Short Communication: Biological and Genetic Characterization of HIV Type 1 Subtype B and Nonsubtype B Transmitted Viruses: Usefulness for Vaccine Candidate Assessment

Abstract

Due to the extraordinary degree of genetic diversity of HIV-1 and the structural complexity of its envelope glycoproteins, designing an effective vaccine is difficult, requiring the development of viral reagents to assess vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies. The aim of this study was to improve on our previously developed panel of HIV-1 strains of different genetic forms, focusing on strains from acute and recently acquired infections as the most representative of the transmitted viruses. HIV-1 primary isolates were expanded in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Viral stocks of 40 ml each were produced. Syncytium-inducing (SI) phenotype, coreceptor use, and TCID(50)/ml were determined. Near full-length HIV-1 genomes were amplified by RT-nested PCR in four overlapping segments. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with neighbor-joining trees and bootscanning. Forty-four HIV-1 strains were included in the panel. Twenty-four (54.1%) strains were from early infections (16 acute and 8 recent); of them, 21 (87%) were sexually transmitted. NSI/R5 phenotype was detected in 37 (84.1%) viruses and SI/R5,X4 in another 7 (15.9%). TCID(50)/ml ranged between 10(4) and 10(6.6). Twelve different genetic forms constituted this panel: subtypes A1, B, C, F1, and G; circulating recombinant forms CRF02_AG, CRF14_BG, and CRF24_BG; and unique recombinant forms CRF02_AG/A3, BF1, CRF12_BF/B, and DF1G. In conclusion, in this study, we report the development of a comprehensive and well-characterized panel of HIV-1 isolates for assessing neutralization in HIV vaccine research. This panel is available for distribution through the Programme EVA Centre for AIDS Reagents, National Institute for Biological Standard and Control (NIBSC).

Recent HIV-1 Outbreak Among Intravenous Drug Users in Romania: Evidence for Cocirculation of CRF14_BG and Subtype F1 Strains

“…Estonia, Italy, and Germany also reported HIV cases with CRF14 strains, but fewer accounts of this particular CRF were recorded in recent years in Europe. 37 Recombinant forms between subtype F1 and CRF14_BG were found in IDUs. Due to their risk-taking behavior superinfections and recombination events are to be expected, potentially leading to the selection of more virulent strains.…”

Development of a contemporary globally diverse HIV viral panel by the EQAPOL program

“…Donor samples were collected between 2009 and 2011, and included a mix of supernatants obtained from recently infected (Fiebig IV and V) and chronically infected individuals as defined by the contributing laboratory. Thirty-three viral supernatants were obtained from the Centre for AIDS Reagents, NIBSC HPA UK, supported by the EC FP6/7 Europrise Network of Excellence, and NGIN consortia and the Bill and Melinda Gates GHRCCAVD Project and were donated by Lucia Pérez Alvarez (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) (Fernandez-Garcia et al, 2009; Cuevas et al, 2010; Fernandez-Garcia et al, 2010; Delgado et al, 2012; Thomson et al, 2012; Diez-Fuertes et al, 2013). Twenty-three culture supernatants from donors in Cameroon, Spain, USA and Germany were kindly provided by Indira Hewlett (CBER, FDA) (Vallejo et al, 2003; Ragupathy et al, 2011; Zhao et al, 2012).…”

Origin and Epidemiological History of HIV-1 CRF14_BG

“…Until 2007, several sub-genomic sequences related to CRF14_BG were reported in Germany (1), Italy (2), United Kingdom (2), Estonia (15), Spain (38) and Portugal (50) suggesting that this CRF spread efficiently throughout Europe [4], [6], [7], [8], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22]. However, in recent years very few mentions have been made to this CRF in Europe suggesting that its prevalence has reduced significantly [23]. Striking and unique features of most isolates belonging to this CRF are their CXCR4 tropism and association with rapid CD4+ T cell depletion and disease progression [20], [21], [23], [24].…”