Evidence of Nef truncation in human immunodeficiency virus type 2 infection.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-2 differs from HIV-1 in its relative lower transmissibility and pathogenicity. To understand the virologic basis of these differences, the nef gene from HIV-2-seropositive persons was analyzed because of its importance for disease progression in the genetically related simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV[MAC]). Proviral nef sequences from 60 HIV-2-infected persons were amplified from peripheral blood lymphocytes, and nef open-reading frames were screened by a transcription and translation assay for the presence of full-length (32- to 36-kDa) or truncated (<32 kDa) Nef proteins. Overall, 6 (10%) of 60 persons had truncated Nef proteins; of these, 5 were among the 36 asymptomatic subjects (13.9%) and only 1 was among the 24 symptomatic subjects (4.2%) (P =.23). The results of this study document the presence of defective nef genes in HIV-2 infections with a prevalence higher than that previously seen in HIV-1-infected cohorts of long-term nonprogressors or patients with AIDS.
Switzer
W M
WM
Division of AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Tuberculosis Laboratory Research, National Center for Infectious Diseases, and International AIDS Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Wiktor
S
S
Soriano
V
V
Silva-Graça
A
A
Mansinho
K
K
Coulibaly
I M
IM
Ekpini
E
E
Greenberg
A E
AE
Folks
T M
TM
Heneine
W
W
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat / Q000235:genetics; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D004279:DNA, Viral; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus