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Understanding the cellular pharmacology of antiretroviral agents in macrophages and subsequent correlation with antiviral potency provides a sentinel foundation for definition of the dynamics between antiretroviral agents and viral reservoirs across multiple cell types, with the goal of eradication of HIV-1 from these cells. Various clinically relevant nucleoside antiviral agents, and the integrase inhibitor raltegravir, were selected for this study. The intracellular concentrations of the active metabolites of the nucleoside analogs were found to be 5- to 140-fold lower in macrophages than in lymphocytes, and their antiviral potency was significantly lower in macrophages constitutively activated with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) during acute infection than in resting macrophages (EC 50 , 0.4 to 9.42 μM versus 0.03 to 0.4 μM, respectively). Although tenofovir-treated cells displayed significantly lower intracellular drug levels than cells treated with its prodrug, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, the levels of tenofovir-diphosphate for tenofovir-treated cells were similar in lymphocytes and macrophages. Raltegravir also displayed significantly lower intracellular concentrations in macrophages than in lymphocytes, independent of the activation state, but had similar potencies in resting and activated macrophages. These data underscore the importance of delivering adequate levels of drug to macrophages to reduce and eradicate HIV-1 infection.

With more than 40 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), there is an urgent need to develop drugs that can be used in the form of a topical microbicide to prevent infection through sexual transmission. DCM205 is a recently discovered small-molecule inhibitor of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) that is able to directly inactivate HIV-1 in the absence of a cellular target. DCM205 is active against CXCR4-, CCR5-, and dual-tropic laboratory-adapted and primary strains of HIV-1. DCM205 binds to the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, and competition studies map the DCM205 binding at or near the V3 loop of gp120. Binding to this site interferes with the soluble CD4 interaction. With its ability to disable the virus particle, DCM205 represents a promising new class of HIV entry inhibitor that can be used as a strategy in the prevention of HIV-1/AIDS.

In a previous study, we prepared a small library of chicoric acid analogs that possessed both potent anti-integrase and antiviral activity. It was also shown that active compounds fell into one of two groups: those that inhibited an early stage in viral replication and those that inhibited at a later stage. In this study, a series of vinyl geminal disulfone-containing compounds possessing a range of ring substituents has been synthesized to probe the impact of structure on inhibitory mechanisms. Four active compounds were identified using HIV drug susceptibility assays. Three of the inhibitors possessing either no substituents or electron withdrawing substituents on the aromatic rings led to high levels of cytotoxicity and antiviral activity. Intrigued by the potential implications of electronic effects on activity, we probed whether the active compounds could be nonspecifically reacting via 1,4-addition. To investigate this hypothesis, the compounds were incubated with glutathione and upon LC/MS analysis, molecular ion peaks corresponding to both mono and double addition adducts were identified. Secondly, we synthesized analogs lacking the ability to participate in 1,4-addition and tested them for antiviral activity and cytotoxicity and found the compounds inactive for both activities. Taken together, the studies reported herein suggest that compounds lacking electron donating substituents on the aromatic ring are promiscuous acceptors of biological nucleophiles, whereas compounds possessing electron donating substituents seem to resist addition or at least be more selective and significantly less toxic.

We have modeled highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for AIDS in rhesus macaques infected with a chimera (RT-SHIV) of simian immunodeficiency virus containing reverse transcriptase from human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Seven RT-SHIV-infected macaques were treated with a combination of efavirenz (200 mg orally once daily), lamivudine (8 mg/kg subcutaneously once daily), and tenofovir (30 mg/kg subcutaneously once daily). Plasma viral RNA levels in all animals were reduced by more than 1,000-fold after 4 weeks and, in six of the seven animals, were reduced to undetectable levels after 10 weeks. Virus loads increased slightly between 12 and 16 weeks of treatment, associated with problems with the administration of efavirenz. After a change in the method of efavirenz administration, virus loads declined again and remained undetectable in the majority of animals for the duration of therapy. Treatment was stopped for three animals after 36 weeks of therapy, and virus loads increased rapidly. Posttreatment RT-SHIV isolates had no mutations associated with resistance to any of the three drugs. Efavirenz treatment was stopped, but lamivudine and tenofovir treatment for two other macaques was continued. The virus load in one of these two animals rebounded; virus from this animal was initially free of drug-resistance mutations but acquired the K65R mutation in reverse transcriptase at 11 weeks after efavirenz treatment was withdrawn. These results mimic HAART of HIV-1-infected humans. The RT-SHIV/rhesus macaque model should be useful for studies of tissue reservoirs and sites of residual replication that are not possible or practical with humans.

16alpha-Bromo-epiandrosterone (epiBr), a synthetic derivative of the natural hormone dehyroepiandrosterone (DHEA), was evaluated for its effects on feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in experimental cats. The rationale for this study was based on the ability of DHEA to significantly reduce the mortality to viral infections in mice. DHEA and epiBr also have demonstrable in vitro anti-viral activity for both HIV-1 and FIV. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies in cats demonstrated that subcutaneously injected epiBr was rapidly absorbed, completely metabolized, and nontoxic. Metabolites were excreted in both urine and feces, with the latter having the most complex pattern of breakdown products. Cats were then divided into four groups; two groups were infected with FIV and two uninfected. Two groups, one infected and one uninfected were treated on 5 consecutive days of weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 with epiBr. The remaining two groups were mock treated with the drug vehicle alone. Treatment started 1 week prior to infection and extended for 4 weeks after infection. Cats were observed for 20 weeks post-FIV infection. Infected cats had identical decreases in blood neutrophil and lymphocyte counts following, regardless of whether they were treated with epiBr or vehicle alone. The CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio was decreased following FIV exposure, but was significantly more decreased for the epiBr treated animals from week 2 post-infection onward. CD4+ T cells were decreased in FIV-infected cats treated with epiBr compared to their untreated cohort, while CD8+ T cells tended to be higher in treated animals. FIV infected cats that were treated with epiBr had over one-log higher virus loads at week 2 post-infection than non-epiBr treated cohorts. In spite of this enhanced initial viremia, the subsequent levels of virus in the blood were significantly lower in epiBr treated versus untreated animals. EpiBr treated cats had significantly higher FIV-p24 antibody responses than control cats receiving vehicle alone, although primary and secondary antibody responses to a T-cell dependent non-FIV antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), were unaffected. EpiBr treatment significantly decreased the expected FIV-induced suppression of IL-12 p40 mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) observed at weeks 4, 5, 8, 9 and 16 post-infection, but had no influence on FIV-induced changes in IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-gamma, MIP-1alpha and RANTES.

We used a focal infectivity assay with HeLa H1-JC.37 cells to directly compare susceptibilities of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to protease inhibitors. SIVmac239 was inhibited by indinavir, saquinavir, and ritonavir, with 50% effective concentrations (means ± standard deviations) of 39 ± 8, 55 ± 3, and 13 ± 5 nM, respectively. The corresponding values for inhibition of HIV-1 were 66 ± 4, 47 ± 10, and 25 ± 14 nM, respectively.

Many retroviruses either encode dUTP pyrophosphatase (dUTPase) or package host-derived uracil DNA glycosylase as a means to limit the accumulation of uracil in DNA strands, suggesting that uracil is detrimental to one or more steps in the viral life cycle. In the present study, the effects of DNA uracilation on (-) strand DNA synthesis, RNase H activity, and (+) strand DNA synthesis were investigated in a cell-free system. This system uses the activities of purified human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase to convert single-stranded RNA to double-stranded DNA in a single reaction mixture. Substitution of dUTP for dTTP had no effect on (-) strand synthesis but significantly decreased yields of (+) strand DNA. Mapping of nascent (+) strand 5' ends revealed that this was due to decreased initiation from polypurine tracts with a concomitant increase in initiation at non-polypurine tract sites. Aberrant initiation correlated with a change in RNase H cleavage specificity when assayed on preformed RNA-DNA duplexes containing uracilated DNA, suggesting that appropriate "selection" of the (+) strand primer is affected. Collectively, these data suggest that accumulation of uracil in retroviral DNA may disrupt the viral life cycle by altering the specificity of (+) strand DNA synthesis initiation during reverse transcription.

Using an established nonhuman primate model, rhesus macaques were infected intravenously with a chimeric simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) consisting of SIV mac239 with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase from clone HXBc2 (RT-SHIV). The impacts of two enhanced (four- and five-drug) highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) on early viral decay and rebound were determined. The four-drug combination consisted of an integrase inhibitor, L-870-812 (L-812), together with a three-drug regimen comprising emtricitabine [(−)-FTC], tenofovir (TFV), and efavirenz (EFV). The five-drug combination consisted of one analog for each of the four DNA precursors {using TFV, (−)-FTC, (−)-β- d -(2 R ,4 R )-1,3-dioxolane-2,6-diaminopurine (amdoxovir [DAPD]), and zidovudine (AZT)}, together with EFV. A cohort treated with a three-drug combination of (−)-FTC, TFV, and EFV served as treated controls. Daily administration of a three-, four-, or five-drug combination of antiretroviral agents was initiated at week 6 or 8 after inoculation and continued up to week 50, followed by a rebound period. Plasma samples were collected routinely, and drug levels were monitored using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS-MS). Viral loads were monitored with a standard TaqMan quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. Comprehensive analyses of replication dynamics were performed. RT-SHIV infection in rhesus macaques produced typical viral infection kinetics, with untreated controls establishing persistent viral loads of >10 4 copies of RNA/ml. RT-SHIV loads at the start of treatment ( V 0 ) were similar in all treated cohorts ( P > 0.5). All antiretroviral drug levels were measureable in plasma. The four-drug and five-drug combination regimens (enhanced HAART) improved suppression of the viral load (within 1 week; P < 0.01) and had overall greater potency ( P < 0.02) than the three-drug regimen (HAART). Moreover, rebound viremia occurred rapidly following cessation of any treatment. The enhanced HAART (four- or five-drug combination) showed significant improvement in viral suppression compared to the three-drug combination, but no combination was sufficient to eliminate viral reservoirs.

We developed a rapid and highly reproducible assay based on real-time PCR (TaqMan, Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) to quantitate simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) RNA in plasma samples. This assay was compared with the current branched-chain DNA assay (Bayer, Emeryville, CA). Results obtained with the real-time TaqMan PCR assay were comparable to those obtained with the branched-chain DNA assay in overlapping ranges of sensitivities (r = 0.9429, p0.05). However, the real-time TaqMan PCR assay was capable of detecting as few as 50 copies of RNA/ml, whereas branched-chain DNA was only sensitive to 1,500 copies of RNA/ml. Therefore, several animals that tested negative by branched-chain DNA were positive by realtime TaqMan PCR. Two false positive tests were also recorded for the branched-chain DNA test. False negative and positive tests were confirmed by cell culture isolation and conventional nested RT-PCR. The SIV TaqMan assay detected a wide range of wild-type, cloned, and recombinant SIV strains with similar amplification efficiency, including SIVmac251, SIVmac239, SIVmac239 containing the 184V mutation in RT, SIV1A11, SIVmac239 delta3, SIVmac-M4, and chimeras (SHIVs) containing specific HIV-1 genes, such as reverse transcriptase (RT-SHIV) or Env (SHIV-E). In conclusion, the high sensitivity, increased specificity, wide dynamic range, simplicity, and reproducibility of the real-time SIV RNA quantitation allow the screening of large numbers of samples and make this method especially suitable for measuring both viral DNA and RNA levels during vaccine and therapy studies.

Studies of drug-resistant reverse transcriptases (RTs) reveal the roles of specific structural elements and amino acids in polymerase function. To characterize better the effects of RT/template interactions on dNTP substrate recognition, we examined the sensitivity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RT con- taining a new mutation in a "template grip" residue (P157S) to the 5*-triphosphates of (2)-b-2*,3*-dideoxy-3*- thiacytidine (3TC), (2)-b-2*,3*-dideoxy-5-fluoro-3*-thia- cytidine (FTC), and 3*-azido-3*-deoxythymidine (AZT). A primer extension assay was used to monitor quantita- tively drug monophosphate incorporation opposite each of multiple target sites. Wild-type and P157S RTs had similar catalytic activities and processivities on hetero- polymeric RNA and DNA templates. When averaged over multiple template sites, P157S RT was 2-7-fold resistant to the 5*-triphosphates of 3TC, FTC, and AZT. Each drug triphosphate inhibited polymerization more efficiently on the DNA template compared with an RNA template of identical sequence. Moreover, chain termination by 3TC and FTC was strongly influenced by template sequence context. Incorporation of FTC and 3TC monophosphate varied up to 10-fold opposite 7 different G residues in the DNA template, and the P157S mutation altered this site specificity. In summary, these data identify Pro 157 as an important residue affecting nucleoside analog re- sistance and suggest that interactions between RT and the template strand influence dNTP substrate recogni- tion at the RT active site. Our findings are discussed within the context of the HIV-1 RT structure.

A P157S mutation in the reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 conferred fivefold resistance to (−)-β-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine in cell culture. Interestingly, the P157S mutation resulted in increased sensitivity (two- to threefold) to 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) and to ( R )-9-(2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine (PMPA). A similar increase in susceptibility to AZT and to PMPA was also conferred by the M184V mutation in RT.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can reduce levels of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to undetectable levels in infected individuals, but the virus is not eradicated. The mechanisms of viral persistence during HAART are poorly defined, but some reservoirs have been identified, such as latently infected resting memory CD4⁺ T cells. During latency, in addition to blocks at the initiation and elongation steps of viral transcription, there is a block in the export of viral RNA (vRNA), leading to the accumulation of multiply-spliced transcripts in the nucleus. Two of the genes encoded by the multiply-spliced transcripts are Tat and Rev, which are essential early in the viral replication cycle and might indicate the state of infection in a given population of cells. Here, the levels of multiply-spliced transcripts were compared to the levels of gag-containing RNA in tissue samples from RT-SHIV-infected rhesus macaques treated with HAART. Splice site sequence variation was identified during development of a TaqMan PCR assay. Multiply-spliced transcripts were detected in gastrointestinal and lymphatic tissues, but not the thymus. Levels of multiply-spliced transcripts were lower than levels of gag RNA, and both correlated with plasma virus loads. The ratio of multiply-spliced to gag RNA was greatest in the gastrointestinal samples from macaques with plasma virus loads

Variants of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) that possess a unique methionine-to-threonine mutation within the YMDD motif of reverse transcriptase (RT) were selected by culturing virus in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of (-)-beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-5-fluoro-3'-thiacytidine [(-)-FTC]. The mutants were resistant to (-)-FTC and (-)-beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC) and additionally exhibited low-level resistance to 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC). DNA sequence analysis of the RT-encoding region of the pol gene amplified from resistant viruses consistently identified a Met-to-Thr mutation in the YMDD motif. Purified RT from the mutants was also resistant to the 5'-triphosphate forms of 3TC, (-)-FTC, and ddC. Site-directed mutants of FIV were engineered which contain either the novel Met-to-Thr mutation or the Met-to-Val mutation seen in oxathiolane nucleoside-resistant HIV-1. Both site-directed mutants displayed resistance to 3TC, thus confirming the role of these mutations in the resistance of FIV to beta-L-3'-thianucleosides.

Initiation of minus (-) strand DNA synthesis was examined on templates containing R, U5, and primer-binding site regions of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) genomic RNA. DNA synthesis was initiated from (i) an oligoribonucleotide complementary to the primer-binding sites, (ii) synthetic tRNA(3Lys), and (iii) natural tRNA(3Lys), by the reverse transcriptases of HIV-1, FIV, EIAV, simian immunodeficiency virus, HIV type 2 (HIV-2), Moloney murine leukemia virus, and avian myeloblastosis virus. All enzymes used an oligonucleotide on wild-type HIV-1 RNA, whereas only a limited number initiated (-) strand DNA synthesis from either tRNA(3Lys). In contrast, all enzymes supported efficient tRNA(3Lys)-primed (-) strand DNA synthesis on the genomes of FIV and EIAV. This may be in part attributable to the observation that the U5-inverted repeat stem-loop of the EIAV and FIV genomes lacks an A-rich loop shown with HIV-1 to interact with the U-rich tRNA anticodon loop. Deletion of this loop in HIV-1 RNA, or disrupting a critical loop-loop complex by tRNA(3Lys) extended by 9 nt, restored synthesis of HIV-1 (-) strand DNA from primer tRNA(3Lys) by all enzymes. Thus, divergent evolution of lentiviruses may have resulted in different mechanisms to use the same host tRNA for initiation of reverse transcription.

High-affinity, high-specificity RNA ligands for reverse transcriptase from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) were isolated from an RNA library by the SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) procedure. The selected RNA ligands bound to FIV reverse transcriptase with dissociation constants in the nanomolar range. One of the ligands was a potent inhibitor of the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity of both the recombinant and the virion-derived FIV reverse transcriptase. It also inhibited the reverse transcriptase from an FIV mutant that is resistant to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT). The inhibition of FIV reverse transcriptase was competitive with respect to template-primer and noncompetitive with respect to deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates. This ligand was specific for the FIV enzyme and did not inhibit other reverse transcriptases tested (avian myeloblastosis virus, Moloney murine leukemia virus, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1).

Salmonid fishes have two growth hormone genes resulting from their polyploid ancestry. We used the polymerase chain reaction to examine genetic variation in the third intron (C) of both of these genes in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). A polymorphism in the length of intron C in GH-1 is due to a variable number of copies of a 31-nt repeat that is absent from GH-1 of the closely related chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Thus, this tandem repeat sequence has become established in the genome of coho salmon since the separation of this species from its closest relatives. All male coho salmon examined have an allele at the second growth hormone gene, GH-2, that is not found in females. GH-2 is thus on the sex chromosome and there is no recombination between GH-2 and the sex-determining locus (SEX). Sequences of intron C indicate much greater divergence between the X chromosome-specific allele and the Y chromosome-specific allele within coho salmon than between the X chromosome-specific alleles of coho and the closely related chinook salmon. Thus, absence of recombination between GH-2 and SEX apparently predates separation of these two species.

We have selected and plaque purified zidovudine (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine [AZT])-resistant mutants from an infectious molecular clone of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The patterns of cross-resistance and drug susceptibilities of these mutants were similar to those of the AZT-resistant FIV that we previously selected in vitro from a wild-type FIV population and to those of the most common AZT-resistant clinical isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1. Two AZT-resistant mutants of FIV, one selected from a normal population and one selected from the molecular clone, each reverted rapidly to an AZT-sensitive phenotype when passaged in the absence of drug. Sequence analysis of the reverse transcriptase (RT)-encoding region from the plaque-purified AZT-resistant FIV revealed a single base change at position 2939, resulting in a Glu-to-Lys substitution at amino acid 202 of the RT. Similar analyses of plaque-purified revertants showed that the phenotypic reversion was not the result of a genotypic reversion at this position and that no additional mutations existed within the RT-encoding region of the revertants. Moreover, RTs purified from the mutant and revertant were both resistant to the 5'-triphosphate of AZT. These results indicate the complexity of AZT resistance and suggest the presence of additional factors, outside the RT-encoding region, which may contribute to AZT resistance.

Reverse transcriptase from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. We have purified this recombinant enzyme and shown that it is a 66-kDa protein that is indistinguishable from virion-derived FIV reverse transcriptase in sensitivity to the 5'-triphosphates of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and the four 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides. The availability of large quantities of the FIV reverse transcriptase will allow more detailed physical and pharmacological studies.

Purpose of review This review will focus on recent developments in several nonhuman primate models of AIDS. These models are being used to address viral latency and persistence during antiretroviral therapy in studies that are not feasible in humans. Recent findings Further characterization of the various macaque models of AIDS has demonstrated that several aspects of viral persistence during antiretroviral therapy model HIV-1 infection in humans, including viral decay kinetics. Widespread distribution of viral RNA and viral DNA has been detected in many tissue organs. In addition, the brain has been identified as a site of persistent viral DNA. Summary The macaque models of AIDS are well suited for addressing viral persistence during antiretroviral therapy, including viral latency, residual replication, and tissue organ distribution.

To prevent progression to AIDS, persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) must remain on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) indefinitely since this modality does not eradicate the virus. The mechanisms involved in viral persistence during HAART are poorly understood, but an animal model of HAART could help elucidate these mechanisms and enable studies of HIV-1 eradication strategies. Due to the specificity of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) for HIV-1, we have used RT-SHIV, a chimeric virus of simian immunodeficiency virus with RT from HIV-1. This virus is susceptible to NNRTIs and causes an AIDS-like disease in rhesus macaques. In this study, two groups of HAART-treated, RT-SHIV-infected macaques were analyzed to determine viral decay kinetics. In the first group, viral loads were monitored with a standard TaqMan RT-PCR assay with a limit of detection of 50 viral RNA copies per mL. Upon initiation of HAART, viremia decayed in a bi-phasic manner with half-lives of 1.7 and 8.5 days, respectively. A third phase was observed with little further decay. In the second group, the macaques were followed longitudinally with a more sensitive assay utilizing ultracentrifugation to concentrate virus from plasma. Bi-phasic decay of viral RNA was also observed in these animals with half-lives of 1.8 and 5.8 days. Viral loads in these animals during a third phase ranged from 2-58 RNA copies/mL, with little decay over time. The viral decay kinetics observed in these macaques are similar to those reported for HIV-1 infected humans. These results demonstrate that low-level viremia persists in RT-SHIV-infected macaques despite a HAART regimen commonly used in humans.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) enables long-term suppression of plasma HIV-1 loads in infected persons, but low-level virus persists and rebounds following cessation of therapy. During HAART, this virus resides in latently infected cells, such as resting CD4+T cells, and in other cell types that may support residual virus replication. Therapeutic eradication will require elimination of virus from all reservoirs. We report here a comprehensive analysis of these reservoirs in fluids, cells, and tissues in a rhesus macaque model that mimics HAART in HIV-infected humans. This nonhuman primate model uses RT-SHIV, a chimera of simian immunodeficiency virus containing the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Methods were developed for extraction, preamplification, and real-time PCR analyses of viral DNA (vDNA) and viral RNA (vRNA) in tissues from RT-SHIV-infected macaques. These methods were used to identify viral reservoirs in RT-SHIV-infected macaques treated with a potent HAART regimen consisting of efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir. Plasma virus loads at necropsy ranged from 11 to 28 copies of vRNA per ml. Viral RNA and DNA were detected during HAART, in tissues from numerous anatomical locations. Additional analysis provided evidence for full-length viral RNA in tissues of animals with virus suppressed by HAART. The highest levels of vDNA and vRNA in HAART-treated macaques were in lymphoid tissues, particularly the spleen, lymph nodes, and gastrointestinal tract tissues. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the tissue and organ distribution of a primate AIDS virus during HAART. These data demonstrate widespread persistence of residual virus in tissues during HAART.

We selected 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT)-resistant mutants of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in a cat cell culture system. The characterization of one of these mutants was facilitated by the development of a focal immunoassay which could accurately measure FIV infectivity. This assay was used to quantitate the susceptibility of FIV to various inhibitors. The AZT-resistant mutant was found to be cross-resistant to 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine and 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine but remained sensitive to several other inhibitors (2',3'-dideoxyinosine, 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrothymidine, and phosphonoformate). These patterns of cross-resistance and sensitivity were similar to those of the AZT-resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that has recently been isolated from patients with AIDS (B. A. Larder and S. D. Kemp, Science 246:1155-1158, 1989). Like the AZT-resistant HIV, purified reverse transcriptase from mutant FIV failed to show resistance to the 5'-triphosphate of AZT. This mutant can be used in the FIV model system to study the mechanisms of drug resistance and to determine the pathogenicity of AZT-resistant mutants.

Reverse transcriptase has been purified from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) by DEAE-cellulose and phosphocellulose chromatography. The purified enzyme consists of a single protein with a Mr of 67,000. When proteolysis is not minimized during purification, a fragment of Mr 54,000 is also observed. This is similar to the reverse transcriptase from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV), which consists of a polypeptide of Mr 66,000; when proteolysis is not minimized during purification, a fragment of Mr 51,000 is also observed. In direct comparisons, the FIV reverse transcriptase is very similar to the HIV reverse transcriptase in template specificity and requirements for Mg2+. In contrast to these similarities, the FIV and HIV reverse transcriptases are substantially different in primary sequence, as determined by peptide mapping.

Background We reported previously on the emergence and clinical implications of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac251) mutants with a K65R mutation in reverse transcriptase (RT), and the role of CD8+ cell-mediated immune responses in suppressing viremia during tenofovir therapy. Because of significant sequence differences between SIV and HIV-1 RT that affect drug susceptibilities and mutational patterns, it is unclear to what extent findings with SIV can be extrapolated to HIV-1 RT. Accordingly, to model HIV-1 RT responses, 12 macaques were inoculated with RT-SHIV, a chimeric SIV containing HIV-1 RT, and started on prolonged tenofovir therapy 5 months later. Results The early virologic response to tenofovir correlated with baseline viral RNA levels and expression of the MHC class I allele Mamu-A*01. For all animals, sensitive real-time PCR assays detected the transient emergence of K70E RT mutants within 4 weeks of therapy, which were then replaced by K65R mutants within 12 weeks of therapy. For most animals, the occurrence of these mutations preceded a partial rebound of plasma viremia to levels that remained on average 10-fold below baseline values. One animal eventually suppressed K65R viremia to undetectable levels for more than 4 years; sequential experiments using CD8+ cell depletion and tenofovir interruption demonstrated that both CD8+ cells and continued tenofovir therapy were required for sustained suppression of viremia. Conclusion This is the first evidence that tenofovir therapy can select directly for K70E viral mutants in vivo. The observations on the clinical implications of the K65R RT-SHIV mutants were consistent with those of SIVmac251, and suggest that for persons infected with K65R HIV-1 both immune-mediated and drug-dependent antiviral activities play a role in controlling viremia. These findings suggest also that even in the presence of K65R virus, continuation of tenofovir treatment as part of HAART may be beneficial, particularly when assisted by antiviral immune responses.

Integration of HIV-1 viral DNA into the host genome is carried out by HIV-integrase (IN) and is a critical step in viral replication. Although several classes of compounds have been reported to inhibit IN in enzymatic assays, inhibition is not always correlated with antiviral activity. Moreover, potent antiviral IN inhibitors such as the chicoric acids do not act upon the intended enzymatic target but behave as entry inhibitors instead. The charged nature of the chicoric acids contributes to poor cellular uptake, and these compounds are further plagued by rapid ester hydrolysis in vivo. To address these critical deficiencies, we designed neutral, nonhydrolyzable analogues of the chicoric acids. Herein, we report the synthesis, enzyme inhibition studies, and cellular antiviral data for a series of geminal disulfones. Of the 10 compounds evaluated, 8 showed moderate to high inhibition of IN in purified enzyme assays. The purified enzyme data correlated with antiviral assays for all but two compounds, suggesting alternative modes of inhibition. Time-of-addition studies were performed on these analogues, and the results indicate that they inhibit an early stage in the replication process, perhaps entry. In contrast, the most potent member of the correlative group shows behavior consistent with IN being the cellular target.

RNA molecules can be powerful inhibitors of HIV-1 replication. To determine the relative efficacy of siRNAs and RNA aptamers, a direct comparison of three anti-HIV reverse transcriptase aptamers and three shRNAs targeted to HIV-1(R3b) was made. U6 promoter-driven anti-HIV genes were delivered into CEMx174 cells via a retroviral vector, and transduced cells were sorted out via green fluorescent protein function and challenged with HIV. The results show that, at low virus input, shRNAs can block HIV as efficiently as aptamers. When expressed in target cells, both classes of inhibitors blocked early events of reverse transcription, suggesting they are both able to access intracellular reverse transcription complexes. However, at higher multiplicities of infection (m.o.i. of 50), while the aptamers could efficiently inhibit HIV replication, shRNAs did not. RNase protection assays indicated similar steady-state levels or nucleocytoplasmic distribution showing that the differential efficacy was not a reflection of intracellular concentration. The higher potency of anti-RT aptamers could be due to their ability to inhibit two successive rounds of reverse transcription owing to their unique ability to be encapsidated into virion particles. Furthermore, anti-RT aptamers expressed in T cells afforded protection against high-dose infection by chimeric RT-SHIV viruses.

The methionine-to-valine mutation in codon 184 (M184V) in reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) confers resistance to (−)-2′-deoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC; lamivudine) and increased sensitivity to 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine (PMPA; tenofovir). We have used the SIV model to evaluate the effect of the M184V mutation on the emergence of resistance to the combination of 3TC plus PMPA. A site-directed mutant of SIVmac239 containing M184V (SIVmac239-184V) was used to select for resistance to both 3TC and PMPA by serial passage in the presence of increasing concentrations of both drugs. Under these selection conditions, the M184V mutation reverted in the majority of the selections. Variants resistant to both drugs were found to have the lysine-to-arginine mutation at codon 65 (K65R), which has previously been associated with resistance to PMPA in both SIV and HIV. Similarly, in rhesus macaques infected with SIVmac239-184V for 46 weeks and treated daily with (−)-2′-deoxy-5-fluoro-3′-thiacytidine [(−)-FTC], there was no reversion of M184V, but this mutation reverted to 184 M in all three animals within 24 weeks of treatment with (−)-FTC and PMPA. Although the addition of PMPA to the (−)-FTC therapy induced a decrease in virus loads in plasma, these loads eventually returned to pre-PMPA levels in each case. All animals receiving this combination developed the K65R mutation. These results demonstrate that the combination of PMPA with 3TC or (−)-FTC selects for the K65R mutation and against the M184V mutation in SIV RT.

Drug-resistant mutants with a methionine-to-valine substitution at position 184 of reverse transcriptase (M184V) emerged within 5 weeks of initiation of therapy in four newborn macaques infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac251) and treated with lamivudine (3TC) or emtricitabine [(−)-FTC] (two animals per drug). Thus, this animal model mimics the rapid emergence of M184V mutants of HIV-1 during 3TC therapy of human patients. One animal of each treatment group developed fatal immunodeficiency at 12 weeks of age, which is similar to the rapid disease course seen in most untreated SIVmac251-infected infant macaques. To further evaluate the effect of the M184V mutation on viral fitness and virulence, groups of juvenile macaques were inoculated with the molecular clone SIVmac239 with either the wild-type sequence (group A [n= 5]) or the M184V sequence (SIVmac239-184V; group B [n= 5] and group C [n= 2]). The two SIVmac239-184V-infected animals of group C did not receive any drug treatment, and in both animals the virus population reverted to predominantly wild type (184M) by 8 weeks after inoculation. The other five SIVmac239-184V-infected animals (group B) were treated with (−)-FTC to prevent reversion. Although virus levels 1 week after inoculation were lower in the SIVmac239-184V-infected macaques than in the SIVmac239-infected animals, no significant differences were observed from week 2 onwards. Two animals in each group developed AIDS and were euthanized, while all other animals were clinically stable at 46 weeks of infection. These data demonstrate that the M184V mutation in SIV conferred a slightly reduced fitness but did not affect disease outcome.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are specific for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) and do not inhibit HIV-2. Given that the amino acids lining the NNRTI-specific pocket of HIV-1 RT display higher similarity to the corresponding feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) RT amino acids than to HIV-2 RT, the susceptibility of FIV RT and chimeric HIV-1/FIV RTs to NNRTIs and the role of the p51 subunit in the inhibitory action of NNRTIs were investigated. We found that the wild-type FIV RT and the FIVp66/HIVp51 chimeric enzyme showed no susceptibility for NNRTIs. On the other hand, the chimeric HIVp66/FIVp51 RT retained a sensitivity spectrum for NNRTIs similar to that of the wild-type HIV-1 RT. The noncompetitive nature of inhibition of HIV-1 RT by nevirapine was also observed with the HIVp66/FIVp51 chimeric enzyme. Inhibition of the chimeric RTs by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and foscarnet was in the same range as observed for the corresponding HIVp66/HIVp51 and FIVp66/FIVp51 wild-type enzymes. The chimeric RTs had an affinity (K(m)) for their dNTP substrate and template/primer comparable with that of the wild-type HIV-1 and FIV RTs, but their catalytic efficacy (k(cat)) was markedly decreased. This decreased catalytic efficacy of the RT chimeras may suggest suboptimal interactions between p66 and p51 in the chimeric enzymes. Our results point to a minor role of the p51 subunit in the sensitivity to RT inhibitors.

Mutants of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) resistant to (−)-β-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-thiacytidine (3TC) were selected by culturing virus in the presence of increasing stepwise concentrations of 3TC. Two plaque-purified variants were isolated from the original mutant population, and both of these mutants were resistant to 3TC. Surprisingly, these mutants were also phenotypically resistant to 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) and to the combination of 3TC and AZT. Purified reverse transcriptase (RT) from one of these plaque-purified mutants was resistant to the 5′-triphosphates of 3TC and AZT. DNA sequence analysis of the RT-encoding region of the pol gene amplified from the plaque-purified mutants revealed a Pro-to-Ser mutation at position 156 of RT. A site-directed mutant of FIV engineered to contain this Pro-156-Ser mutation was resistant to 3TC, AZT, and the combination of 3TC and AZT, confirming the role of the Pro-156-Ser mutation in the resistance of FIV to these two nucleoside analogs. This represents the first report of a lentiviral mutant resistant to the combination of AZT and 3TC due to a single, unique point mutation.

RT-SHIV is a chimera of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) containing the reverse transcriptase (RT)-encoding region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) within the backbone of SIVmac239. It has been used in a non-human primate model for studies of non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTI) and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We and others have identified several mutations that arise in the "foreign" HIV-1 RT of RT-SHIV during in vivo replication. In this study we catalogued amino acid substitutions in the HIV-1 RT and in regions of the SIV backbone with which RT interacts that emerged 30 weeks post-infection from seven RT-SHIV-infected rhesus macaques. The virus set points varied from relatively high virus load, moderate virus load, to undetectable virus load. The G196R substitution in RT was detected from 6 of 7 animals at week 4 post-infection and remained in virus from 4 of 6 animals at week 30. Virus from four high virus load animals showed several common mutations within RT, including L74V or V75L, G196R, L214F, and K275R. The foreign RT from high virus load isolates exhibited as much variation as that of the highly variable envelope surface glycoprotein, and 10-fold higher than that of the native RT of SIVmac239. Isolates from moderate virus load animals showed much less variation in the foreign RT than the high virus load isolates. No variation was found in SIVmac239 genes known to interact with RT. Our results demonstrate substantial adaptation of the foreign HIV-1 RT in RT-SHIV-infected macaques, which most likely reflects selective pressure upon the foreign RT to attain optimal activity within the context of the chimeric RT-SHIV and the rhesus macaque host.

We selected mutants of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) that are resistant to 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrothymidine (d4T). Two mutants were selected in cultured cells with a stepwise increase in d4T concentration, resulting in mutants able to replicate in 100 microM d4T. These mutants were three- to sixfold more resistant to d4T than wild-type FIV. They were also cross-resistant to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxythymidine, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, and 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine, and they were highly resistant to phosphonoformic acid (PFA). Plaque-purified mutants were isolated from each of the mutant populations. The mutant phenotype was stable, because both of the plaque-purified mutants remained d4T resistant even after three passages in the absence of d4T. One of the plaque-purified mutants, designated D4R-3c, was further characterized. Compared with wild-type reverse transcriptase (RT), RT purified from D4R-3c was 3-fold resistant to inhibition by the 5'-triphosphate of d4T, 10-fold resistant to inhibition by the 5'-triphosphate of AZT, and 6-fold resistant to PFA. D4R-3c had a single point mutation in the RT-encoding region of the pol gene at position 2474, resulting in a Val to Ile mutation at codon 47 of the FIV RT. The role of this mutation in d4T resistance was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis.

We have developed a host range system to measure the mutation frequency of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), the feline homologue of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). When wild-type FIV was grown in the presence of a known mutagen, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BUdR), a dose-dependent increase of host range mutants was detected. Using this system, we have evaluated the effects of antiviral drugs upon the mutation frequency of FIV. Subinhibitory concentrations of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), the most common antiviral drug used in AIDS chemotherapy, increased the mutation frequency of FIV in a dose-dependent manner. Two other antivirals, 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) and 2'3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC), did not show this effect.

We have selected and plaque purified a mutant of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) that is resistant to 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC). This mutant was selected in cultured cells in the continuous presence of 25 microM ddC. The mutant, designated DCR-5c, was fourfold resistant to ddC, threefold resistant to 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, and more than fourfold resistant to phosphonoformic acid. DCR-5c displayed little or no resistance to (-)-beta-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, or 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl) adenine. Reverse transcriptase purified from DCR-5c was less susceptible to inhibition by ddCTP, phosphonoformic acid, ddATP, or azido-dTTP than the wild-type FIV reverse transcriptase. Sequence analysis of DCR-5c revealed a single base change (G to C at nucleotide 2342) in the reverse transcriptase-encoding region of FIV. This mutation results in substitution of His for Asp at codon 3 of FIV reverse transcriptase. The role of this mutation in ddC resistance was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis.

Viral resistance is a major problem with current AIDS drugs. The feline immunodeficiency virus model may provide a way to test new drugs and strategies before human trials.

Mutants of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) were selected in cell culture in the continuous presence of 10 microM (each) 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI). These mutants (AIR-1 and AIR-3) displayed a 13-fold resistance to AZT but had less than a 2-fold decrease in susceptibility to ddI. Interestingly, the AIR mutants were cross-resistant to phosphonoformate (PFA) and were hypersensitive to 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC). Mutants of FIV were also selected in the presence of 10 microM ddI alone (DIS-1, DIS-2c), and these displayed a two- to fourfold decrease in susceptibility to ddI. Like the mutants selected with the combination of AZT plus ddI, DIS-1 and DIS-2c were cross-resistant to PFA and were hypersensitive to ddC. However, they remained as susceptible as wild-type FIV to AZT. Thus, the mutants selected with the combination of AZT plus ddI have phenotypes which reflect those obtained by selection with these drugs individually.

Three groups of specific pathogen-free (SPF) domestic cats, each containing 5 animals, were infected with one of three closely related FIV variants and monitored for 36 weeks. A fourth group of 5 cats was sham-infected and served as uninfected controls. FIV variants included: (1) a fully virulent animal passaged FIV-Petaluma; (2) a Crandell feline kidney (CrFK) cell-adapted FIV-Petaluma (FIV-CrFK); and (3) a variant of FIV-CrFK (FIV-CrFKAZT) that had been selected in vitro for resistance to azidothymidine. Cats infected with fully virulent FIV-Petaluma strongly seroconverted, became persistently viremic, and exhibited lymphadenopathy, neutropenia, and inversion of the CD4+:CD8+ T cell ratio. Cats infected with FIV-CrFK seroconverted but the antibody responses were much weaker and more variable; two of the cats became transiently viremic and no hematologic abnormalities or clinical signs of illness other than a very mild lymphadenopathy were observed. None of the five cats inoculated with FIV-CrFKAZT seroconverted, became viremic, or exhibited any gross or hematologic signs of disease, even though proviral DNA was transiently detected in tissue following inoculation. This study demonstrates that the FIV infection model can be used to assess differences in the virulence of FIV variants, including variants selected for antiretroviral drug resistance.

The replication of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in cultured cells was inhibited by 2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine (ddA) and by 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyI)adenine (PMEA) with IC 50 values of 0.98 and 0.95 μM, respectively. The effects of the presumed active forms of these inhibitors, ddATP and PMEA-diphosphate (PMEApp), upon the FIV reverse transcriptase (RT) were examined with two different template-primer systems. Both of these compounds were potent inhibitors of the FIV RT in reactions with primed φX-174 DNA, yielding K i values of 8.8 nM for ddATP and 5.0 nM for PMEApp. However, they were both poor inhibitors of the reaction with poly(rU)-oligo(dA); concentrations of ddATP or PMEApp greater than 10 μM were required to inhibit this reaction by 50%. Further analysis of the reaction with poly(rU)-oligo(dA) revealed that even in the absence of inhibitors the primers were extended by less than 20 nucleotides. In contrast, high molecular weight products were obtained in reactions with φX-174 DNA. These results suggest that the reaction of FIV RT with poly(rU)-oligo(dA) is not highly processive. The high degree of termination encountered during this reaction with poly(rU)-oligo(dA) may be responsible for the low inhibitory potential of ddATP and PMEApp.

Reverse transcription of retroviral genomes requires the action of an RNase H for template switching and primer generation. In this report, we compare enzymatic properties of the RNase H associated with the reverse transcriptase (RT) from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and that from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Both enzymes displayed substrate preference for poly[3H](rG) . poly(dC) hybird over poly[3H](rA) . poly(dT) and cation preference for Mg2+ over Mn2+. Activity of the FIV RNase H upon poly(rG) . poly(dC) produced hydrolysis products from 1 to 6 nucleotides in length, similar to that reported for HIV. Dextran sulfates were effective inhibitors of both the FIV and HIV RNase H and RT activities. Nearly identical inhibition constants (0.12 nM) were obtained for all enzyme activities with dextran sulfate 500,000, while different inhibition constants were observed with dextran sulfate 8,000. Our results suggest that FIV and HIV RTs contain a conserved region that is sensitive to the larger dextran sulfate and that dextran sulfate 8,000 may interact at a different site or by a different mechanism.

The sensitivities of reverse transcriptases (RTs) from feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) were directly compared. The two enzymes had similar sensitivities to three analogs of dTTP, namely, 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate, 2',3'-dideoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate, and 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrothymidine 5'-triphosphate. Each of these analogs demonstrated competitive inhibition of both enzymes. Ki values for inhibition of FIV RT by these three inhibitors were 3.3, 6.7, and 1.8 nM, respectively; Ki values for inhibition of the HIV enzyme were 6.5, 5.9, and 8.3 nM, respectively. Ratios of the Ki for the inhibitor to the Km for the substrate were also determined for each inhibitor, and no differences between the two enzymes greater than threefold were observed. Inhibition constants for 3'-amino-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate and 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate were determined for FIV RT, and these were similar to published values for HIV RT. The activities of three dideoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphates against FIV RT were determined; ddGTP was slightly more potent than ddTTP, whereas both were much more effective than ddCTP. The activity of a noncompetitive inhibitor, phosphonoformate, was also examined with the FIV enzyme; it was much more active with poly(rA)-oligo(dT) as the template-primer than with poly(rC)-oligo(dG) or poly(rI)-oligo(dC).

Several mycoplasma species markedly inhibit lymphokine- and mitogen-induced3H-thymidine incorporation in cultured lymphoid cells, but have negligible short-term effects on cellular DNA synthesis as assessed by cytofluorography or by cell counts. The deoxyribonucleotide precursor deoxycytidine (dC) reverses this inhibition, but has little effect on isotope incorporation in uninfected cultures. Human lymphoblastoid leukemia cell lines contaminated with mycoplasma and hypoxanthine guanosine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT)-deficient subclones do not grow in conventional HAT medium, but the unselected parent lines proliferate when dC is included in the culture medium. The beneficial effect of dC on the growth of contaminated cultures in selection medium is amplified by the addition of the cytidine deaminase inhibitor tetrahydrouridine (THU). These observations and corroborating nucleotide pool analysis suggest that dC may exert its beneficial effects on cellular proliferation and isotope utilization by inhibiting a mycoplasma-associated enzyme, thymidine phosphorylase. The data also suggest that the conversion of dC to dU by the cellular enzyme cytidine deaminase reduces the ability of dC to salvage contaminated cultures in the presence of an antifolate. The addition of dC to the culture medium in various3H-thymidine incorporation assays makes possible the detection of stimulatory lymphokines despite the presence of mycoplasma contamination of the indicator cells. The normalization of nucleotide pools and cellular growth of mycoplasma-infected HGPRT (+) human leukemic cell lines with the addition of dC to HAT selection medium has made possible the use of infected HGPRT-deficient subclones as fusion partners in the generation of T-T hybridomas. Our studies also suggest that the ability of cells to grow in HAT medium only when dC is included is presumptive evidence for mycoplasma infection.

Several features of DNA replication suggest the involvement of multienzyme complexes in deoxyribonucleotide biosynthesis. Such complexes could generate intracellular concentration gradients of DNA precursors, with high levels being maintained at their sites of utilization, namely, replication forks. Relevant facts or observations include the following. (1) Deoxyribonucleotides are highly specialized metabolites, whose sole evident function is to serve as DNA precursors; for the most part they are found only in cells which are synthesizing DNA. (2) Although average intracellular deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate concentrations are low, most in vitro systems for DNA synthesis require rather high triphosphate concentrations to maintain maximal incorporation rates; thus, the effective intracellular levels are probably much higher than the average concentrations; (3) DNA chain growth rates in vivo are one to two orders of magnitude higher than the corresponding rates for RNA chain growth; thus, DNA precursor supplies must be replenished very rapidly at the replication fork. Data on deoxyribonucleotide pool labeling kinetics indicate that DNA precursor pools are compartmentalized. Even in the absence of physically separated compartments, one can visualize a functional compartmentation in which the separate pools are kinetically distinct. In bacteria, for example, one could envisage a small, rapidly turning over pool of triphosphates near the replication forks, and a larger, more slowly replenished pool which is more evenly distributed through the cell and which is used primarily in DNA repair. A complex of deoxyribonucleotide-synthesizing enzymes, juxtaposed with the replication apparatus, could serve to maintain high local concentrations of triphosphates at the replication forks. Using T4 phage-infected E. coli as a model system, our laboratory has obtained considerable evidence supporting the above model. The evidence is derived from deoxyribonucleotide pool kinetic studies, experiments on DNA synthesis in vitro, and properties of an isolated multienzyme aggregate. The evidence indicates that effective DNA precursor concentrations at the replication fork are quite different from average intracellular concentrations as estimated from pool measurements. The desirability of being able to determine effective concentrations is emphasized.

The requirement of protozoan parasites for pre-formed purines affords the opportunity for quantitation of nucleic acid synthesis from incorporation of radioactively labeled purines into DNA and RNA. We have developed rapid and simple assays to quantitate DNA and RNA synthesis in promastigotes of Leishmania major and L. donovani from the incorporation of [ 3 H]hypoxanthine. DNA but not RNA synthesis in L. major or L. donovani promastigotes was inhibited by aphidicolin (50% inhibition by 0.2–0.3 μM) and by hydroxyurea (50% inhibition by 0.3–0.5 mM). The inhibition of DNA synthesis by aphidicolin or hydroxyurea was reversible when the inhibitor was removed 2, 4 or 24 h after its addition. Several well-characterized agents that inhibit DNA synthesis in mammalian cells, 1-β- d -arabinofuranosylcytosine (araC), 9-β- d -arabinofuranosyladenine (araA), phosphonoacetic acid, novobiocin and N 2 -( p - n -butylphenyl)guanine (BuPG), failed to inhibit DNA synthesis in promastigotes of L. major even when used at very high concentrations, demonstrating differences between DNA replication components of parasite and host.

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), formerly called feline T-lymphotropic lentivirus, causes an immune deficiency in cats that is very similar to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome in humans (N. C. Pedersen, E. M. Ho, M. L. Brown, and J. K. Yamamoto, Science 235:790-793, 1987). We have examined the reverse transcriptase of this virus to determine whether it is similar enough to the reverse transcriptase of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to enable its use as a model for chemotherapy for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The FIV reverse transcriptase is similar to that of HIV-1 in sensitivity to the noncompetitive inhibitor phosphonoformate (Ki, 0.3 microM) and relative insensitivity to phosphonoacetate. This enzyme was also sensitive to two competitive inhibitors, the 5'-triphosphates of 2', 3'-dideoxythymidine (Ki, 3.4 nM) and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT; Ki, 6.2 nM). The ratios of Ki/Km for these two competitive inhibitors are similar to the ratios calculated from previously reported data for the HIV-1 enzyme assayed under identical conditions. In contrast, the FIV enzyme is different from the reverse transcriptase of avian myeloblastosis virus in sensitivity to those inhibitors. The replication of FIV in Crandell feline kidney cells was inhibited by AZT; virus production was inhibited more than 95% by 1.0 microM AZT.

Erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA; erythro-9-[3-(hydroxynonyl)]adenine), a reversible inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, significantly inhibits replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV), whereas the more active inhibitor of the deaminase, 2'-deoxycoformycin, does not. At 10 micron EHNA, which does not affect viability, growth, or DNA synthesis of uninfected HeLa cells, production of HSV and HSV-specific DNA is inhibited 75-90% and 60%, respectively. HSV multiplies normally in cells pretreated with EHNA and washed to remove this inhibitor. EHNA (10 micron) also markedly potentiates the toxicity of adenine arabinonucleoside and of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) against HeLa cells and against the production of HSV in those cells. Cordycepin alone (10 micron) does not inhibit HSV replication whereas in combination with 10 micron EHNA there is a greater than 99% inhibition of virus production. Under these conditions, RNA synthesis is inhibited by more than 80% whereas protein and DNA synthesis are inhibited to a lesser extent; in this system, virtually all of the DNA synthesis in infected cells is that of host DNA. Thus, EHNA appears to affect the synthesis of HSV DNA specifically in two different ways, depending on whether it is used alone or in the presence of cordycepin.