title: Quantification of simian immunodeficiency virus cytotoxic T lymphocyte escape mutant viruses.
abstract: Escape from cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) pressure is common in HIV-1 infection of humans and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections of macaques. CTL escape typically incurs a fitness cost as reversion back to wild-type can occur upon transmission. We utilized sequence-specific primers and DNA probes with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to sensitively and specifically track wild-type and escape mutant viremia at the Mane-A*17-restricted SIV Gag(371379) epitope AF9 in pigtail macaques. The generation of minor escape mutant populations is detected by the real-time PCR 2 weeks earlier than observed using standard sequencing techniques. We passaged the AF9 CTL escape mutant virus into two naïve Mane-A*17-negative pigtail macaques and showed that reversion to wild-type was rapid during acute infection and then slowed considerably at later stages of the infection. These data help refine our understanding of how CTL escape mutant viruses evolve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Liyen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015750:Genes, gag / Q000235:genetics*; D008254:Macaca nemestrina; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000821:virology*; D014766:Viremia