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HIV-1 Superinfection Resembles Primary Infection
Daniel J Sheward1, Roman Ntale2, Nigel J Garrett3
1Division of Medical Virology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
The Journal of Infectious Diseases
|March 11, 2015
Summary
Superinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) resembles primary infection, characterized by a single founder virus. This finding supports using superinfection models to study HIV correlates of protection.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The utility of superinfection models for identifying human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) correlates of protection is debated.
- This utility hinges on whether superinfecting transmissions mimic primary HIV infections, a characteristic not previously established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the genetic bottleneck during HIV superinfection.
- To determine if superinfecting HIV strains resemble primary infections.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of viral load dynamics in superinfected individuals.
- Genetic sequencing and characterization of founder viruses from superinfected cases.
- Comparison of genetic features (e.g., variable region length, glycosylation) of founder viruses with matched chronic HIV strains.
Main Results:
- Superinfection led to a significant increase in viral load in all three cases studied.
- The superinfecting virus in each case originated from a single founder virus.
- Founder viruses were C-C chemokine receptor 5-tropic and exhibited shorter, less glycosylated variable regions compared to viruses from chronic infections.
Conclusions:
- The genetic characteristics of superinfecting HIV strains are consistent with those of primary HIV transmission.
- These findings validate the use of superinfection models for investigating correlates of protection against HIV.
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