Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Iowa, 2006. / Supervisor: Mary J. C. Hendrix. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-146).

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008. / Vita. Bibliography: p.201-213

published_or_final_version / abstract / Botany / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

HIV/AIDS is a global health problem of immense magnitude, with 33 million people living with HIV and 2 million AIDS-related deaths per year. As the development of drug resistance undermines treatment efficacy, the long-term success of anti-retroviral therapy depends upon the introduction of novel drugs aimed at additional targets essential for the viral life cycle. With a critical role in many viral diseases including the proteolytic maturation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160, the secretory pathway proprotein convertases (PCs) represent a potential anti-viral target. Our laboratory has reported the identification of Spn4A, a potent naturally occurring secretory pathway serine protease inhibitor directed at the prototype PC member, furin. Because of the requirement for the PCs in the production of infectious HIV-1, we hypothesized that strategic manipulation of PC activity by Spn4A and Spn4A-engineered variants would provide a means of effectively limiting HIV-1 infection. This thesis details the investigation of the anti-proteolytic activities and anti-HIV-1 properties of recombinant adenoviruses expressing Spn4A and Spn4A bio-engineered variants, including a secreted recombinant Spn4A (Spn4A S). Our data shows that the expression of Spn4A S in MAGI-CCR5 cells and furin-deficient LoVo cells inhibited the PC-dependent processing of the HIV-1 envelope precursor gp160. Furthermore, inhibition of processing resulted in a nearly complete reduction of productive HIV-1 infection as determined by HIV-1 Tat-driven β-galactosidase activity and multinuclear activation of a galactosidase indicator (MAGI) assays. Complementing the previously described anti-furin activity of Spn4A, our studies indicate that Spn4A S inhibits additional PCs involved in gp160 maturation, and that PC inhibition can serve as an effective means of limiting HIV-1 infection. With the central role of the PCs in the replication and pathogenesis of numerous infectious agents, the identification of Spn4A S as an efficacious HIV inhibitor establishes Spn4A as a prospective broad-based agent for the inhibition of PC-related diseases.

No description available.

HIV/AIDS is a global health problem of immense magnitude, with 33 million people living with HIV and 2 million AIDS-related deaths per year. As the development of drug resistance undermines treatment efficacy, the long-term success of anti-retroviral therapy depends upon the introduction of novel drugs aimed at additional targets essential for the viral life cycle. With a critical role in many viral diseases including the proteolytic maturation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160, the secretory pathway proprotein convertases (PCs) represent a potential anti-viral target. Our laboratory has reported the identification of Spn4A, a potent naturally occurring secretory pathway serine protease inhibitor directed at the prototype PC member, furin. Because of the requirement for the PCs in the production of infectious HIV-1, we hypothesized that strategic manipulation of PC activity by Spn4A and Spn4A-engineered variants would provide a means of effectively limiting HIV-1 infection. This thesis details the investigation of the anti-proteolytic activities and anti-HIV-1 properties of recombinant adenoviruses expressing Spn4A and Spn4A bio-engineered variants, including a secreted recombinant Spn4A (Spn4A S). Our data shows that the expression of Spn4A S in MAGI-CCR5 cells and furin-deficient LoVo cells inhibited the PC-dependent processing of the HIV-1 envelope precursor gp160. Furthermore, inhibition of processing resulted in a nearly complete reduction of productive HIV-1 infection as determined by HIV-1 Tat-driven β-galactosidase activity and multinuclear activation of a galactosidase indicator (MAGI) assays. Complementing the previously described anti-furin activity of Spn4A, our studies indicate that Spn4A S inhibits additional PCs involved in gp160 maturation, and that PC inhibition can serve as an effective means of limiting HIV-1 infection. With the central role of the PCs in the replication and pathogenesis of numerous infectious agents, the identification of Spn4A S as an efficacious HIV inhibitor establishes Spn4A as a prospective broad-based agent for the inhibition of PC-related diseases.

Objective: Serpins are serine protease inhibitors that are involved in a wide variety of biological functions in nature. They are known to regulate inflammation processes as well as provide host defense against microorganisms. Recent evidence has associated many types of mucosal serpins with a protective phenotype against HIV infection in women. Our hypothesis is that serpins with known antiviral activity against HIV-1 are correlated with protection in a group of HIV exposed seronegative individuals (HIV-resistant) from the Pumwani sex worker cohort. Study design: Cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) fluid was collected from 66 HIV-positive, 82 HIV-negative and 84 HIV-resistant sex workers from the cohort. Clinical and epidemiological information was recorded at the time of sample collection. CVL protein levels were determined by BCA assay and serpin (A1 and A3) concentrations by a commercially available ELISA kit. Mucosal serpin concentrations were compared against clinical and epidemiological factors as well as sexual practices. Results: Serpin A1 was significantly higher in the HIV-resistant group compared to the HIV-negative controls (Anova: p=0.0470*). Total concentration of serpin A3 did not reach statistical significance between groups. Serpins did not correlate with age, sexual practices, contraceptive use or number of pregnancies. Serpins were differentially abundant during different stages of the menstrual cycle whereas serpin A1 was elevated during the proliferation phase but not in secretory phase (p=0.0275*). Conclusion: Serpin A1 was correlated with HIV-protection in this group of HESN women. This work will contribute to a more complete understanding of mechanisms of resistance and susceptibility to HIV infection.

Objective: Serpins are serine protease inhibitors that are involved in a wide variety of biological functions in nature. They are known to regulate inflammation processes as well as provide host defense against microorganisms. Recent evidence has associated many types of mucosal serpins with a protective phenotype against HIV infection in women. Our hypothesis is that serpins with known antiviral activity against HIV-1 are correlated with protection in a group of HIV exposed seronegative individuals (HIV-resistant) from the Pumwani sex worker cohort. Study design: Cervico-vaginal lavage (CVL) fluid was collected from 66 HIV-positive, 82 HIV-negative and 84 HIV-resistant sex workers from the cohort. Clinical and epidemiological information was recorded at the time of sample collection. CVL protein levels were determined by BCA assay and serpin (A1 and A3) concentrations by a commercially available ELISA kit. Mucosal serpin concentrations were compared against clinical and epidemiological factors as well as sexual practices. Results: Serpin A1 was significantly higher in the HIV-resistant group compared to the HIV-negative controls (Anova: p=0.0470*). Total concentration of serpin A3 did not reach statistical significance between groups. Serpins did not correlate with age, sexual practices, contraceptive use or number of pregnancies. Serpins were differentially abundant during different stages of the menstrual cycle whereas serpin A1 was elevated during the proliferation phase but not in secretory phase (p=0.0275*). Conclusion: Serpin A1 was correlated with HIV-protection in this group of HESN women. This work will contribute to a more complete understanding of mechanisms of resistance and susceptibility to HIV infection.