Retroviral nucleocapsid and gag-precursor proteins from all known strains of retroviruses contain one or two copies of an invariant sequence, Cys-X2-Cys-X4-His-X4-Cys, that is populated with zinc in mature particles. Modification of cysteine or histidine residues results in defective packaging of genomic viral RNA and formation of non-infectious particles, making these structures potentially attractive targets for antiviral therapy. We recently reported that aromatic C-nitroso ligands of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase preferentially destabilize one of the two (Cys-X2-Cys-X28-His-X2-Cys) zinc-fingers with concomitant loss of enzymatic activity, coincidental with selective cytocidal action of the C-nitroso substituted ligands on cancer cells. Based on the occurrence of (3Cys, 1His) zinc-binding sites in both retroviral nucleocapsid and gag proteins and in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, we reasoned that the C-nitroso compounds may also have antiretroviral effects. We show here that two such compounds, 3-nitrosobenzamide and 6-nitroso-1,2-benzopyrone, inhibit infection of human immunodeficiency virus HIV-1 in human lymphocytes and also eject zinc from isoalted HIV-1 nucleocapsid zinc fingers and from intact HIV-1 virions. Thus the design of zinc-ejecting agents that target retroviral zinc fingers represents a new approach to the chemotherapy of AIDS.

The C-nitroso compound 3-nitrosobenzamide, which has been shown to remove zinc from the retroviraltype zinc fimger of p7NC nucleocapsid proteins, inhibits acute infection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in cultured human lymphocytes. The attachment of the virus to lymphocytes and the activities of critical viral enzymes, such as reverse transcriptase, protease, and integrase, are not affected by 3-nitrosobenzamide. However, the process of reverse transcription to form proviral DNA is effectively abolished by the drug, identifying the mode of action of 3-nitrosobenzamide as interrupting the role of p7NC in accurate proviral DNA synthesis during the infectious phase of the virus life cycle.Rational drug design for the chemotherapy of AIDS requires the identification of conserved viral target structures (see ref.

Two assays for measuring inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection by soluble CD4 (sCD4) are described. Experiments in which sCD4, HIV-1, and cell concentrations and sequence of combination, noninfectious/infectious particle ratio, and temperature were varied produced results that support the conclusion that sCD4 inhibits HIV-1 infection by two mechanisms: reversible blockage of receptor binding and irreversible inactivation of infectivity. Fresh isolates obtained from HIV-1-infected persons were tested in both assays and found to be more resistant to both mechanisms of sCD4-mediated inhibition than multiply passaged laboratory strains. Binding studies revealed similar affinities for sCD4 in detergent lysates of sensitive and resistant strains at both 4 and 37°C. The avidity of intact virions for sCD4 was lower at 4 than at 37°C, and in the presence of excess sCD4, less sCD4 was bound at 4 than at 37°C. The avidity differences were similar for fresh isolates and laboratory strains. However, fresh isolates were more resistant to sCD4-induced shedding of envelope * Corresponding author.

Perinatal HIV transmission risk has declined with increasing perinatal zidovudine use and changes in other factors. Further reduction in transmission for women taking zidovudine may be possible by reducing the incidence of other potentially modifiable risk factors, such as long duration of membrane rupture and prematurity.

Human milk was inoculated with human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) or with HIV-1-infected cells in volumes and containers typically used in human milk banks. The inoculated milk was pasteurized at 62.5 degrees C for 30 minutes in a water bath, i.e., conditions currently in use or proposed for human milk pasteurization. The process of HIV-1 inoculation and pasteurization effectively inactivated the infectivity of both cell-free HIV-1 and HIV-1-infected cells. No virus was recovered after the process, even after repeated subculturing in attempts to rescue the virus. Pasteurization reduced the infectious titer of cell-free HIV-1 and HIV-1-infected cells by more than 5 logs and 6 logs respectively. Human milk contains one or more components that inactive HIV-1 but that are not toxic for the cells used to replicate virus. These components have not been identified, but physical and solubility properties are consistent with characteristics of lipids.