Molecular cloning of two west African human immunodeficiency virus type 2 isolates that replicate well in macrophages: a Gambian isolate, from a patient with neurologic acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and a highly divergent Ghanian isolate.

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.86.7.2383
• Publication Date: 2006-05-31T11:15:35Z
• Authors: H Kühnel; H von Briesen; U Dietrich; M Adamski; D Mix; L Biesert; R Kreutz; A Immelmann; K Henco; C Meichsner
• Keywords: Provirus

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2)-related viruses were isolated from a Gambian dying of exclusively neurological disease (HIV-2D194) and an asymptomatic Ghanian (HIV-2D205). Both strains exhibited properties HIV-1 biological subtype c: they grew slowly induced few or no syncytia but eventually produced high levels particle-associated reverse transcriptase in cultures fresh peripheral blood lymphocytes, established stable infection T-lymphoma (HUT-78) monocytic (U937) cell lines. Each even higher when human monocytes/macrophages used as target cells. The molecularly cloned after single passage culture, order to minimize vitro selection subtypes present vivo. Restriction-site analysis showed heterogeneity within each isolate. Nucleotide sequence portion the HIV-2D194 genome revealed that it is member prototypic HIV-2 family, displaying 13% divergence versus HIV-2ROD HIV-2NIHZ, compared 9% between HIV-2NIHZ. In contrast, HIV-2D205 most highly divergent strain yet described: equidistant relation known simian isolates rhesus macaque monkeys (23-25% divergence).