Genomic Diversity of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type III (HTLV-III)

Abstract

The DNA genomes of human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) isolated from 18 individuals with AIDS or who were at risk for AIDS were evaluated for evidence of variation. Although all of the 18 viral DNA's hybridized throughout their entire genomes to a full-length cloned probe of the original HTLV-III isolate, each of the 18 isolates showed a different restriction enzyme pattern. The number of restriction site differences between isolates ranged from only 1 site in 23 to at least 16 sites in 31. No particular viral genotype was associated with a particular disease state and 2 of the 18 patients had evidence of concurrent infection by more than one viral genotype. Propagation of three different viral isolates in vitro for up to 9 months did not lead to detectable changes in their restriction patterns. These findings indicate that different isolates of HTLV-III comprise a spectrum of highly related but distinguishable viruses and have important implications regarding the pathogenicity of HTLV-III and attempts to develop effective diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive measures for this virus.

A history of AIDS: Looking back to see ahead

“…First, like a "smart weapon," it seeks out and destroys the very cells that orchestrate the immune response to viral infection, CD4 T lymphocytes. Secondly, because of the error-prone nature of its reverse transcriptase and the recombination that occurs between viruses simultaneously infecting the same cell, HIV evolves at "hyper-light speed" [18,19]. A swarm of billions of different forms of HIV are present simultaneously in infected patients -a fact that would confound future treatments and vaccine development.…”

Evaluation of an antimicrobial soap formula for virucidal efficacy in vitro against human immunodeficiency virus in a blood-virus mixture

“…The RF strain of HTLV-III HIV (15,19) supplemented with 20% (vol/vol) fetal calf serum (heat inactivated at 56°C for 30 min), 100 U of penicillin per ml, 100 ,ug of streptomycin per ml, 2.5 ,ug of amphotericin B (Fungizone) per ml, and 25 mM HEPES (N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid) buffer (pH 7.2). MT2 cells (7) were obtained from Robert Shoemaker, National Cancer Institute, and were grown in the same medium but with 10% serum.…”

New cholesterol-specific antibodies remodel HIV-1 target cells’ surface and inhibit their in vitro virus production

“…The ×4 phenotype IIIB strain of HIV-1 ( 20 ) was grown in H9 cell line, while the R5 characteristic Ada-M strain of HIV-1 ( 19 ) was propagated in primary MDM cultures, then harvested and stored in liquid nitrogen.…”