Donor and recipient envs from heterosexual human immunodeficiency virus subtype C transmission pairs require high receptor levels for entry.
Compact, glycan-restricted envelope (Env) glycoproteins are selected during heterosexual transmission of subtype C HIV-1. Donor and recipient glycoproteins (Envs) from six transmission pairs were evaluated for entry into HeLa cells expressing different levels of CD4 and CCR5. Donor and recipient Envs demonstrated efficient entry into cells expressing high levels of CD4 and CCR5, and entry declined as CCR5 levels decreased. Infectivity for all Envs was severely impaired in cells expressing low levels of CD4, even at the highest CCR5 levels. In 5/6 pairs, there was no significant difference in efficiency of receptor utilization between the donor and recipient Envs in these HeLa-derived cell lines. Thus, HIV-1 transmission does not appear to select for viruses that can preferentially utilize low levels of entry receptors.
Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954 Gatewood Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
Melissa
M
Alexander
Rebecca
R
Lynch
Joseph
J
Mulenga
Susan
S
Allen
Cynthia A
CA
Derdeyn
Eric
E
Hunter
D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015728:Receptors, HIV / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053586:Virus Internalization; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D015704:CD4 Antigens; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D015728:Receptors, HIV; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus