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Pairwise Growth Competition Assay for Determining the Replication Fitness of Human Immunodeficiency Viruses
Published on: May 4, 2015
Direct correlation between genome dimerization and recombination efficiency of HIV-1
Jun-ichi Sakuragi1, Sayuri Sakuragi, Masahisa Ohishi
1Department of Viral Infections, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita City, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. sakuragi@biken.osaka-u.ac.jp
Microbes and Infection
|July 20, 2010
Summary
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genome dimerization significantly controls viral recombination. This process is crucial for promoting HIV-1 genetic diversity, with the dimer initiation site being a key factor.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Over ten Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtypes and numerous inter-subtype recombinant viruses exist.
- The HIV-1 genome, a single-stranded positive-sense RNA, forms dimers within virus particles.
- Recombination between HIV-1 genomes during reverse transcription is frequent, suggesting a link to dimerization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide comprehensive evidence for the role of genome dimerization in controlling viral genomic recombination in HIV-1.
- To investigate the correlation between inter-subtype dimerization and recombination efficiencies.
- To identify determinants of inter-subtype hetero-dimerization within HIV-1 virions.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of various inter-subtype dimerization efficiencies.
- Assessment of inter-subtype recombination rates.
- Analysis of inter-subtype hetero-dimerization within HIV-1 virions.
Main Results:
- A near-complete correlation was detected between HIV-1 genome dimerization and recombination efficiencies across subtypes.
- Genome dimerization was confirmed as a critical factor promoting HIV-1 genetic diversity.
- The dimer initiation site was identified as a major, though not exclusive, determinant of dimerization and recombination efficiency.
Conclusions:
- HIV-1 genome dimerization directly controls viral genomic recombination.
- Dimerization plays a significant role in driving the genetic diversity of HIV-1.
- While the dimer initiation site is important, other factors also influence HIV-1 dimerization and recombination.
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