Inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

The phosphorothioate oligonucleotide T.sub.2 G4T2 was identified as an inhibitor of HIV infection in vitro by combinatorial screening of a library of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides that contained all possible 8-nucleotide sequences. The oligonucleotide forms a parallel-stranded tetrameric guanosinequartet (G-quartet) structure. Tetramer formation and the phosphorothioate backbone are essential for antiviral activity. The G-quartet structure binds to the HIV envelope protein gp120 at the V3 loop and inhibits both cell-to-cell and virus-to-cell infection.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.