Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
05:53

Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates

Published on: July 6, 2013

Evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in perinatally infected infants with rapid and slow progression to

F Salvatori1, S Masiero, C Giaquinto

  • 1Department of Oncology and Surgical Sciences, AIDS Reference Center, University of Padova, Italy.

Journal of Virology
|June 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

The origin of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in infants is linked to a single variant. Host immune pressure, particularly on the V3 region, influences viral evolution and disease progression over time.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Perinatally infected infants often experience varying disease progression rates.
  • Understanding the initial viral variants and their evolution is crucial for predicting outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between the origin and evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants and disease progression in perinatally infected infants.
  • To analyze the V3 region of HIV-1 variants to understand early viral dynamics and host immune selective pressures.

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic analysis of V3 sequences from mother-infant pairs.
  • Sequential sampling of viral variants from infected infants over the first year of life.
  • Quantification of plasma HIV-1 RNA levels and analysis of synonymous/nonsynonymous substitutions.

Main Results:

  • A single HIV-1 variant initiated infection in all infants, regardless of disease progression speed.
  • Viral load initially increased then declined in slow progressors within the first six months.
  • Increased nonsynonymous substitutions in the second half of the year in slow progressors suggest stronger host selective pressure.

Conclusions:

  • The initial HIV-1 variant determines infection trajectory.
  • Host immune response to V3 may regulate viral levels later in life but is unlikely to drive early viral decline.
  • Differential selective pressures on viral evolution correlate with disease progression rates.

More Related Videos

A Restriction Enzyme Based Cloning Method to Assess the In vitro Replication Capacity of HIV-1 Subtype C Gag-MJ4 Chimeric Viruses14:23

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

Amplification of Near Full-length HIV-1 Proviruses for Next-Generation Sequencing10:18

Amplification of Near Full-length HIV-1 Proviruses for Next-Generation Sequencing

Published on: October 16, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Immunodeficiency Diseases01:25

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly01:19

Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly

As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...