title: V3 region polymorphisms in HIV-1 from Brazil: prevalence of subtype B strains divergent from North American/European prototype and detection of subtype F.
abstract: Viral DNA sequences were determined over the V3 region of env from 28 infected individuals living in the high HIV-1 prevalence Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Twenty-six belonged to envelope sequence subtype B, prevalent in North America and Europe, and one was classified as subtype F, found recently in Brazil and in Romania (one appeared to be a B/F recombinant). Octameric sequences at the tip of the subtype B V3 loops were variable and distinct from those prevalent in North America and Europe. The GPGR motif, prevalent in North American/European strains, was found in only 8 (28.5%) sequences, whereas GWGR was found in 12 (43%) and novel sequences in 8 (28.5%). Brazilian subtype B sequences also diverged from the consensus North American/European strains over the remainder of the V3 loop. These results suggest that Brazilian HIV-1 B strains may have important antigenic differences from prototype subtype B strains currently being evaluated for use in HIV vaccines. These results should be taken into account for future vaccine programs in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Morgado
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Sabino
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Shpaer
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bongertz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brigido
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Guimaraes
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Castilho
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galvão-Castro
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hendry
mesh_terms: D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D001938:Brazil; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015752:Genes, env; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: D016915:AIDS Vaccines; D017931:DNA Primers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; C034477:RNA primers; D012313:RNA