Long-term nonprogressive (LTNP) HIV-1 infection presents an opportunity to study attenuation of HIV in vivo. Molecular determinants of LTNP infection are relevant to pathogenesis and vaccines. Because HIV-1 in plasma represents replicating virus, and multiple regions of the genome can affect pathogenesis we developed an RT-PCR-based technique to obtain full-length genomic clones from plasma HIV-1 RNA. We then analyzed the HIV-1 sequence changes that occurred when an individual underwent a transition from LTNP to rapidly progressive infection and found a major difference in the serial sequences that explains the change in clinical states. The long-term objectives are: 1) to identify molecular determinants of HIV-1 pathogenesis and attenuation in vivo using novel approaches. The work will focus on complete HIV-1 RNA sequences from individuals in a large cohort (NIH Women's Interagency HIV Study and others) before and after their transition from LTNP to progressive infection; and 2) to find HIV-1 sequences which may serve as new target sites in the design of vaccines and anti-viral agents.
We aim to perform the following studies on a cohort of at least 33 untreated LTNP patients and controls: 1) Clone, sequence, and analyze by computational biology full-length plasma HIV-1 RNA genomes from the entire cohort. We will first focus on the 6 individuals in the cohort who have undergone a transition from LTNP to progressive infection; by comparing genomes obtained before and after the transition, we aim to identify sequences associated with attenuation and pathogenesis. We shall then analyze genomes from the remainder of the cohort, seeking previously identified and new mutations associated with attenuation of pathogenesis. 2) Functionally evaluate the sequences associated with attenuation or pathogenesis by constructing recombinants with infectious molecular HIV-1 clones; 3) Measure the infectivity of the clones by transfection and phenotypically characterize the virus produced; 4) Determine the HIV-1 co-receptor utilization pattern of the clones and viral isolates by performing infectivity assays and viral envelope fusion assays. The results will be correlated with the clinical, virologic, and immunogenetic characteristics of each patient in an effort to identify determinants of pathogenesis and attenuation in vivo.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI042555-04
Application #
6373783
Study Section
AIDS and Related Research Study Section 1 (ARRA)
Program Officer
Williams, Carolyn F
Project Start
1998-06-15
Project End
2003-05-31
Budget Start
2001-06-01
Budget End
2002-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$308,555
Indirect Cost
Name
Wadsworth Center
Department
Type
DUNS #
110521739
City
Menands
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
12204
Kemal, Kimdar Sherefa; Beattie, Tara; Dong, Tao et al. (2008) Transition from long-term nonprogression to HIV-1 disease associated with escape from cellular immune control. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 48:119-26
Reinis, Milan; Weiser, Barbara; Kuiken, Carla et al. (2007) Genomic analysis of HIV type 1 strains derived from a mother and child pair of long-term nonprogressors. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 23:309-15
Chakraborty, R; Reinis, M; Rostron, T et al. (2006) nef gene sequence variation among HIV-1-infected African children. HIV Med 7:75-84
Pastori, Claudia; Weiser, Barbara; Barassi, Claudia et al. (2006) Long-lasting CCR5 internalization by antibodies in a subset of long-term nonprogressors: a possible protective effect against disease progression. Blood 107:4825-33
Schroeder, Tamara L; Burger, Harold; Weiser, Barbara et al. (2005) Characterization of intersubtype recombinant HIV type 1 genomes using a nonradioactive heteroduplex tracking assay. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 21:314-8
Philpott, Sean; Burger, Harold; Tsoukas, Christos et al. (2005) Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genomic RNA sequences in the female genital tract and blood: compartmentalization and intrapatient recombination. J Virol 79:353-63
Philpott, Sean; Burger, Harold; Tarwater, Patrick M et al. (2004) CCR2 genotype and disease progression in a treated population of HIV type 1-infected women. Clin Infect Dis 39:861-5
Fang, Guowei; Kuiken, Carla; Weiser, Barbara et al. (2004) Long-term survivors in Nairobi: complete HIV-1 RNA sequences and immunogenetic associations. J Infect Dis 190:697-701
Fang, Guowei; Weiser, Barbara; Kuiken, Carla et al. (2004) Recombination following superinfection by HIV-1. AIDS 18:153-9
Shi, Binshan; Philpott, Sean M; Weiser, Barbara et al. (2004) Construction of an infectious HIV type 1 molecular clone from an African patient with a subtype D/C Recombinant Virus. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 20:1015-8

Showing the most recent 10 out of 18 publications