Changes in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 fitness and genetic diversity during disease progression.

ABSTRACT: This study examined the relationship between ex vivo human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) fitness and viral genetic diversity during the course of HIV-1 disease. Primary HIV-1 isolates from 10 patients at different time points were competed against control HIV-1 strains in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures to determine relative fitness values. Patient HIV-1 isolates sequentially gained fitness during disease at a significant rate that directly correlated with viral load and HIV-1 env C2V3 diversity. A loss in both fitness and viral diversity was observed upon the initiation of antiretroviral therapy. A possible relationship between genotype and phenotype (virus replication efficiency) is supported by the parallel increases in ex vivo fitness and viral diversity durin

SUBMITTER: Troyer RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1168764 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature