Functional Variability of Rev Response Element in HIV-1 Primary Isolates

We have previously studied sequence heterogeneity of HIV-1 Rev response element (RRE), and showed uneven variations in different stem–loops of both primary sequence and secondary structure. Here we studied the functional variation of RRE clones from a set of 10 primary isolates, and demonstrated a variation in the function of these RRE clones on the expression of Gag proteins from a truncated HIV-1 genome. The difference in Gag level was, in part, if not exclusively, resulted from the differential efficiency of RNA transport and enhancing of translation. These data suggested that variation of HIV-1 RRE may play a role in regulation of viral replication rate in HIV-1 primary isolates.     

Neutralization titres and vertical HIV-1 transmission

Replication of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolate MN in CEM cells was less neutralized by the plasma from the mothers of infected children (MIC) in comparison with the plasma from the mothers of uninfected children (MUC). Significantly higher neutralization titres were observed for the sera from MUCs compared with MICs, and only the sera from MUC showed 100% neutralization of the HIV-1 MN strain. We suggest that a simple neutralization assay as described here could be useful in prognostic analyses.     

中国HIV-1 C/B'重组毒株和B'毒株感染者Nef特异性T细胞免疫应答的研究

目的 研究中国主要流行的HIV-1 C/B'重组毒株和B'亚型毒株感染者Nef特异性T细胞反应特征,确定两种亚型感染者共同识别的免疫优势区.方法 本研究以59名HIV-1 C/B'重组毒株、27名B'亚型毒株感染者为研究对象,用ELISPOT检测针对HIV-1型C/B'Nef重叠多肽产生IFN-γ的特异性T细胞反应.结果 44例(74.58%)HIV-1 C/B'重组毒株感染者产生Nef特异性T细胞反应,主要识别EVA7081.1、5、6、7、43、44、45、47、48、49这10条多肽,氨基酸序列为Nef63～115和117～139的区域.20例(74.07%)的HIV-1 B'毒株感染者产生Nef特异性T细胞反应,主要识别EVA7081.1、2、43、49这4条多肽,氨基酸序列为Nef 63～77和87～119的区域.两种亚型感染者特异性T细胞反应的强度和广度与病毒载量和CIM细胞数不相关.结论 中国HIV-1 C/B'重组毒株和B'亚型毒株感染者共同识别氨基酸序列为Nef63～77和87～115的免疫优势区,提示此区域可用于疫苗的设计.     

Algorithm-Based Prediction of HIV-1 Subtype D Coreceptor Use

We compared the coreceptor tropism-predicting performance of a specific genotypic algorithm for HIV-1 subtype D and that of the geno2pheno algorithm with different cutoffs. The D-specific algorithm and geno2pheno with a false-positivity rate cutoff of 2.5% had the same concordance with the phenotypic determination. The geno2pheno algorithm with a false-positivity rate cutoff of 2.5%, more sensitive but slightly less specific, seems to be an appropriate alternative.     

HIV-1型中国株E、B亚型gag基因的克隆与表达

目的 克隆和表达人免疫缺陷病毒（ＨＩＶ）Ⅰ型中国株Ｅ、Ｂ亚型代表株的结构基因ｇａｇ。方法 在分子流行病学调查的基础上，选择１份经部分ｇｐ１２０基因测序判定为Ｅ亚型和１份经部分ｇｐ１２０基因测序判定为Ｂ亚型的代表性样品。利用套式聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ），扩增外周血中的前病毒。获得了结构基因ｇａｇ全长片断，并先后克隆到ｐｌｉｎ８Ｐｒ５５和ｐＦａｓｔＢａｃｌ载体中，我们首次克隆到全长的中国株Ｅ亚型ｇａｇ基     

Penicillin-Susceptible Group B Streptococcal Clinical Isolates with Reduced Cephalosporin Susceptibility

We characterized penicillin-susceptible group B streptococcal (PSGBS) clinical isolates exhibiting no growth inhibition zone around a ceftibuten disk (CTB^r PSGBS). The CTB^r PSGBS isolates, for which augmented MICs of cefaclor and ceftizoxime were found, shared a T394A substitution in penicillin-binding protein 2X (PBP 2X) and a T567I substitution in PBP 2B, together with an additional G429S substitution in PBP 2X or a T145A substitution in PBP 1A, although the T145A substitution in the transglycosidase domain of PBP 1A would have no effect on the level of resistance to ceftibuten.     

Neutralization of HIV-1 subtypes: Implications for vaccine formulations

More than 20.8 million people are infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, with South Africa having one of the fastest growing HIV-1 epidemics, where an estimated 2.4 million people were infected. Thirty-two sera from 25 patients were tested for their ability to neutralize HTLV-III_B (IIIB) and four primary isolates representing subtypes B, C, D, and a recombinant gag C/env B type. A CEM-SS cell line-based assay was used and the neutralizing titer was defined as the reciprocal of the highest dilution giving a 50% reduction in p24 antigen production. All isolates were neutralized better by subtype-specific sera, except for the C4714 strain, which was neutralized by both subtype B and C sera. C4714 was neutralized by 18/25 (72%) sera, IIIB by 19/32 (59%) sera, D482 by 7/31(23%) sera, B3245 by 6/29 (21%) sera, and the recombinant B/C1491 isolate by 4/25 (16%) sera. Five sera were unable to neutralize any of the isolates. The V3 region of the isolates used in the neutralization assay was amplified by PCR, directly sequenced, and analyzed to reveal variability between the consensus HIV-1 sequences and the isolates. HIV-1 strain C4714 was neutralized more effectively with the sera tested than the IIIIB laboratory strain. Variability in the amino acid sequence of the V3 region, which can alter the conformation of the V3 loop secondary structure, can influence the neutralization of a particular viral isolate. Vaccine formulations should be broadened to include multiple subtypes, especially C subtypes, which is rapidly spreading worldwide. J. Med. Virol. 56:264–268, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Co-existence of HIV-1 subtypes B' and E infections among Thai injecting drug users

Subtypes B' and E are the two major subtypes of HIV-1 among injecting drug users (IDU) in Thailand. However, there are not many reports on subtype distribution during the early epidemic. Random blood specimens collected during 1994-2000 from 3,286 IDU at the Thanyarak Hospital were tested for HIV antibody and subtyped by using peptide binding enzyme immunoassay. The prevalence rate of HIV infection was 36.8%. All HIV-seropositive IDU were ascertained for "year of first HIV seropositivity" from their medical records. Of 1,512 HIV-seropositive samples, 1,408 (93.1%) were typeable. During 1987-1988, the proportion of subtype B' was as high as 80% but decreased rapidly to 27.6% during 1999-2000. At the same time, the proportions of subtype E increased correspondingly (Chi-square test for the trend, p < 0.05). The relatively high proportion of subtype E among IDU since an early stage of the epidemic suggests early co-existence of both subtypes and needs further investigation.     

Neutralization of HIV-1 primary isolate by ELDKWA-specific murine monoclonal antibodies

ELDKWA on HIV-1 gp41 is a conserved epitope recognized by one broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody 2F5, which is a promising candidate target for vaccine design. Here we report two ELDKWA-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 18F11 and 7E10, that were screened from the splenocytes of mice immunized by recombinant GST-(ELDKWA)4 protein. In further evaluation, these mAbs exhibited appreciable neutralizing activities against HIV-1 primary isolate 92US675 (clade B) with IC50 (50% inhibition concentration) of 6.84 +/- 0.36 microg/ml and 10.66 +/- 1.69 microg/ml, respectively. Unexpectedly, neither of these two murine mAbs could neutralize laboratory-adapted strain HIV-1 IIIB (clade B). As a control, human mAb 2F5 neutralized both primary and laboratory-adapted strains. These data strongly suggest that ELDKWA-specific antibodies induced by different antigenic formats show different neutralizing activities against HIV-1, which implies another complication in the development of effective vaccines.     

山东省部分HIV-1流行株的亚型分析和序列特征研究

目的　对山东省HIV 1流行毒株进行亚型分析 ,并研究其变异特征。方法　采集 2 6份HIV 1感染者的外周静脉抗凝血 ,提取前病毒DNA进行体外扩增 ,获得包膜蛋白 (env)基因的核酸片段 ,并对其C2 V3及邻区的核苷酸进行测定和分析。结果　基因和氨基酸序列分析表明 ,2 6份标本中存在 4种亚型和重组毒株 (B′、C、A、A/E) ,其中B′ 17株 ,其组内基因距离为 11.6 9± 4 .19。V3环顶端四肽有 6种形式 ,最多的是GPGQ(15株 )、GPGR(6株 )。V3环第 11、2 5位氨基酸出现变异 ,并有 1株呈电荷双阳性。结论　山东省HIV 1流行株亚型较多 ,有重组毒株出现的可能 ,基因发生较大变异 ,HIV 1传播在山东省有加快的趋势。     

Neutralization of HIV-1 primary isolates by polyclonal and monoclonal human antibodies

To examine antibody-mediated neutralization of HIV-1 primary isolates in vitro, we tested sera and plasma from infected individuals against four clade B primary isolates. These isolates were analyzed further for neutralization by a panel of several human anti-HIV-1 mAb in order to identify the neutralizing epitopes of these viruses. Each of the HIV-1+ serum and plasma specimens tested had neutralizing activities against one or more of the four primary isolates. Of the three individual sera, one (FDA-2) neutralized all of the four isolates, while the other two sera were effective against only one virus. The pooled plasma and serum samples reacted broadly with these isolates. Based on the neutralizing activities of the mAb panel, each virus isolate exhibited a distinct pattern of reactivity, suggesting antigenic diversity among clade B viruses. Neutralizing epitopes were found in the V3 loop and CD4- binding domain of gp120, as well as near the transmembrane region (cluster II epitope) of gp41. A mAb directed to the cluster I epitope of gp41 near the immunodominant disulfide loop weakly neutralized one primary isolate. None of the mAb in the panel affected one primary isolate, US4, although this virus was sensitive to neutralization by some of the polyclonal antibody specimens. This isolate was also resistant to neutralization by a cocktail of 10 mAb, most of which individually inhibited at least one of the other three viruses tested. These results suggest that neutralizing activity for this latter virus is present in certain HIV-1+ sera/plasma, but is not exhibited by the mAb in the panel. Thus, effective neutralizing antibodies against primary isolates can be generated by humans upon exposure to HIV-1, but not all of these antigenic specificities are represented in a large panel of human anti-HIV-1 mAb.      

HIV-1B’/C重组病毒感染者Vif、Vpr和Vpu特异性细胞免疫应答研究

目的 探讨我国HIV-1 B'/C重组病毒感染者针对HIV-1调节蛋白的细胞免疫反应特征及其与病毒复制控制的关系.方法 以覆盖HIV-1 C亚型Vpr、Vpu和Vif蛋白全长的重叠肽段作为刺激抗原,利用ELISPOT方法检测新疆HIV-1 B'/C重组病毒感染者的特异性细胞免疫反应.使用SIGMAPLOT 10.0和SIGMASTAT 3.5进行统计分析,用双尾t检验比较组间差异,用Spearmam秩相关分析免疫反应与病毒载量及CD4细胞计数的关系.结果 在检测的60名HIV-1 B'/C重组病毒感染者中,能够识别Vif、Vpr和Vpu蛋白产生CIL应答者分别为68%、52%和8%,Vpr和Vif蛋白存在多个强CIL反应的免疫优势区域.研究中还发现针对Vpr、Vif和Vpu蛋白的CTL反应强度和广度与HIV感染者的病毒载量及CD4细胞数量无明显的相关性.结论 HIV-1 Vpr和Vif蛋白包含多个可被机体免疫系统特异性T细胞识别的免疫优势区域.对这些免疫优势区所包含的CIL表位进行鉴定并探讨其在自然感染过程中的作用,对新一代的HIV疫苗设计有重要的参考意义.     

Explosive HIV-1 subtype B' epidemics in Asia driven by geographic and risk group founder events

We explored the timescale, spatial spread, and risk group population structure of HIV-1 subtype B', the cause of explosive blood-borne HIV-1 epidemics among injecting drug users (IDUs) and former plasma donors (FPDs) in Asia. Sequences from FPDs in China formed a distinct monophyletic cluster within subtype B'. Further analysis revealed that subtype B' was founded by a single lineage of pandemic subtype B around 1985. Subsequently, the FPD cluster appears to have derived from a single subtype B' lineage around 1991, corroborating the hypothesis that FPD outbreaks stemmed from the preceding epidemic among IDUs in Southeast Asia, most likely from the Golden-Triangle region.     

Neutralization and enhancement of HIV-1 infection by sera from HIV-1 infected individuals who progress to disease at different rates

We examined the neutralizing/enhancing activity in sera collected at an early and a later time point postinfection from 13 HIV-positive nonprogressors, 13 moderate progressors, and 13 rapid progressors to determine the relationship between neutralizing/enhancing activity and disease progression. Early sera from each group reduced virus replication at low dilutions (10(-1) to 10(-2)) when compared with negative sera. The reduction was statistically significant for moderate and rapid progressors at 10(-1) dilution (P = 0.02 and P = 0.02 respectively) but not for nonprogressors (P = 0.16). Late sera from nonprogressors and moderate progressors reduced virus replication at low dilution but late sera from rapid progressors lost neutralizing activity. These data suggest that an association exists between neutralizing activity in sera and nonprogression or slower progression to disease and that loss of neutralizing activity is associated with disease progression. At higher dilutions (10(-3) to 10(-6)), both early and late sera from each group increased virus replication over negative sera. The levels and frequency of enhancement were higher for sera from a subgroup of nonprogressors than a subgroup of rapid progressors who exhibited enhancement. This suggests that enhancement is not associated with disease progression. The neutralizing/enhancing activity observed in sera of these three groups of subjects suggest that enhancement levels may reflect the overall level of antibody response to HIV. The replication patterns observed for early and late sera from individuals in the different groups reflect changes in antibody activity that appear to be associated with protection or disease progression.     

Phase I Safety and Immunogenicity Evaluations of an Alphavirus Replicon HIV-1 Subtype C gag Vaccine in Healthy HIV-1-Uninfected Adults

On the basis of positive preclinical data, we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of an alphavirus replicon HIV-1 subtype C gag vaccine (AVX101), expressing a nonmyristoylated form of Gag, in two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in healthy HIV-1-uninfected adults. Escalating doses of AVX101 or placebo were administered subcutaneously to participants in the United States and Southern Africa. Because of vaccine stability issues, the first trial was halted prior to completion of all dose levels and a second trial was implemented. The second trial was also stopped prematurely due to documentation issues with the contract manufacturer. Safety and immunogenicity were evaluated through assessments of reactogenicity, reports of adverse events, and assessment of replication-competent and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) viremia. Immunogenicity was measured using the following assays: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chromium 51 (⁵¹Cr)-release cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), gamma interferon (IFN-γ) ELISpot, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS), and lymphoproliferation assay (LPA). Anti-vector antibodies were also measured. AVX101 was well tolerated and exhibited only modest local reactogenicity. There were 5 serious adverse events reported during the trials; none were considered related to the study vaccine. In contrast to the preclinical data, immune responses in humans were limited. Only low levels of binding antibodies and T-cell responses were seen at the highest doses. This trial also highlighted the difficulties in developing a novel vector for HIV.     

Simultaneous Detection of Major Drug Resistance Mutations of HIV-1 Subtype B Viruses from Dried Blood Spot Specimens by Multiplex Allele-Specific Assay

A multiplex allele-specific (MAS) assay has been developed for the detection of HIV-1 subtype C drug resistance mutations (DRMs). We have optimized the MAS assay to determine subtype B DRMs in dried blood spots (DBS) collected from patients on antiretroviral therapy. The new assay accurately detected DRMs, including low-abundance mutations that were often missed by Sanger sequencing.     

中国HIV-1 B'亚型毒株nef基因多态性及其对疾病进展影响的研究

目的 研究我国北方地区B'亚型HIV-1感染者病毒基因组中nef基因多态性、重要功能区的保守程度,探索其与疾病进展的关系.方法 HIV-1 B'亚型感染长期不进展者(LTNP)30例,典型进展者(TP)42例,从全血标本中提取全前病毒DNA,经nested-PCR扩增nef基因全长,扩增产物纯化后直接测序,对测得的序列进行系统进化和氨基酸变异分析,并计算比较LTNP组与TP的HIV/AIDS组氨基酸突变位置和频率的差异.结果 nef氨基酸序列长度可变区R21K/E/H/I/Q取代,TP组突变频率(59.52%)低于LTNP组(93.33%,P<0.005,OR=0.11).功能区外S15R/K/N取代,TP组突变频率(64.29%)高于LTNP组(33.33%,P<0.01,OR=3.60);K39R/E/N取代,TP组突变频率高于LTNP组(P<0.005).其他功能区内有少数序列发生变异,但在两组间无差异.结论 未发现中国北方地区HIV-1 B'亚型nef基因与疾病长期不进展相关联的明显缺失或缺陷,但nef基因序列长度可变区R21位K/E/H/I/Q取代R可能与疾病缓慢进展有关,S15R/K/N取代、K39R/E/N取代可能与疾病进展相关.nfe氨基酸序列的重要功能区较为保守.