TI:  Ozone May Inactivate HIV by Reducing gp120-CD4 Binding 
     Affinity, Lysing the HIV Lipid Envelope, and Oxidizing the 
     HIV Core

DT:  Late 1993

AU:  Oscar K.H. Hsu

SO:  Department of Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and 
     Developmental Biology, Harvard University, 	Cambridge, MA

AB:  In vitro studies have demonstrated that the ozonation of 
     human blood inactivates HIV.  This paper describes a 
     biochemical framework whereby ozone may inactivate HIV by 
     attacking solvent accessible amino acids in the gp120 and 
     ply-unsaturated fatty acids in the virus' lipid envelope.  
     Ozone may reduce gp120-CD4 binding affinity by converting 
     gp120's Trp-427 into kynurenine and dehydroxylating Tyr-435.  
     These two amino acids form gp120's hydrophobic receptor for 
     the CD4 Phe-43 ligand; oxidation of these two solvent-
     accessible amino acids probably alters the conformation of 
     gp120's hydrophobic receptor substantially.  Additionally, 
     disruption of HIV membrane integrity by the ozone-lipid 
     reaction products, hydrogen peroxide and lipid-derived 
     aldehydes, could result in the oxidation of the HIV core by 
     a host of pathways.  This cascade of events, initiated by 
     ozone, provides a plausible biochemical framework for the 
     inactivation of HIV in human blood.