Fig. 1

Action mechanism of animal venom peptides or derivatives at different retrovirus replication cycle phases. (1) The ChTx and Scyllatoxin-based mimetics, such as CD4M33, inhibit the attachment of the viral glycoprotein (gp120) to the host cell receptor CD4. (1a) The peptides cecropin A, magainin 2, papuamide A, dermaseptin DS4, caerins 1.1 and 1.9 and maculation 1.1 disintegrate the viral envelope. (1b and 1c) The peptides CD4M33, BmKn2, Kn2-7, polyphemusin, tachyplesin, immunokine and p3bv obstruct the interaction of the viral gp 120 to the CXCR4 and CCR5 co-receptors. (2) The peptides miramides A–H inhibit the fusion of the viral envelope to the host cell membrane. (3) The peptides melittin, didemnis A, B and C interfere with the reverse transcription process, aborting the synthesis of double-stranded viral DNA. (6) The peptides hecate and TVS-LAO act in the post-translation process, in the cleavage of the GAG/POL protein precursor thus interfering in the assembly of the viral capsid and in the organization of the polymerase complex