AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, October 17, 2005
Staff Medical Writers

According to recent research from the United States, "The main (M) group of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is responsible for the global AIDS epidemic while HIV-1 group O (outlier) and HIV type 2 are endemic only in west and central Africa.

"The failure of HIV-2 and especially HIV-1 group O to spread following the initial zoonotic jumps is not well understood. This study was designed to examine the relative replicative capacities between these human lentiviruses."

"A pairwise competition experiment was performed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells with eight HIV-2 isolates, 6 group 0 viruses, and 15 group M viruses of subtype A (2 viruses), B (5 viruses), C (4 viruses), D (2 viruses) and CRF01_AE (2 viruses).

"HIV-1 group M isolates of any subtype were typically 100-fold more fit than group 0 or HIV-2 strains when competed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from various humans," K.K. Arien and colleagues at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland reported.

"This order in replicative fitness was also observed when virus pairs were added to human dendritic cells and then cocultured with primary, quiescent T cells," said researchers, "which is the model for HIV-1 transmission."

"These results suggest that reduced replicative and transmission fitness may be contributing to the low prevalence and limited geographical spread of HIV-2 and group O HIV-1 in the human population," the authors concluded.

Arien and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Virology (The replicative fitness of primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) group M, HIV-1 group O, and HIV-2 isolates. J Virol. 2005 Jul;79(14):8979-90.

For additional information, contact E.J. Arts, Case Western Reserve University, Dept. Med, Division Infectious Disease, BRB 1034, 10900 Euclid Avenue, 2109 Adelbert Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.

Publisher contact information for the Journal of Virology is: American Society Microbiology, 1752 N St. NW, Washington, DC 20036-2904, USA.

Keywords: Cleveland, Ohio, United States, Viral Fitness, HIV-1 Group M, HIV-1 Group O, HIV-2, Viral Transmission.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Arien KK, Abraha A, Quinones-Mateu ME, et al., The replicative fitness of primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) group M, HIV-1 group O, and HIV-2 isolates, J Virol. 2005 Jul;79(14):8979-90.

PubMED Related articles Search

051017
AW051008

Copyright © 2005 - Charles Henderson, Publisher. All rights Reserved. Permission to reproduce granted to AEGIS by Charles W. Henderson. Authorization to reproduce for personal use granted granted by C. W. Henderson, Publisher, provided that the fee of US$4.50 per copy, per page is paid directly to the Copyright Clearance Center, 27 Congress Street, Salem, Massachusetts 01970, USA. Published by Charles Henderson, Publisher. Editorial & Publishing Office: P.O. Box 5528, Atlanta, GA 30307-0528 / Telephone: (800) 633-4931; Subscription Office: P.O. Box 830409, Birmingham, AL 35283-0409 / FAX: (205) 995-1588 http://www.newsrx.net

AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2005. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright © 1980,2005. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.