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Direct visualization of HIV-enhancing endogenous amyloid fibrils in human semen

Author

Listed:
  • Shariq M. Usmani

    (Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Onofrio Zirafi

    (Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Janis A. Müller

    (Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Nathallie L. Sandi-Monroy

    (Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center
    Kinderwunsch-Zentrum Ulm)

  • Jay K. Yadav

    (Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University)

  • Christoph Meier

    (Institute of Organic Chemistry III/Macromolecular Chemistry, Ulm University)

  • Tanja Weil

    (Institute of Organic Chemistry III/Macromolecular Chemistry, Ulm University)

  • Nadia R. Roan

    (University of California
    Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California at San Francisco)

  • Warner C. Greene

    (Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California at San Francisco
    University of California)

  • Paul Walther

    (Central Electron Microscopy Facility, Ulm University)

  • K. Peter R. Nilsson

    (Linköping University)

  • Per Hammarström

    (Linköping University)

  • Ronald Wetzel

    (University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine)

  • Christopher D. Pilcher

    (San Francisco General Hospital, University of California)

  • Friedrich Gagsteiger

    (Kinderwunsch-Zentrum Ulm)

  • Marcus Fändrich

    (Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University)

  • Frank Kirchhoff

    (Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center)

  • Jan Münch

    (Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center)

Abstract

Naturally occurring fragments of the abundant semen proteins prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and semenogelins form amyloid fibrils in vitro. These fibrils boost HIV infection and may play a key role in the spread of the AIDS pandemic. However, the presence of amyloid fibrils in semen remained to be demonstrated. Here, we use state of the art confocal and electron microscopy techniques for direct imaging of amyloid fibrils in human ejaculates. We detect amyloid aggregates in all semen samples and find that they partially consist of PAP fragments, interact with HIV particles and increase viral infectivity. Our results establish semen as a body fluid that naturally contains amyloid fibrils that are exploited by HIV to promote its sexual transmission.

Suggested Citation

  • Shariq M. Usmani & Onofrio Zirafi & Janis A. Müller & Nathallie L. Sandi-Monroy & Jay K. Yadav & Christoph Meier & Tanja Weil & Nadia R. Roan & Warner C. Greene & Paul Walther & K. Peter R. Nilsson & , 2014. "Direct visualization of HIV-enhancing endogenous amyloid fibrils in human semen," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms4508
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4508
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    Cited by:

    1. Kübra Kaygisiz & Lena Rauch-Wirth & Arghya Dutta & Xiaoqing Yu & Yuki Nagata & Tristan Bereau & Jan Münch & Christopher V. Synatschke & Tanja Weil, 2023. "Data-mining unveils structure–property–activity correlation of viral infectivity enhancing self-assembling peptides," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.

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