Characterization and quantification of endogenous amyloid fibrils in human semen

以往的研究涉及复杂的肽库筛选表明，人类精液中含有多种淀粉样蛋白的前体，如前列腺酸性磷酸酶和semenogelins衍生的高度丰富的肽。在体外条件下，这些肽形成淀粉样纤维，其有效地增强HIV-1感染，并且由于它们可能参与HIV-1传播而一直是密集的研究研究的焦点。然而，这种淀粉样纤维是否真的存在于人类精液中仍然难以捉摸。就在最近，我能够证明在相当大比例的精液样本中确实可以检测到纤维。该试验项目的目标是深入了解这些天然内源性淀粉样蛋白原纤维的数量、形成、生物物理和HIV增强特性。这将是更好地理解淀粉样纤维在HIV-1传播和精液生理学中的作用的关键一步。此外，我的研究结果将为制定旨在预防艾滋病毒/艾滋病传播的新战略提供坚实的基础。

Previous studies involving screening of complex peptide libraries have shown that human semen contains a variety of amyloidogenic peptides derived from highly abundant precursors, such as prostatic acidic phosphatase and semenogelins. Under in vitro conditions these peptides form amyloid fibrils that potently enhance HIV-1 infection and have been the focus of intense research studies since they may be involved in HIV-1 transmission. It remained elusive, however, whether such amyloid fibrils do actually exist in human semen. Just recently, I was able to demonstrate that fibrils are indeed detectable in a significant proportion of semen samples. The goal of this pilot-project is to obtain insights into the quantity, formation, biophysical and HIV-enhancing properties of these naturally-occurring endogenous amyloid fibrils. This will be a key step towards a better understanding of the role of amyloid fibrils in HIV-1 transmission and semen physiology. Furthermore, my results will provide a solid basis for the development of novel strategies aiming to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS.