编辑推荐：
生物通报道，艾滋病疫苗研究失败导致全球科学家信心倍失，艾滋病预防治疗是否遥不可及。近期，伦敦St George大学的科学家另辟蹊径，用转基因植物制备杀伤HIV病毒的蛋白抗病毒剂，其研究成果Design, expression, and characterization of a multivalent, combination HIV microbicide发布在FASEB Journal上。
生物通报道，艾滋病疫苗研究失败导致全球科学家信心倍失，艾滋病预防治疗是否遥不可及。近期，伦敦St George大学的科学家另辟蹊径，用转基因植物制备杀伤HIV病毒的蛋白抗病毒剂，其研究成果Design, expression, and characterization of a multivalent, combination HIV microbicide发布在FASEB Journal上。
文章通讯作者是Julian K.-C. Ma，一旦这一成果能成功应用则可以在发展中国家普遍应用。
研究小组主要将抗HIV的单克隆抗体b12和cyanovirin-N与一个单分子结合，使得这种单克隆抗体的抗HIV能力增强。并将表达这些蛋白的基因片段转入植物中，这样一来就可以大规模的获得抗HIV的蛋白产物。
FASEB Journal 的主编Gerald Weissmann说：“该研究是一个突破性的进展，不仅因为其产生了一种对抗HIV传播的新药，还因为其满足了规模化需求。”
（生物通 小茜）
生物通推荐原文摘要：
Design, expression, and characterization of a multivalent, combination HIV microbicide
Amy Sexton, Sarah Harman, Robin J. Shattock, and Julian K.-C. Ma
E-mail contact: jma@sgul.ac.uk
【Abstract】
Many promising microbicide candidates are proteins or peptides, including neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Here, the expression of the HIV-neutralizing mAb b12 in transgenic plants is described. The plant-derived mAb b12 was shown to have gp120 binding activity and HIV-neutralizing activity in vitro. However, it is likely that a protein-based microbicide will need to comprise a combination of two or more products, in order to provide long-lasting and cross-clade protection. Building on the expression of mAb b12 and to address the need for a combinational agent, the expression of a fusion protein of mAb b12 with cyanovirin-N, another protein microbicide, has been explored. This fusion protein molecule is predicted to have four binding sites for HIV gp120 with two different specificities. The fusion protein was assembled and expressed in planta, and functionality was confirmed by gp120 binding and HIV neutralization in vitro. Each moiety of the fusion protein retained its binding ability to gp120. In addition, this fusion protein demonstrated increased anti-HIV potency compared to b12 or CV-N alone. This fusion protein addresses the requirement to combine microbicide products, and the production in plants is a step toward resolving the issues of manufacturing scalability and cost for developing countries. Sexton, A., Harman, S., Shattock, R. J., Ma, J. K.-C. Design, expression, and characterization of a multivalent, combination HIV microbicide.
