RESUMO

As part of the WHO Network for HIV Isolation and Characterization, we PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced gp120 and gp160 genes from 12 HIV-1 isolates collected in four WHO-sponsored vaccine evaluation sites (Brazil, Rwanda, Thailand, Uganda). Envelope clones were derived from PBMC-grown isolates obtained from asymptomatic individuals within 2 years of seroconversion. Analysis of their deduced amino acid sequences identified all but one to contain an uninterrupted open reading frame. Transient expression and biological characterization of selected gp160 constructs identified six clones to encode full length and functional envelope glycoproteins. Phylogenetic analysis of their nucleotide sequences revealed that they represent HIV-1 subtypes A, B, C, and E. Since current knowledge of HIV-1 envelope immunobiology is almost exclusively derived from subtype B viruses, these reagents should facilitate future envelope structure, function and antigenicity studies on a broader spectrum of viruses. This should assist in the design and evaluation of effective vaccines against HIV-1.

Assuntos

Produtos do Gene env/genética , Variação Genética , HIV-1/genética , Precursores de Proteínas/genética , Vacinas contra a AIDS/farmacologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sequência de Bases , Brasil/epidemiologia , Clonagem Molecular , Primers do DNA/genética , DNA Viral/genética , Proteína gp120 do Envelope de HIV/genética , Proteína gp160 do Envelope de HIV , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Infecções por HIV/virologia , HIV-1/classificação , HIV-1/imunologia , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Ruanda/epidemiologia , Homologia de Sequência de Aminoácidos , Tailândia/epidemiologia , Uganda/epidemiologia , Organização Mundial da Saúde