Functional relevance of nonsynonymous mutations in the HIV-1 tat gene within an epidemiologically-linked transmission cohort.

ABSTRACT: Here we investigated the nature and functional consequences of mutations in the HIV-1 tat gene within an epidemiologically-linked AIDS transmission cohort consisting of a non-progressing donor (A) and two normal progressing recipients (B and C). Multiple nonsynonymous mutations in the tat first exon were observed across time in all individuals. Some mutations demonstrated striking host specificity despite the cohort being infected with a common virus. Phylogenetic segregation of the tat clones at the time of progression to AIDS was also observed especially in recipient C. Tat clones supporting high levels of transactivation were present at all time points in all individuals, although a number of clones defective for transactivation were observed for recipient C in later time points. Here w

SUBMITTER: Sivakumaran H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2174444 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature