Abstract
Natural toxins are the product of a long-term evolution, and have captured crucial events in the most essential and vital processes of living organisms. They can attack components of the protein synthesis machinery (as in the case of Diphteria and Shiga toxins, and Ribosome inactivating proteins), actin polymerization (Clostridium botulinum type C, C2, toxins and Enterotoxin A), signal transduction pathways (Cholera toxin, Heat-labile enterotoxins, Pertussis and Adenylate cyclase toxins), intracellular trafficking of vesicules (for Tetanus and Botulinum neurotoxin type C) as well as immune and/or inflammatory responses (Pyrogenic exotoxins, Cholera and Pertussis toxins). Of interest is the fact that several bacterial and vegetal toxins can either kill selectively cells infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or exert inhibitory effects on its life cycle. In particular both pertussis toxin (PTX) and its nontoxic B-oligomeric component (PTX-B) can block the infectious process in vitro at multiple levels, by preventing the entry of CCR5-dependent (R5) HIV strains and by inhibiting both R5 and CXCR4-dependent HIVs at post-entry level(s). In addition, some toxins possess immunostimulating properties that have been exploited in terms of adjuvancy and induction of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes responses to different vaccine preparations, including some experimental vaccine against HIV infection. Thus, toxins may represent a relatively unexplored exhibition of powerful biological agents that could either prevent infection or attack HIV-infected cells.
Keywords: natural toxins, monoclonal antibodies (mab), hiv gp env, cxcr expression, cytotoxic t lymphocytes (ctl), p. aeroginosa, shiga toxin (stx)
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Bacterial Toxins: Potential Weapons Against HIV Infection
Volume: 11 Issue: 22
Author(s): M. Alfano, C. Rizzi, D. Corti, L. Adduce and G. Poli
Affiliation:
Keywords: natural toxins, monoclonal antibodies (mab), hiv gp env, cxcr expression, cytotoxic t lymphocytes (ctl), p. aeroginosa, shiga toxin (stx)
Abstract: Natural toxins are the product of a long-term evolution, and have captured crucial events in the most essential and vital processes of living organisms. They can attack components of the protein synthesis machinery (as in the case of Diphteria and Shiga toxins, and Ribosome inactivating proteins), actin polymerization (Clostridium botulinum type C, C2, toxins and Enterotoxin A), signal transduction pathways (Cholera toxin, Heat-labile enterotoxins, Pertussis and Adenylate cyclase toxins), intracellular trafficking of vesicules (for Tetanus and Botulinum neurotoxin type C) as well as immune and/or inflammatory responses (Pyrogenic exotoxins, Cholera and Pertussis toxins). Of interest is the fact that several bacterial and vegetal toxins can either kill selectively cells infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or exert inhibitory effects on its life cycle. In particular both pertussis toxin (PTX) and its nontoxic B-oligomeric component (PTX-B) can block the infectious process in vitro at multiple levels, by preventing the entry of CCR5-dependent (R5) HIV strains and by inhibiting both R5 and CXCR4-dependent HIVs at post-entry level(s). In addition, some toxins possess immunostimulating properties that have been exploited in terms of adjuvancy and induction of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes responses to different vaccine preparations, including some experimental vaccine against HIV infection. Thus, toxins may represent a relatively unexplored exhibition of powerful biological agents that could either prevent infection or attack HIV-infected cells.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Alfano M., Rizzi C., Corti D., Adduce L. and Poli G., Bacterial Toxins: Potential Weapons Against HIV Infection, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2005; 11 (22) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612054546725
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612054546725 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
NF-κB Inhibitors in Head and Neck Cancer
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery The Inflammatory Response in Cardiac Surgery: An Overview of the Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued) Plasma Substitutes Therapy in Pediatrics
Current Drug Targets Heart Failure in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Current Cardiology Reviews Hypertension to Heart Failure: New Developmental Strategies do not Cross a Clinical and Therapeutic Divide
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cancer Treatment-Induced Cardiotoxicity: a Cardiac Stem Cell Disease?
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Pneumonia in the Elderly
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Ranolazine, a Partial Fatty Acid Oxidation Inhibitor, its Potential Benefit in Angina and Other Cardiovascular Disorders
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Pharmacology of L-type Calcium Channels: Novel Drugs for Old Targets?
Current Molecular Pharmacology Phytochemical and Biological Activities of an Anticancer Plant Medicine: Brucea javanica
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Management of Acute Aluminum Phosphide Poisoning: Has Anything Changed?
Drug Metabolism Letters Functional Roles of Benzothiazole Motif in Antiepileptic Drug Research
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Impact of Ultrasound Contrast Agents in Echocardiographic Assessment of Ischemic Heart Disease
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Angiotensin Mediated Oxidative Stress and Neuroprotective Potential of Antioxidants and AT1 Receptor Blockers
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Potential Benefits of Glitazones for Cancer and Vascular Disease
Current Drug Therapy Phase 1 Clinical Experience Using Intravenous Administration of PV701, an Oncolytic Newcastle Disease Virus
Current Cancer Drug Targets Chiral Kinase Inhibitors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Downstream Processing of Bioactive Compounds from Milk and Whey
Current Biochemical Engineering (Discontinued) Treatment of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
Current Pharmaceutical Design <i>Ralstonia Mannitolilytica</i>, an Unusual Pathogen in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Case of Neonatal Sepsis and Literature Review
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets