Functional characteristics of HIV-1 subtype C compatible with increased heterosexual transmissibility.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the existence of over 50 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms of HIV-1, subtype C dominates the heterosexual pandemic causing approximately 56% of all infections.

Objective

To evaluate whether viral genetic factors may contribute to the observed subtype-C predominance.

Methods

Chimeric viruses were generated using V1-V3 envelope fragments from a subtype-A/C dually infected woman with preferential genital replication of subtype C. Viral adaptation, spread and cell fusion ability were evaluated in vitro using peripheral blood mononuclear cells and HeLa-CD4-CCR5 cell lines, sequencing and cloning. Structural modeling was performed using a crystal structure of gp120-CD4-X5. Phylogenetic analysis was done using subtype-A, subtype-B and subtype-C se

SUBMITTER: Walter BL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2757326 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature