Participating Researchers:
Kirk R. Gustafson,
John H Cardellina II,
Richard W. Fuller,
Owen S. Weislow,
Rebecca F. Kiser,
Kenneth M. Snader,
Gregory M.L. Patterson,
Michael R. Boyd.

A recently developed tetrazolium-based microculture assay was used to screen extracts of cultured cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) for inhibition of the cytopathic effects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), which is implicated as a causative agent of AIDS.

A number of extracts were found to be remarkably active against the AIDS virus. A new class of HIV-1-inhibitory compounds, the sulfonic acid-containing glycolipids, was discovered through the use of the micro-culture assay to guide the fractionation and purification process.

The pure compounds were active against HIV-1 in cultured human lymphoblastoid CEM, MT-2, LDV-7, and C3-44 cell lines in the tetrazolium assay as well as in p24 viral protein and syncytium formation assays. [J. Natl Cancer Inst 81:1254-1258, 1989]

As part of the National Cancer Institute’s program to discover new antiturmor and antiviral agents In natural foods.