Genetic identity, biological phenotype, and evolutionary pathways of transmitted/founder viruses in acute and early HIV-1 infection

Identification of full-length transmitted HIV-1 genomes could be instrumental in HIV-1 pathogenesis, microbicide, and vaccine research by enabling the direct analysis of those viruses actually responsible for productive clinical infection. We show in 12 acutely infected subjects (9 clade B and 3 clade C) that complete HIV-1 genomes of transmitted/founder viruses can be inferred by single genome amplification and sequencing of plasma virion RNA. This allowed for the molecular cloning and biological analysis of transmitted/founder viruses and a comprehensive genome-wide assessment of the genetic imprint left on the evolving virus quasispecies by a composite of host selection pressures. Transmitted viruses…

• BA
  Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

  Award: 37874
• UO
  University of Alabama at Birmingham
• UO
  University of Alabama
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: AI067854, AI27767
• CF
  Center for AIDS Research, University of Washington
• CF
  Center for AIDS Research, University of Alabama at Birmingham