Genotypic and Mechanistic Characterization of Subtype-Specific HIV Adaptation to Host Cellular Immunity.

ABSTRACT: The extent to which viral genetic context influences HIV adaptation to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I-restricted immune pressures remains incompletely understood. The Ugandan HIV epidemic, where major pandemic group M subtypes A1 and D cocirculate in a single host population, provides an opportunity to investigate this question. We characterized plasma HIV RNA gag, pol, and nef sequences, along with host HLA genotypes, in 464 antiretroviral-naive individuals chronically infected with HIV subtype A1 or D. Using phylogenetically informed statistical approaches, we identified HLA-associated polymorphisms and formally compared their strengths of selection between viral subtypes. A substantial number (32%) of HLA-associated polymorphisms identified in subtype A1 and/

SUBMITTER: Kinloch NN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6288327 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature