Toward a live microbial microbicide for HIV: commensal bacteria secreting an HIV fusion inhibitor peptide.

ABSTRACT: Most HIV transmission occurs on the mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal and cervicovaginal tracts, both of which are normally coated by a biofilm of nonpathogenic commensal bacteria. We propose to genetically engineer such naturally occurring bacteria to protect against HIV infection by secreting antiviral peptides. Here we describe the development and characterization of Nissle 1917, a highly colonizing probiotic strain of Escherichia coli, secreting HIV-gp41-hemolysin A hybrid peptides that block HIV fusion and entry into target cells. By using an appropriate combination of cis- and transacting secretory and regulatory signals, micromolar secretion levels of the anti-HIV peptides were achieved. The genetically engineered Nissle 1917 were capable of colonizing mice for periods of wee

SUBMITTER: Rao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1189328 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature