Our research integrates virology, cancer biology, and microbial pathogenesis within the field of natural products–inspired therapeutics. We have identified the HIV Nef secretion modification region (SMR), engineered into a bioactive peptide that functions as a Short Linear Motif (SLiM) targeting host chaperones and extracellular vesicle pathways. This SMR-derived peptide reveals conserved mechanisms linking viral modulation, tumorigenesis, and bacterial biofilm formation, including demonstrated disruption of E. coli and MRSA biofilms. These findings suggest the SMR exploits evolutionarily conserved cellular processes, positioning it as a novel natural product–like scaffold with broad therapeutic potential.
Publications Link
Shelton MN, Huang MB, Ali SA, Powell MD, and Bond VC. 2012. SMR-derived peptide disrupts HIV-1 Nef’s interaction with mortalin and blocks
virus and Nef exosome release. J Virol. Jan, 86(1): 406-19. PMC3255900.
Kim DK, Lee J, Kim SR, et al. 2013. EVpedia: A Community Web Portal for Extracellular
Vesicles Research. Bioinformatics. doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/btu741. PMC4375401.
Konadu KA, Chu J, Huang MB, Amancha PK, Armstrong W, Powell MD, Villinger F, Bond VC. 2014. Cytokines Associate with Exosomes in the Plasma of HIV-1+ Individuals. Journal
of Infectious Diseases. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiu676. PMC4447830
Konadu KA, Anderson JS, Huang MB, Ali SA, Powell MD, Villinger F, Bond VC. 2015. Hallmarks of HIV-1 pathogenesis are modulated by Nef’s Secretion Modification Region. J AIDS Clin Res Jul; 6(7). pii: 476. Epub 2015 Jun 30. PMC4625552.
Konadu KA, Huang MB, Roth W, Armstrong W, Powell M, Villinger F, Bond VC. 2016. Isolation of Exosomes from the Plasma of HIV-1 Positive Individuals. J Vis Exp. 2016 Jan 5;(107). doi: 10.3791/53495. PMC4780996
Huang MB, Gonzalez RR, Lillard J, Bond VC. Secretion Modification Region-Derived Peptide Blocks Exosome Release and Mediates Cell Cycle Arrest in Breast Cancer Cells. OncoTarget. 2017, Jan 5. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.14513. PMC5355266
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Patents
Bond, VC, Lillard JW, Huang, MB. USP10,040,831 B2. 08/07/18. Compositions and methods for treating diseases by inhibiting exosome release. http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm
Bond VC, Powell M, Huang MB, Ali S., Shelton MN. USP 8,669,226. 03/11/14. Antimicrobial compositions and methods of use thereof. http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm
Bond VC, Powell M, Huang MB, Ali S. USP 10,053,496. 08/21/18. Compositions and methods for exosome targeted expression. http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm