Antiviral metal complexes.

The initial events (virus adsorption and fusion with the cells) in the replicative cycle of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can serve as targets for the antiviral action of metal-binding compounds such as polyanionic compounds (polysulfates, polysulfonates, polycarboxylates, polyoxometalates, and sulfonated or carboxylated metalloporphyrins), bicyclams and G-octet-forming oligonucleotides. The adsorption and fusion of HIV with its target cells depends on the interaction of the viral envelope glycoproteins (gp 120) with the receptors (CD4, CXCR4) at the outer cell membrane. We are currently investigating how the aforementioned compounds interfere with these viral glycoproteins and/or cell receptor.