Genetic variation within human immunodeficiency viruses generates rapid changes in tropism, virulence, and transmission.
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1) undergo high rates of variation. Only a few point mutations in the envelope gene are required to switch the tropism of HIV-1 from a growth preference for monocytes to lymphocytes or to acquire lytic properties for rapid killing of infected T4 lymphocytes. Since heterosexual transmission efficiency is high for HIV-1's that are most prevalent in Africa or Asia, but low for HIV-1 B, which dominates in the US and western Europe, we asked whether African and Asian viruses had a particular tropism for cells of the reproductive tract. Langerhans' cells (LC), showed only minimal susceptibility to infection with HIV-1B from the US, but substantially greater sensitivity for infections by HIV-1 E and HIV-1 C, subtypes that predominate in Asia and Africa.
Essex
M
M
Harvard AIDS Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Soto-Ramirez
L E
LE
Renjifo
E
E
Wang
W K
WK
Lee
T H
TH
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D000349:Africa; D001208:Asia; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D015752:Genes, env; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017354:Point Mutation; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014481:United States; D014774:Virulence