title: Ugandan HIV-1 V3 loop sequences closely related to the U.S./European consensus.
abstract: The third variable (V3) loop of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope protein is an important determinant for virus neutralization and cell tropism. V3 loop sequences from uncultured lymphocytes obtained in 1990 from 22 Ugandan HIV-1-infected patients could, with the exception of two patients' sequences, be divided into two groups (A and B) on the basis the V3 loop size and sequence. The V3 loop consensus sequences from both groups showed a high degree of homology to a U.S./European consensus, a characteristic also reflected by the results of peptide serology. In the case of group B the difference in sequence was only five amino acids. In contrast, the V3-flanking regions for both groups showed greater homology to an earlier (1986/1987) Ugandan consensus. The discovery of these two new Ugandan V3 loop genotypes, which are closely related to the U.S./European consensus, has implications for the understanding of the evolution of HIV-1 and for the future design of a vaccine for use in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, National Bacteriological Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franzén
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scarlatti
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Kataaha
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katabira
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mubiro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rydåker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pettersson
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005060:Europe; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014454:Uganda; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments