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- Title
Semen-mediated enhancement of HIV infection isdonor-dependent and correlates with the levels ofSEVI.
- Authors
Kyeong-Ae Kim; Yolamanova, Maral; Zirafi, Onofrio; Roan, Nadia R.; Staendker, Ludger; Forssmann, Wolf-Georg; Burgener, Adam; Dejucq-Rainsford, Nathalie; Hahn, Beatrice H.; Shaw, George M.; Greene, Warner C.; Kirchhoff, Frank; Münch, Jan
- Abstract
Background: HIV-1 is usually transmitted in the presence of semen. We have shown that semen boosts HIV-1 infection and contains fragments of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) forming amyloid aggregates termed SEVI (semen-derived enhancer of viral infection) that promote virion attachment to target cells. Despite its importance for the global spread of HIV-1, however, the effect of semen on virus infection is controversial. Results: Here, we established methods allowing the meaningful analysis of semen by minimizing its cytotoxic effects and partly recapitulating the conditions encountered during sexual HIV-1 transmission. We show that semen rapidly and effectively enhances the infectivity of HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV. This enhancement occurs independently of the viral genotype and coreceptor tropism as well as the virus producer and target cell type. Semen-mediated enhancement of HIV-1 infection was also observed under acidic pH conditions and in the presence of vaginal fluid. We further show that the potency of semen in boosting HIV-1 infection is donor dependent and correlates with the levels of SEVI. Conclusions: Our results show that semen strongly enhances the infectivity of HIV-1 and other primate lentiviruses and that SEVI contributes to this effect. Thus, SEVI may play an important role in the sexual transmission of HIV-1 and addition of SEVI inhibitors to microbicides may improve their efficacy.
- Publication
Retrovirology, 2010, Vol 7, p55
- ISSN
1742-4690
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1186/1742-4690-7-55