Figure 3.
(a) Productive HIV infection is abrogated by pre-incubation with 0. 5% to 5% P80 natural essence. DCs (1 × 105/100 µL) were pre-incubated with 0.25 to 1% P80 natural essence for 1 h prior infection with non-opsonized HIV-1 (50 ng p24/mL). After 7 days, cell-free supernatants were collected and a p24 ELISA was performed in triplicates. The essence highly significantly blocked HIV infection at all concentrations tested. Uninfected iDCs were used as negative controls. Data were obtained in three independent experiments in triplicates and a representative experiment is depicted. (b) P80 natural essence blocks DC infection of complement-opsonized HIV-1 independent of the mode of addition. DCs were loaded with either HIV-C that was opsonized with 1% P80 prior addition (HIV-C_P80 pre-opsonized, cells were pre-incubated with 1% P80 prior HIV-C addition (1% P80 pre_HIV-C) or infected with HIV-C prior addition of 1% P80 (HIV-C_1% P80 post). Compared to high DC infection using HIV-C, all treatments highly significantly reduced productive infection in DCs. (c) Productive PBMC infection is significantly impaired upon pre-incubation with 1% P80 natural essence. IL-2-stimulated PBMCs (1 × 105/100 µL) were pre-incubated with 1% P80 natural essence for 1 h prior infection with differentially opsonized HIV-1 (50 ng p24/mL). After 5 days, cell-free supernatants were collected and a p24 ELISA was performed in triplicates. Uninfected PBMCs were used as negative controls. Data were obtained in three independent experiments in triplicates and a summary is shown. For all experiments, statistical differences were analysed using GraphPad Prism software and one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s post-test. * p < 0.05, *** p < 0.001 **** p < 0.0001.