Diversity of the V3 region of HIV in Paris, France.
OBJECTIVE
To carry out, within France, a large-scale molecular epidemiological investigation on the principal neutralizing determinant of HIV-1, located in the third variable region (V3) of the envelope protein. Such investigations are of the utmost importance in the identification and monitoring of the distribution and spread of different viral strains internationally.


METHODS
Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we examined the genetic variation of the V3 region sequences of 28 HIV-infected patients from Paris, France.


RESULTS
Comparison of the Parisian V3 loop sequences with other published data indicates that the range of diversity in France is included within that of a large group that contains sequences from North America, the rest of Europe, Japan, India and Africa. Variability appears to be lower in the V3 loop than in its flanking regions. Five out of the six putative N-linked glycosylation sites show preferential alterations to charged amino acids. We report two motifs at the tip of the loop that have not been described previously.


CONCLUSIONS
The structural homogeneity and the wide geographic representation of the major V3 group suggests that a common strategy could be applied to a large proportion of isolates in the development of a broad-spectrum HIV vaccine.
Chaix
M L
ML
ICGM, INSERM U363, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
Chappey
C
C
Couillin
I
I
Rozenbaum
W
W
Levy
J P
JP
Saragosti
S
S
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006031:Glycosylation; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010297:Paris / Q000453:epidemiology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D017931:DNA Primers; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments