Osel scientists are actively pursuing a novel approach to block HIV transmission. This approach, termed MucoCept HIV, involves intravaginal administration of colonizing lactobacilli, the dominant bacteria normally lining the vaginal mucosa, which have been genetically modified to express HIV-binding proteins as a means of trapping and sequestering HIV particles at the mucosal surface. Subsequent exposure to Lactobacillus-produced substances, like lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, is predicted to cause viral inactivation, thus reducing number of infectious particles reaching host cells and tissues. To date, specific accomplishments of the Osel team include the identification of natural vaginal colonizing strains of Lactobacillus, the determination of conditions for efficiently transforming these bacteria with foreign DNA and the expression of bioactive HIV-binding proteins, including two-domain CD4 (2D CD4). 2D CD4 has been expressed in both cell wall anchored and secreted formats. A key proof-of-concept was achieved with the demonstration that lactobacilli secreting 2D CD4 inhibit HIV-infectivity of susceptible cultured cells. Soluble 2D CD4 has been shown to exhibit a limited affinity for primary isolates of HIV. However, when imbedded within the biofilm matrix or anchored on the bacterial cell wall, .2D CD4 may be capable of a multivalent, high-avidity interaction with HIV particles. Nevertheless, to ensure that the most efficacious HIV ligand is developed for clinical studies, we propose to express additional CD4 variants, including oligomerized forms of the protein that have been shown by others to exhibit multivalent binding to HIV. Once an optimized CD4 protein has been chosen for development, we will then stably integrate its gene into the Lactobacillus chromosome and apply proprietary manufacturing and formulation technology to produce encapsulated MucoCept HIV product for subsequent safety, colonization, and efficacy studies in a primate model.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Program--Cooperative Agreements (U19)
Project #
5U19AI060615-04
Application #
7449645
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2007-07-01
Budget End
2008-02-29
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$253,485
Indirect Cost
Name
Osel, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
017444147
City
Mountain View
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94043
Geoghegan, Eileen M; Zhang, Hong; Desai, Prashant J et al. (2015) Antiviral activity of a single-domain antibody immunotoxin binding to glycoprotein D of herpes simplex virus 2. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 59:527-35
Vangelista, Luca; Secchi, Massimiliano; Liu, Xiaowen et al. (2010) Engineering of Lactobacillus jensenii to secrete RANTES and a CCR5 antagonist analogue as live HIV-1 blockers. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 54:2994-3001
Yu, Rosa R; Cheng, Andrew T; Lagenaur, Laurel A et al. (2009) A Chinese rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) model for vaginal Lactobacillus colonization and live microbicide development. J Med Primatol 38:125-36
Secchi, Massimiliano; Xu, Qiang; Lusso, Paolo et al. (2009) The superior folding of a RANTES analogue expressed in lactobacilli as compared to mammalian cells reveals a promising system to screen new RANTES mutants. Protein Expr Purif 68:34-41
Vangelista, Luca; Secchi, Massimiliano; Lusso, Paolo (2008) Rational design of novel HIV-1 entry inhibitors by RANTES engineering. Vaccine 26:3008-15
Liu, Xiaowen; Lagenaur, Laurel A; Lee, Peter P et al. (2008) Engineering of a human vaginal Lactobacillus strain for surface expression of two-domain CD4 molecules. Appl Environ Microbiol 74:4626-35
Liu, Xiaowen; Lagenaur, Laurel A; Simpson, David A et al. (2006) Engineered vaginal lactobacillus strain for mucosal delivery of the human immunodeficiency virus inhibitor cyanovirin-N. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 50:3250-9
Vangelista, Luca; Longhi, Renato; Sironi, Francesca et al. (2006) Critical role of the N-loop and beta1-strand hydrophobic clusters of RANTES-derived peptides in anti-HIV activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 351:664-8
Chancey, Caren J; Khanna, Kristen V; Seegers, Jos F M L et al. (2006) Lactobacilli-expressed single-chain variable fragment (scFv) specific for intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) blocks cell-associated HIV-1 transmission across a cervical epithelial monolayer. J Immunol 176:5627-36