Lungu C, Overmars RJ, Grundeken E, Boers PHM, van der Ende ME, Mesplède T, Gruters RA. Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Replication-Competent HIV-2 Isolated from Controllers and Progressors.
Viruses 2023;
15:2236. [PMID:
38005913 PMCID:
PMC10675771 DOI:
10.3390/v15112236]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Although some individuals with HIV-2 develop severe immunodeficiency and AIDS-related complications, most may never progress to AIDS. Replication-competent HIV-2 isolated from asymptomatic long-term non-progressors (controllers) have lower replication rates than viruses from individuals who progress to AIDS (progressors). To investigate potential retroviral factors that correlate with disease progression in HIV-2, we sequenced the near full-length genomes of replication-competent viruses previously outgrown from controllers and progressors and used phylogeny to seek genotypic correlates of disease progression. We validated the integrity of all open reading frames and used cell-based assays to study the retroviral transcriptional activity of the long terminal repeats (LTRs) and Tat proteins of HIV-2 from controllers and progressors. Overall, we did not identify genotypic defects that may contribute to HIV-2 non-progression. Tat-induced, LTR-mediated transcription was comparable between viruses from controllers and progressors. Our results were obtained from a small number of participants and should be interpreted accordingly. Overall, they suggest that progression may be determined before or during integration of HIV-2.
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