Animal HU-SCID model of vaginal transmission of HIV-1 for the preclinical evaluation of microbicides. Development of peptidomimetics and mini-antibodies as a new class of microbicides of biotechnological origin
Fabio, S. di; Cianfriglia, M.; Flego, M.; Ascione, A.; Gellini, M.; Zamboni, S.; Binelli, A.; Carlini, F.; Germinario, E.; Vella, S.
Rapporti ISTISAN Istituto Superiore di Sanita (06/50): 298-301
2006
Document Number: 207256
This paper discusses inhibition of vaginal transmission of HIV-1 in Hu-SCID mice by plant lectins Galanthus nivalis (GNA) and Hippeastrum hybrid (HHA). The development of peptidomimetics and single chain fragment variable (scfv) human mini-antibodies for the identification of new microbicides of biotechnological origin is described. Preliminary results suggest that systemic infection was successfully inhibited by the presence of GNA and HHA containing gel at vaginal level. In vitro-selected human scfvs possess neutralizing activity in in vitro HIV infection and may be used with other different human monoclonal antibodies to gp120 and/or in combination with specific anti HIV-1 drugs for the immunochemotherapy of HIV infection.