The research outlined in this Administrative Supplement to Grant R01 AI094599 involves an ongoing collaboration between Min Lu (Rutgers New Jersey Medical School) and Daniel Malamud (New York University College of Dentistry). Due to power failure during Hurricane Sandy, we lost all stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines expressing SRCR1 module fragments of the human scavenger receptor gp340, polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits against a synthetic peptide derived from the SRCR1 module, and gp340 peptide and protein entry inhibitors. The supplemental funds are requested to reproduce these critical and proprietary research materials and reagents and to define the molecular target and mechanism of action of soluble gp340- based anti-HIV-1 agents. These studies could lead to discovery of novel entry inhibitors that target early infection to prevent mucosal HIV-1 transmission. Experiment 1: To generate stable CHO cell lines for high-level production of secreted SRCR1 module fragments. Experiment 2: To characterize the structural properties of the SRCR1 domain both free and bound to the V3 region of HIV-1 gp120. Our overall goal is to elucidate how HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein function in cell entry is modulated through the gp340-gp120 interaction;to use this knowledge to optimize SRCR1 entry inhibitors for antiviral potency;and to test these hypotheses in a humanized mouse vaginal transmission model, in collaboration with Dr. J. Victor Garcia-Martinez (University of North Carolina School of Medicine) in years 4 and 5. To achieve this goal, we will express and purify large quantities of recombinant gp340 fragments in CHO cells, and carry out a combined structural and physicochemical investigation of the SRCR1 domain in complex with the V3 region. These experiments will enable us to develop optimized SRCR1 entry inhibitors for evaluating their effectiveness to protect against mucosal HIV-1 infection in vivo. Fulfilling the central objective of the parent grant would not be possible without the with-cost extension of support that would significantly mitigate the impact of Sandy on this research project.
HIV-1/AIDS is a lifetime disease with global impact. There is an urgent need for new HIV-1 therapies that target different steps of the viral replication cycle to combat the growing prevalence of multidrug-resistant viruses and also reduce treatment toxicities. This research project will define the mechanisms of action of novel antiviral compounds that act on gp120 interactions with host cell receptors. The proposed studies will facilitate the development of new targets for antivirals that can complement the existing drug arsenal by intervention at an early step in HIV-1 infection.
| Corstjens, Paul L A M; Abrams, William R; Malamud, Daniel (2016) Saliva and viral infections. Periodontol 2000 70:93-110 |
| Patyka, Mariia; Malamud, Daniel; Weissman, Drew et al. (2015) Periluminal Distribution of HIV-Binding Target Cells and Gp340 in the Oral, Cervical and Sigmoid/Rectal Mucosae: A Mapping Study. PLoS One 10:e0132942 |
| Li, Yunfeng; Jin, Kai; Ghosh, Sonali et al. (2014) Structural and functional analysis of the GerD spore germination protein of Bacillus species. J Mol Biol 426:1995-2008 |
| Barber, Cheryl; Weissman, Drew; Barnhart, Kurt et al. (2013) An electrochemiluminescence assay for gp340 (DMBT1). Anal Biochem 440:78-80 |
| Rooklin, David W; Lu, Min; Zhang, Yingkai (2012) Revelation of a catalytic calcium-binding site elucidates unusual metal dependence of a human apyrase. J Am Chem Soc 134:15595-603 |
