AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, November 14, 2005
Staff Medical Writers

According to recent research from France, "Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) harbor a mixture of viral variants with different sequences and in some instances with different phenotypic properties.

"Major and rapid fluctuations in the proportion of viral variants coexisting in an infected individual can be observed under strong pharmacological and immune selective pressure."

"Because of the short half-life of HIV-infected cells and of HIV virions in the blood, plasma virus populations are highly relevant to HIV evolution in the face of these selective pressures.

"Here we analyzed the sensitivity to antibody-mediated neutralization of viral variants coexisting in the plasma virus populations of two infected patients," wrote K. Skrabal and colleagues at the University of Paris 07.

"For each patient," researchers said, "several replication-competent viral clones were constructed that carry primary envelope gene sequences obtained from a single plasma sample. Viral clones differed in their tropism and replicative capacity and in the number and positions of glycosylation sites in the envelope glycoproteins."

"Viruses were tested against heterologous and autologous sera obtained at different time points. Interestingly," reported Skrabal, "we found that viral variants coexisting in each plasma sample were highly heterogeneous in terms of sensitivity to neutralization."

The authors concluded, "The order of sensitivity depended on the serum used and was not associated with virus tropism. The neutralization potency of sera increased with the duration of the infection for both autologous and heterologous neutralization."

Skrabal and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Virology (Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants isolated from single plasma samples display a wide spectrum of neutralization sensitivity. J Virol. 2005 Sep;79(18):11848-57.

For additional information, contact F. Mammano, University of Paris 07, INSERM U552 REch Antivirale, IMEA, 46 Rue H Huchard, F-75018 Paris, France.

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

Keywords: Paris, France, HIV/AIDS, Antibody-Mediated Neutralization, HIV-1 Variants, Neutralization Sensitivity, Viral Clones, Virology.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2005, AIDS Weekly via NewsRx.com.

Reference

Skrabal K, Saragosti S, Labernardiere JL, et al., "Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 variants isolated from single plasma samples display a wide spectrum of neutralization sensitivity" J Virol. 2005 Sep;79(18):11848-57.

PubMED Related articles Search

051114
AW051105

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.