Analysis of the Percentage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Sequences That Are Hypermutated and Markers of Disease Progression in a Longitudinal Cohort, Including One Individual with a Partially Defective Vif

摘要: Hypermutation, the introduction of excessive G-to-A substitutions by host proteins in APOBEC family, can impair replication human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Because hypermutation represents a potential antiviral strategy, it is important to determine whether greater associated with slower disease progression natural infection. We examined level HIV-1 among 28 antiretroviral-naive Kenyan women at two times during By examining single-copy gag sequences from proviral DNA, was detected 16 individuals. Among individuals any hypermutation, median 15% were hypermutated (range, 5 43%). However, there no association between and viral load or CD4 count. Thus, we observed overall relationship markers low moderate levels hypermutation. In addition, one individual sustained typical despite having high This had 43% harbored partially defective Vif, which found permit peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture. Overall, our results suggest that therapy based on may need achieve substantially higher than naturally seen most subsequent progression.