Synergistic Marine Phycobiliprotein Combination Suppresses HIV-1 Across

A three-part marine pigment-protein formulation—C-phycocyanin, B-phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin—has shown strong anti-HIV-1 activity in lab cell models, according to research published in AMB Express. An international team tested the combined inhibitory effect of the phycobiliproteins on viral replication in engineered reporter cell lines and primary human immune cells. Using response surface methodology to optimize the ratios, the researchers produced a multi-component preparation that nearly completely suppressed HIV-1 replication while maintaining favorable cellular tolerance. The work offers in vitro proof of concept for multi-target phycobiliproteins as potential adjunct or alternative candidates in antiretroviral discovery. The article also notes HIV-1’s ongoing global burden and the challenge of latent reservoirs.