Biologic features of HIV-1 that correlate with virulence in the host.
Individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) may be asymptomatic or have AIDS-related complex or the acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Little is known about the factors that influence progression of infection to AIDS. In this study of isolates of HIV-1 obtained at intervals during the infection of four individuals, the development of disease was found to be correlated with the emergence of HIV-1 variants that were more cytopathic in vitro as the disease progressed and that replicated more efficiently in a wide variety of different human cells. The biologic properties of HIV-1 in vitro thus appear to reflect its virulence in the host. Further studies of such sequentially isolated viruses may lead to the identification of viral genes that govern pathogenesis.
Cheng-Mayer
C
C
Department of Medicine, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143.
Seto
D
D
Tateno
M
M
Levy
J A
JA
D000386:AIDS-Related Complex / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D004247:DNA