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Updated: Jul 30, 2026

Genotypic Inference of HIV-1 Tropism Using Population-based Sequencing of V3
Published on: December 28, 2010
Genetic variation within human immunodeficiency viruses generates rapid changes in tropism, virulence, and
M Essex1, L E Soto-Ramirez, E Renjifo
1Harvard AIDS Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Abstract:
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1) undergo high rates of variation. Only a few point mutations in the envelope gene are required to switch the tropism of HIV-1 from a growth preference for monocytes to lymphocytes or to acquire lytic properties for rapid killing of infected T4 lymphocytes. Since heterosexual transmission efficiency is high for HIV-1's that are most prevalent in Africa or Asia, but low for HIV-1 B, which dominates in the US and western Europe, we asked whether African and Asian viruses had a particular tropism for cells of the reproductive tract. Langerhans' cells (LC), showed only minimal susceptibility to infection with HIV-1B from the US, but substantially greater sensitivity for infections by HIV-1 E and HIV-1 C, subtypes that predominate in Asia and Africa.
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