[Mutation of envelop protein V3 loop in HIV-1 epidemic in Liaoning province].
OBJECTIVE
To study the characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) V3 loop amino acid mutations among HIV-1 infected people in Liaoning province.


METHODS
The whole blood samples of the HIV carriers and AIDS patients were collected in Liaoning province, China and were extracted PBMC genome DNA. HIV-1 V3 and flanking region sequences were amplified by nest-polymerase chain reaction (nest-PCR) with env specific primers: ED5/ED12 and ED31/ED33. Products were sequenced directly and sequences were aligned, translated and analyzed.


RESULTS
In AIDS group, some amino acid mutations at specific position of V3 loop: S to R at position 11, H to S, T and N at position 13, A to V at position 19, F to Y at position 20, Q or D to N at position 25 and 29, were found and all common mutations were associated with T tropic/SI phenotype. The frequency of such amino acid mutations in specific positions was higher in AIDS group than that of the asymptomatic infection group (P < 0.05). In addition, we found some unusual tetramer compositions on the tip of V3 loop: GQGR, APGR and RPGA, GLGR, RPGA in addition to some rare mutations, such as: N to H at position 5 and H to S, F at position 34.


CONCLUSIONS
The amino acid mutations on the V3 loop of HIV-1 epidemic in Liaoning province were in agreement with the results of subtype B, but we observed some rare mutations and unusual tetramer compositions on the tip of V3 loop.
Han
Xiao-xu
XX
P3 Laboratory the 1st Affiliated Hospital China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Shang
Hong
H
Zhou
Li-ping
LP
Wang
Ya-nan
YN
Zhang
Zi-ning
ZN
Jiang
Yong-jun
YJ
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015752:Genes, env / Q000235:genetics; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins