Tracing HIV-1 transmission: envelope traits of HIV-1 transmitter and recipient pairs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mucosal HIV-1 transmission predominantly results in a single transmitted/founder (T/F) virus establishing infection in the new host despite the generally high genetic diversity of the transmitter virus population. To what extent HIV-1 transmission is a stochastic process or driven by selective forces that allow T/F viruses best to overcome bottlenecks in transmission has not been conclusively resolved. Building on prior investigations that suggest HIV-1 envelope (Env) features to contribute in the selection process during transmission, we compared phenotypic virus characteristics of nine HIV-1 subtype B transmission pairs, six men who have sex with men and three male-to-female transmission pairs.

Results

All recipients were identified early in acute infection and

SUBMITTER: Oberle CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5011806 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature