HIV-I reverse transcriptase variation in plasma and genital secretion of antiretroviral-naive females

J Int Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic). 2009 Nov-Dec;8(6):375-8. doi: 10.1177/1545109709347374. Epub 2009 Oct 12.

Abstract

The reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) is largely targeted by the host immune selection pressure and would differ in the anatomical compartments, thereby having a drastic impact on viral quasi-species evolution. The HIV-1 RT region sequenced from plasma and genital secretions of 8 antiretroviral treatment (ART)-naive females was analyzed for the pattern of amino acid mutations and the ratio of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions to determine whether it is under different selection pressure in both the compartments. Phylogenetic and mutational analysis of the HIV-1 RT in plasma and genital secretions of HIV-1-infected ART-naive females showed limited variation likely reflecting the absence of differential selection pressure and therefore genetic variation in these compartments.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Codon
  • Databases, Nucleic Acid
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / enzymology
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / analysis
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / blood
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / chemistry
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / enzymology
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • India
  • Mutation
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • RNA, Viral / genetics*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Vaginal Smears
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Codon
  • RNA, Viral
  • reverse transcriptase, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase