HIV-1 Envelope Subregion Length Variation during Disease Progression

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001228
• Publication Date: 2010-12-16T21:03:57Z
• Authors: Marcel E. Curlin; Rafael Zioni; Stephen E. Hawes; Yi Liu; Wenjie Deng; Geoffrey S. Gottlieb; Tuofu Zhu; James I. Mullins
• Keywords: Antigenicity; V3 loop; Viral evolution

The V3 loop of the HIV-1 Env protein is primary determinant viral coreceptor usage, whereas V1V2 region thought to influence binding and participate in shielding neutralization-sensitive regions glycoprotein gp120 from antibody responses. functional properties antigenicity are influenced by changes amino acid sequence, sequence length patterns N-linked glycosylation. However, how these polymorphisms relate HIV pathogenesis not fully understood. We examined 5185 nucleotide fragments clinical data 154 individuals (152 were infected with Subtype B). Sequences aligned, translated, manually edited separated into V1V2, C2, V3, C3, V4, C4 V5 subregions. V1-V5 subregion lengths calculated, potential glycosylation sites (PNLGS) counted. Loop PNLGS as a function time since infection, CD4 count, load, calendar year cross-sectional longitudinal analyses. increased significantly through chronic infection before declining late-stage infection. In analyses, also between 1984 2004 subjects early mid-stage illness. Our observations suggest that there little selection for at transmission; following adapts host immune responses and/or addition carbohydrate moieties sites. shortening during may reflect ineffective immunity. Transmission donors illness have caused modest increase observed course pandemic.