title: Novel subtype C human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelopes cloned directly from plasma: coreceptor usage and neutralization phenotypes.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is classified into different phylogenetic subtypes, with subtype C representing more than half of the novel infections globally. However, there are relatively few subtype C envelopes available for study. We amplified 18 unique env genes from 13 patients who were infected with subtype C HIV-1 in six African countries and in Scotland to create replication-competent viruses. These envelopes are phylogenetically diverse across the subtype C spectrum, and have on average more N-linked glycosylation sites and slightly longer variable loops than previously described C envelopes. We found that CCR3 coreceptor usage is less prevalent in subtype C than in subtype B viruses, and these envelopes have varied sensitivity to neutralization. The subtype C chimeric viruses generated in this study will be useful for evaluating the breadth of neutralizing antibodies and other entry inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: MRC/UCL Centre for Medical Molecular Virology, University College London, London W1T 4JF, UK.
authors.forename: Willie W L
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forsman
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hué
authors.forename: Gisela J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van der Velden
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Yirrell
authors.forename: Aine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McKnight
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Marlén M I
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Aasa-Chapman
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015752:Genes, env; D006031:Glycosylation; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D010802:Phylogeny; D054397:Receptors, CCR3 / Q000502:physiology; D015728:Receptors, HIV / Q000502:physiology; D012606:Scotland; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C515350:CCR3 protein, human; D015488:HIV Antigens; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D015728:Receptors, HIV; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus