bridger, S. Fricker, G. Henson, M. Abrams, and D. Picker, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5286-5290, 1992). We have now found that the bicyclam JM3100, in which the cyclam moieties are tethered by an aromatic bridge [i.e., phenylenebis(methylene)], inhibits the replication of various HIV-1 and HIV-2 strains in various cell lines at a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 1 to 10 ng/ml, which is about 100-fold lower than the concentration required for JM2763 to inhibit HIV replication and at least 100,000-fold lower than the cytotoxic concentration (> 500 micrograms/ml). In primary T4 lymphocytes or primary monocytes, JM3100 proved inhibitory to HIV-1(IIIB) and several clinical HIV-1 isolates at an EC50 of less than 1 ng/ml. On the basis of time-of-addition experiments, JM3100 appeared to interact with a viral uncoating event, and this was further corroborated by an uncoating assay in which RNase sensitivity of [5-3H]uridine-labeled virions was monitored. In addition, but possibly mechanistically related, JM3100 blocks formation of infectious particles. JM3100 was also found to interfere directly with virus-induced syncytium formation, albeit at a higher concentration (1 to 2 microgram/ml) than that required for inhibition of viral replication. Following subcutaneous injection of 10 mg of JM3100 per kg of body weight to rabbits, anti-HIV activity was detected in serum corresponding to serum drug levels exceeding for at least 6 h by >100-fold the EC(50) required to inhibit HIV replication in vitro. When combined with either 3'-azido-2',3' -dideoxythymidine or 2',3' -dideoxyinosine, JM3100 achieved a additive inhibition of HIV replication, and when repeatedly subcultivated in the presence of JM3100, the virus remained sensitive to the compound for at least 30 passages (120 days) in cell culture.

Potent and highly selective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) inhibition by a series of alpha-anilinophenylacetamide derivatives targeted at HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

In vitro evaluation of a large chemical library of pharmacologically acceptable prototype compounds in a high-capacity, cellular-based screening system has led to the discovery of another family of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) inhibitors. Through optimization of a lead compound, several alpha-anilinophenylacetamide (alpha-APA) derivatives have been identified that inhibit the replication of several HIV-1 strains (IIIB/LAI, RF, NDK, MN, HE) in a variety of host cell types at concentrations that are 10,000- to 100,000-fold lower than their cytotoxic concentrations. The IC50 of the alpha-APA derivative R 89439 for HIV-1 cytopathicity in MT-4 cells was 13 nM. The median 90% inhibitory concentration (IC90) in a variety of host cells was 50-100 nM. Although these alpha-APA derivatives are active against a tetrahydroimidazo [4,5,1-jk][1,4]benzodiazepin-2(1H)-thione-(TIBO)-resistant HIV-1 strain, they do not inhibit replication of HIV-2 (strains ROD and EHO) or simian immunodeficiency virus (strains Mac251, mndGB1, and agm3). An HIV-1 strain containing the Tyr181-->Cys mutation in the reverse transcriptase region displayed reduced sensitivity. alpha-APA derivative R 89439 inhibited virion and recombinant reverse transcriptase of HIV-1 but did not inhibit that of HIV-2. Reverse transcriptase inhibition depended upon the template/primer used. The relatively uncomplicated synthesis of R 89439, its potent anti-HIV-1 activity, and its favorable pharmacokinetic profile make R 89439 a good candidate for clinical studies.

Kinetics of different human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptases resistant to human immunodeficiency virus type 1-specific reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-specific reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors [tetrahydroimidazo[4,5,1-jk] [1,4]benzodiazepin-2(1H)-one and -thione (TIBO), 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine, nevirapine, pyridinone, bis(heteroaryl)piperazine, etc.] are potent inhibitors of HIV-1 replication in cell culture. The rapid emergence of drug-resistant escape mutants in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (patients) is predominantly linked to the Y181C mutation. Because amino acids Y181 and Y188 appear to be located within the drug binding site of the enzyme, we studied the impact of mutations of both amino acids on the enzyme kinetics and on the susceptibility of the enzyme to different HIV-1-specific RT inhibitors. Mutations Y181C, Y181I, and Y188L led to reduced sensitivity, albeit of varying extents, to all HIV-1-specific RT inhibitors. No resistance was observed to 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate or phosphonoformic acid. The kcat of the Y181C mutant was similar to that of the wild-type RT (18 sec-1 x 10(-3)). The catalytic constant of the Y181I mutant was 6-fold higher and that of the Y188L mutant was 6-fold lower. Whereas TIBO displayed a linear mixed-type (noncompetitive) inhibition with respect to the deoxynucleotide substrate when wild-type p66/p51 was used, the pattern of inhibition became competitive or uncompetitive with Y181C or Y181I, respectively. Thus, the TIBO binding site of HIV-1 RT seems to be functionally and/or spatially related to the natural deoxynucleoside triphosphate binding site.

Evaluation of a commercial line probe assay for identification of mycobacterium species from liquid and solid culture.

The performance of a commercial line probe assay (LiPA) (Inno-LiPA Mycobacteria; Innogenetics, Belgium) for the detection and identification of Mycobacterium species from liquid and solid culture was evaluated at five routine clinical laboratories. The LiPA method is based on the reverse hybridization principle, in which the mycobacterial 16S-23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) spacer region is amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplicons are subsequently hybridized with oligonucleotide probes arranged on a membrane strip and detected by a colorimetric system. The test detects the presence of Mycobacterium species and specifically identifies Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, Mycobacterium kansasii, Mycobacterium xenopi, Mycobacterium gordonae, Mycobacterium avium complex, Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycobacterium scrofulaceum, and Mycobacterium chelonae - Mycobacterium abscessus complex. The results of LiPA were compared with the results obtained using traditional biochemical and molecular tests (DNA probe-based techniques, PCR restriction enzyme analysis of the 65 kDa heat-shock protein gene, and sequencing of the 16S rDNA). A total of 669 isolates, 642 of which were identified as Mycobacterium species and 27 as non- Mycobacterium species, were tested by LiPA. After analysis of 14 initially discordant results and exclusion of one isolate, concordant results were obtained for 636 of 641 Mycobacterium isolates (99.2% accuracy). All Mycobacterium species reacted with the MYC ( Mycobacterium species) probe (100% sensitivity), and all non- Mycobacterium species were identified as such (100% specificity).

T30177, an oligonucleotide stabilized by an intramolecular guanosine octet, is a potent inhibitor of laboratory strains and clinical isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

T30177, an oligonucleotide composed of only deoxyguanosine and thymidine, is 17 nucleotides in length and contains single phosphorothioate internucleoside linkages at its 5' and 3' ends for stability. This oligonucleotide does not share significant primary sequence homology with or possess any complementary (antisense) sequence motifs to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genome. T30177 inhibited replication of multiple laboratory strains of HIV-1 in human T-cell lines, peripheral blood lymphocytes, and macrophages. T30177 was also found to be capable of inhibiting multiple clinical isolates of HIV-1 and preventing the cytopathic effect of HIV-1 in primary CD4+ T lymphocytes. In assays with human peripheral blood lymphocytes there was no observable toxicity associated with T30177 at the highest concentration tested (100 microM), while the median inhibitory concentration was determined to be in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 microM for the clinical isolates tested, resulting in a high therapeutic index for this drug. In temporal studies, the kinetics of addition of T30177 to infected cell cultures indicated that, like the known viral adsorption blocking agents dextran sulfate and Chicago sky blue, T30177 needed to be added to cells during or very soon after viral infection. However, analysis of nucleic acids extracted at 12 h postinfection from cells treated with T30177 at the time of virus infection established the presence of unintegrated viral cDNA, including circular proviral DNA, in the treated cells. In vitro analysis of viral enzymes revealed that T30177 was a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 integrase, reducing enzymatic activity by 50% at concentrations in the range of 0.050 to 0.09 microM. T30177 was also able to inhibit viral reverse transcriptase activity; however, the 50% inhibitory value obtained was in the range of 1 to 10 microM, depending on the template used in the enzymatic assay. No observable inhibition of viral protease was detected at the highest concentration of T30177 used (10 microM). In experiments in which T30177 was removed from infected cell cultures at 4 days post-HIV-1 infection, total suppression of virus production was observed for more than 27 days. PCR analysis of DNA extracted from cells treated in this fashion was unable to detect the presence of viral DNA 11 days after removal of the drug from the infected cell cultures. The ability of T30177 to inhibit both laboratory and clinical isolates of HIV-1 and the experimental data which suggest that T30177 represents a novel class of integrase inhibitors indicate that this compound is a viable candidate for evaluation as a therapeutic agent against HIV-1 in humans.