A group of compounds that inhibit HIV replication by blocking HIV entry was identified. Two representative compounds, designated NB-2 and NB-64, inhibited HIV replication (p24 production) with IC50 values <0.5 μg / ml. It was proved that NB-2 and NB-64 are HIV entry inhibitors by targeting the HIV gp41 since: 1) they inhibited HIV-mediated
cell fusion; 2) they inhibited HIV replication only when they were added to the cells less than one hour after
virus addition; 3) they did not block the gp120-CD4 binding; 4) they did not interact with the coreceptor CXCR4 since they failed to block anti-CXCR4
antibody binding to CXCR4-expressing cells; 5) they blocked the formation of the gp41 core that is detected by sandwich
enzyme linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA) using a conformation-specific MAb NC-1; 6) they inhibited the formation of the gp41 six-
helix bundle revealed by
fluorescence native-
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (FN-PAGE); and 7) they blocked binding of D-
peptide to the hydrophobic cavity within gp41
coiled coil domain, modeled by
peptide IQN17. These results suggested that NB-2 and NB-64 may interact with the hydrophobic cavity and block the formation of the fusion-active gp41
coiled coil domain, resulting in inhibition of HIV-1 mediated membrane fusion and
virus entry.