The effects of several amphipathic peptides on HIV-1 production in persistently infected cells are described. Melittin, a 26 amino acid α-helical amphipathic peptide, reduces HIV-1 production dose-dependently, whereas other amphipathic peptides do not. Six melittin derivatives which retain the α-helical portion have similar effects as melittin. The reduction of viral infectivity is not due to an effect of melittin on the virus particles but to an intracellular action of the peptide, which is readily taken up into cells, as shown by quantitative ELISA, Western blots of cells from melittin-treated cultures suggest that the processing of the gag/pol precursor is impaired.
