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Updated: May 30, 2025

A Restriction Enzyme Based Cloning Method to Assess the In vitro Replication Capacity of HIV-1 Subtype C Gag-MJ4 Chimeric Viruses
Published on: August 31, 2014
HIV-1 Vif global diversity and possible APOBEC-mediated response since 1980.
Eric Lewitus1,2, Yifan Li1,2, Morgane Rolland1,2
1U.S. Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
HIV-1 Vif protein counters APOBEC3 enzymes. While Vif evolves, selection doesn't target APOBEC3 sites, suggesting rare Vif adaptation to this pressure. HIV-1 diversity may arise from other mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vif protein is crucial for viral replication.
- Vif antagonizes host APOBEC3 (activated by B cells, T cell innate immunity) cytidine deaminases, which inhibit HIV-1 by inducing G-to-A mutations.
- Understanding Vif evolution is key to comprehending HIV-1 adaptation and pandemic spread.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary dynamics of HIV-1 Vif.
- To identify evidence of APOBEC3-mediated selective pressure on Vif evolution.
- To explore the relationship between Vif diversity and APOBEC3-induced mutations in other HIV-1 genes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 4612 publicly available HIV-1 sequences.
- Utilized the Hervé platform for sequence analysis.
- Examined 10 dominant HIV-1 subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs).
Main Results:
- Widespread, convergent diversifying selection was observed across subtypes and CRFs.
- HIV-1 Vif consensus sequences showed remarkable stability over time.
- APOBEC3-induced substitutions increased in HIV-1 env and gag-pol genes over time and correlated with vif diversity.
- Selection did not specifically target APOBEC3-interacting sites within Vif.
Conclusions:
- APOBEC3-driven adaptation within HIV-1 Vif appears to be infrequent.
- HIV-1 may utilize APOBEC3-induced substitutions in other genes as a mechanism for generating viral diversity.
- The stability of Vif suggests alternative evolutionary strategies for HIV-1 to overcome host defenses.
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