INHIBITORS OF HIV NUCLEOCAPSID PROTEIN ZINC FINGERS AS CANDIDATES FORTHE TREATMENT OF AIDS

Strategies for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (H IV-1) infection must contend with the obstacle of drug resistance. HIV -1 nucleocapsid protein zinc fingers are prime antiviral targets becau se they are mutationally into lerant and are required both for acute i nfection and virion assembly. Nontoxic disulfide-substituted benzamide s were identified that attack the zinc fingers, inactivate cell-free v irions, inhibit acute and chronic infections, and exhibit broad antire troviral activity. The compounds were highly synergistic with other an tiviral agents, and resistant mutants have not been detected. Zinc fin ger-reactive compounds may offer an anti-HIV strategy that restricts d rug-resistance development.