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Updated: Feb 9, 2026
Humanized NOG Mice for Intravaginal HIV Exposure and Treatment of HIV Infection
Published on: January 31, 2020
Bioengineered intravaginal isolate of Lactobacillus plantarum expresses algal lectin scytovirin demonstrating
Essam Mohammed Ahmed Janahi1, Shafiul Haque2, Naseem Akhter3
1Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bahrain, Sakhir, Bahrain.
Abstract:
Efforts to develop preventatives against HIV infection through sexual route have identified, among many, algal lectins as the potent molecules for scaffolding HIV entry inhibition. Algal lectin scytovirin (SVN) from Scytonema varium, a cyanobacterium, has anti-HIV effects with the potential for use in sculpting HIV neutralization. We created a recombinant strain of human vaginal L. plantarum for extracellular expression of recombinant (r)SVN. The rSVN protein containing culture supernatant was analyzed for its binding with HIV-1 gp160, and for inhibiting infection with primary R5 and X4 HIV-1 strains in TZM-bl cells. The rSVN protein extant in recombinant L. plantarum culture supernatant binds to HIV-1 gp160 and reduces the HIV-induced cytopathic effect to nearly 56.67% and 86.47% in R5 and X4 HIV-1 infected TZM-bl cells, respectively. The fortified L. plantarum may be explored for its use as a live virucide in vaginal mucosa of high risk women to prevent HIV entry.
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