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This review provides an overview of the development of different dendrimers, mainly polyanionic, against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and genital herpes (HSV-2) as topical microbicides targeting the viral entry process. Vaginal topical microbicides to prevent sexually transmitted infections such as HIV and HSV-2 are urgently needed. To inhibit HIV/HSV-2 entry processes, new preventive targets have been established to maximize the current therapies against wild-type and drug-resistant viruses. The entry of HIV/HSV-2 into target cells is a multistep process that triggers a cascade of molecular interactions between viral envelope proteins and cell surface receptors. Polyanionic dendrimers are highly branched nanocompounds with potent activity against HIV/HSV-2. Inhibitors of each entry step have been identified with regard to generations and surface groups, and possible roles for these agents in anti-HIV/HSV-2 therapies have also been discussed. Four potential binding sites for impeding HIV infection (HSPG, DC-SIGN, GSL, and CD4/gp120 inhibitors) and HSV-2 infection (HS, gB, gD, and gH/gL inhibitors) exist according to their mechanisms of action and structures. This review clarifies that inhibition of HIV/HSV-2 entry continues to be a promising target for drug development because nanotechnology can transform the field of HIV/HSV-2 prevention by improving the efficacy of the currently available antiviral treatments., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

SUMMARY The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between various CD4+ T cell subsets and the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to proliferate to several stimuli in vertically human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected children. We studied 29 HIV-1-infected children on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) (median duration: 12·3 months). T cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry. Plasma viral load (VL) was quantified using a standardized molecular method. Proliferative responses were evaluated by [3 H]-thymidine incorporation. Decreased proliferative responses of PBMC to pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were found for HIV-1-infected children in Centers for Disease Control (CDC) clinical categories B and C when compared to the control group (P < 0·05). Similarly, children with ≤ 15% CD4+ T cells showed a decrease in proliferative responses to PWM (P < 0·01), anti-CD3 + anti-CD28 (P < 0·01) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) (P < 0·05) with respect to the control group and to children with CD4+ T cells ≥ 25%. Proliferative responses to PWM, anti-CD3+ , anti-CD28 and PHA had a statistically significant positive correlation with CD3+ /mm3 , CD4+ /mm3 , % CD4 T cells, CD4/CD8 ratio and the percentage of naive T cell subsets (CD4+ CD45RO– HLA-DR– , CD4+ CD45RA+ CD62L+ , CD4+ CD45RA+ ), CD4+ CD62L+ and CD4+ T cells co-expressing CD38+ (CD4+ HLA-DR- CD38+ , CD4+ CD38+ ). Moreover, we found a negative correlation between PBMC proliferative responses and % CD8 T cells, memory, memory-activated and activated CD4+ T cell subsets. Lower proliferative responses to PWM (P <... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]