Effect of synaptic cell-to-cell transmission and recombination on the evolution of double mutants in HIV.

ABSTRACT: Recombination in HIV infection can impact virus evolution in vivo in complex ways, as has been shown both experimentally and mathematically. The effect of free virus versus synaptic, cell-to-cell transmission on the evolution of double mutants, however, has not been investigated. Here, we do so by using a stochastic agent-based model. Consistent with data, we assume spatial constraints for synaptic but not for free-virus transmission. Two important effects of the viral spread mode are observed: (i) for disadvantageous mutants, synaptic transmission protects against detrimental effects of recombination on double mutant persistence. Under free virus transmission, recombination increases double mutant levels for negative epistasis, but reduces them for positive epistasis. This reductio

SUBMITTER: Kreger J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7115232 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature