title: Detection, quantification and sequencing of HIV-1 from the plasma of seropositive individuals and from factor VIII concentrates.
abstract: A highly sensitive and reliable RNA polymerase chain reaction method has been developed which has been used to detect, quantify and sequence cell-free HIV RNA directly from the plasma of seropositive individuals. Plasma from 10 out of 12 haemophiliacs tested was found to contain detectable levels of HIV-1 RNA [log mean value: 1.2 x 10(3) copies for Centers for Disease Control (CDC) group II patients, 5.5 x 10(3) copies for CDC group IV patients]. The presence of cell-free circulating virus in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals suggests that viral replication continues throughout the course of infection. The same procedure has been used to detect and sequence HIV-1 RNA in two batches of unheated commercial factor VIII concentrate distributed in 1981 and 1983. The sequences obtained revealed a closer relationship to North American than to African strains of HIV-1.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: L Q
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simmonds
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ludlam
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis*; D015752:Genes, env / Q000235:genetics; D015751:Genes, pol / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000382:microbiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D005169:Factor VIII; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase