Infectious molecular clones from a simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rapid-progressor (RP) macaque: evidence of differential selection of RP-specific envelope mutations in vitro and in vivo.

ABSTRACT: A minor fraction of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected macaques progress rapidly to AIDS in the absence of SIV-specific immune responses. Common mutations in conserved residues of env in three SIVsmE543-3-infected rapid-progressor (RP) macaques suggest the evolution of a common viral variant in RP macaques. The goal of the present study was to analyze the biological properties of these variants in vitro and in vivo through the derivation of infectious molecular clones. Virus isolated from a SIVsmE543-3-infected RP macaque, H445 was used to inoculate six naive rhesus macaques. Although RP-specific mutations dominated in H445 tissues, they represented only 10% of the population of the virus stock, suggesting a selective disadvantage in vitro. Only one of these macaques (H635) progr

SUBMITTER: Kuwata T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1346964 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature