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Williams ME. HIV-1 Vif protein sequence variations in South African people living with HIV and their influence on Vif-APOBEC3G interaction. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 43:325-338. [PMID: 38072879 PMCID: PMC10821834 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04728-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Despite extensive research, HIV-1 remains a global epidemic with variations in pathogenesis across regions and subtypes. The Viral Infectivity Factor (Vif) protein, which neutralizes the host protein APOBEC3G, has been implicated in differences in clinical outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Most studies on Vif sequence diversity have focused on subtype B, leaving gaps in understanding Vif variations in HIV-1C regions like South Africa. This study aimed to identify and compare Vif sequence diversity in a cohort of 51 South African PLHIV and other HIV-1C prevalent regions. METHODS Sanger sequencing was used for Vif analysis in the cohort, and additional sequences were obtained from the Los Alamos database. Molecular modeling and docking techniques were employed to study the influence of subtype-specific variants on Vif-APOBEC3G binding affinity. RESULTS The findings showed distinct genetic variations between Vif sequences from India and Uganda, while South African sequences had wider distribution and closer relatedness to both. Specific amino acid substitutions in Vif were associated with geographic groups. Molecular modeling and docking analyses consistently identified specific residues (ARGR19, LYS26, TYR30, TYR44, and TRP79) as primary contributors to intermolecular contacts between Vif and APOBEC3G, essential for their interaction. The Indian Vif variant exhibited the highest predicted binding affinity to APOBEC3G among the studied groups. CONCLUSIONS These results provide insights into Vif sequence diversity in HIV-1C prevalent regions and shed light on differential pathogenesis observed in different geographical areas. The identified Vif amino acid residues warrant further investigation for their diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential.
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Sharma S, Jafari M, Bangar A, William K, Guatelli J, Lewinski MK. The C-Terminal End of HIV-1 Vpu Has a Clade-Specific Determinant That Antagonizes BST-2 and Facilitates Virion Release. J Virol 2019; 93:e02315-18. [PMID: 30867310 PMCID: PMC6532089 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02315-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular protein bone marrow stromal antigen-2 (BST-2)/tetherin acts against a variety of enveloped viruses by restricting their release from the plasma membrane. The HIV-1 accessory protein Vpu counteracts BST-2 by downregulating it from the cell surface and displacing it from virion assembly sites. Previous comparisons of Vpus from transmitted/founder viruses and between viruses isolated during acute and chronic infection led to the identification of a tryptophan at position 76 in Vpu (W76) as a key determinant for the displacement of BST-2 from virion assembly sites. Although present in Vpus from clades B, D, and G, W76 is absent from Vpus from clades A, C, and H. Mutagenesis of the C-terminal region of Vpu from two clade C viruses led to the identification of a conserved LL sequence that is functionally analogous to W76 of clade B. Alanine substitution of these leucines partially impaired virion release. This impairment was even greater when the mutations were combined with mutations of the Vpu β-TrCP binding site, resulting in Vpu proteins that induced high surface levels of BST-2 and reduced the efficiency of virion release to less than that of virus lacking vpu Microscopy confirmed that these C-terminal leucines in clade C Vpu, like W76 in clade B, contribute to virion release by supporting the displacement of BST-2 from virion assembly sites. These results suggest that although encoded differently, the ability of Vpu to displace BST-2 from sites of virion assembly on the plasma membrane is evolutionarily conserved among clade B and C HIV-1 isolates.IMPORTANCE Although targeted by a variety of restriction mechanisms, HIV-1 establishes chronic infection in most cases, in part due to the counteraction of these host defenses by viral accessory proteins. Using conserved motifs, the accessory proteins exploit the cellular machinery to degrade or mistraffic host restriction factors, thereby counteracting them. The Vpu protein counteracts the virion-tethering factor BST-2 in part by displacing it from virion assembly sites along the plasma membrane, but a previously identified determinant of that activity is clade specific at the level of protein sequence and not found in the clade C viruses that dominate the pandemic. Here, we show that clade C Vpu provides this activity via a leucine-containing sequence rather than the tryptophan-containing sequence found in clade B Vpu. This difference seems likely to reflect the different evolutionary paths taken by clade B and clade C HIV-1 in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Sharma
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Moein Jafari
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Amandip Bangar
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Karen William
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - John Guatelli
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Mary K Lewinski
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
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Marine origin of retroviruses in the early Palaeozoic Era. Nat Commun 2017; 8:13954. [PMID: 28071651 PMCID: PMC5512871 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Very little is known about the ancient origin of retroviruses, but owing to the discovery of their ancient endogenous viral counterparts, their early history is beginning to unfold. Here we report 36 lineages of basal amphibian and fish foamy-like endogenous retroviruses (FLERVs). Phylogenetic analyses reveal that ray-finned fish FLERVs exhibit an overall co-speciation pattern with their hosts, while amphibian FLERVs might not. We also observe several possible ancient viral cross-class transmissions, involving lobe-finned fish, shark and frog FLERVs. Sequence examination and analyses reveal two major lineages of ray-finned fish FLERVs, one of which had gained two novel accessory genes within their extraordinarily large genomes. Our phylogenetic analyses suggest that this major retroviral lineage, and therefore retroviruses as a whole, have an ancient marine origin and originated together with, if not before, their jawed vertebrate hosts >450 million years ago in the Ordovician period, early Palaeozoic Era. Endogenous retroviruses are viruses that have become integrated into the genomes of their hosts. Here, the authors investigate the evolution of foamy-like endogenous retroviruses, and, by taking into account the temporal dynamics of the rate of viral evolution, suggest that retroviruses arose at least 450 million years ago in marine vertebrates.
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Rossenkhan R, MacLeod IJ, Brumme ZL, Magaret CA, Sebunya TK, Musonda R, Gashe BA, Edlefsen PT, Novitsky V, Essex M. Transmitted/Founder HIV-1 Subtype C Viruses Show Distinctive Signature Patterns in Vif, Vpr, and Vpu That Are Under Subsequent Immune Pressure During Early Infection. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2016; 32:1031-1045. [PMID: 27349335 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2015.0330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral variants that predominate during early infection may exhibit constrained diversity compared with those found during chronic infection and could contain amino acid signature patterns that may enhance transmission, establish productive infection, and influence early events that modulate the infection course. We compared amino acid distributions in 17 patients recently infected with HIV-1C with patients with chronic infection. We found significantly lower entropy in inferred transmitted/founder (t/f) compared with chronic viruses and identified signature patterns in Vif and Vpr from inferred t/f viruses. We investigated sequence evolution longitudinally up to 500 days postseroconversion and compared the impact of selected substitutions on predicted human leukocyte antigen (HLA) binding affinities of published and predicted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes. Polymorphisms in Vif and Vpr during early infection occurred more frequently at epitope-HLA anchor residues and significantly decreased predicted epitope-HLA binding. Transmission-associated sequence signatures may have implications for novel strategies to prevent HIV-1 transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raabya Rossenkhan
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Iain J. MacLeod
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Zabrina L. Brumme
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Craig A. Magaret
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Theresa K. Sebunya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Rosemary Musonda
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Berhanu A. Gashe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Paul T. Edlefsen
- Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington
| | - Vlad Novitsky
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - M. Essex
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
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Functional characterization of Vif proteins from HIV-1 infected patients with different APOBEC3G haplotypes. AIDS 2016; 30:1723-9. [PMID: 27064995 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The human cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G (A3G) potently restricts HIV-1 but the virus, in turn, expresses a Vif protein which degrades A3G. A natural A3G-H186R variant, common in African populations, has been associated with a more rapid AIDS disease progression, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. We hypothesized that differences in HIV-1 Vif activity towards A3G wild type and A3G-H186R contribute to the distinct clinical AIDS manifestation. METHODS Vif variants were cloned from plasma samples of 26 South African HIV-1 subtype C infected patients, which either express wild type A3G or A3G-H186R. The Vif alleles were assessed for their ability to counteract A3G variants using western blot and single-cycle infectivity assays. RESULTS We obtained a total of 392 Vif sequences which displayed an amino acid sequence difference of 6.2-19.2% between patients. The intrapatient Vif diversities from patient groups A3G, A3G and A3G were similar. Vif variants obtained from patients expressing A3G and A3G were capable of counteracting both A3G variants with similar efficiency. However, the antiviral activity of A3G-H186R was significantly reduced in both the presence and absence of Vif, indicating that the A3G-H186R variant intrinsically exerts less antiviral activity. CONCLUSION A3G wild type and A3G-H186R are equally susceptible to counteraction by Vif, regardless of whether the Vif variant was obtained from A3G and A3G patients. However, the A3G-H186R variant intrinsically displayed lower antiviral activity, which could explain the higher plasma viral loads and accelerated disease progression reported for patients expressing A3G.
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Guerra-Palomares SE, Hernandez-Sanchez PG, Esparza-Perez MA, Arguello JR, Noyola DE, Garcia-Sepulveda CA. Molecular Characterization of Mexican HIV-1 Vif Sequences. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2016; 32:290-5. [PMID: 26529466 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2015.0290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The viral infectivity factor (Vif) is an HIV accessory protein that counteracts host antiviral proteins of the APOBEC3 family. Accumulating evidence highlights the pivotal role that accessory HIV proteins have on disease pathogenesis, a fact that has made them targets of interest for novel therapeutic and preventive strategies. Little is known about Vif sequence diversity outside of African or white populations. Mexico is home to Americas' third largest HIV-affected population and Mexican Hispanics represent an ever-increasing U.S. minority. This study provides a detailed analysis of the diversity seen in 77 Mexican Vif protein sequences. Phylogenetic analysis shows that most sequences cluster with HIV-1 subtype B, while less than 10% exhibit greater similarity to subtype D and A subtypes. Although most functional motifs are conserved among the Mexican sequences, substantial diversity was seen in some APOBEC binding sites, the nuclear localization inhibitory signal, and the CBFβ interaction sites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Daniel E. Noyola
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina UASLP, San Luis Potosí, SLP, México
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Involvement of a C-terminal motif in the interference of primate lentiviral Vpu proteins with CD1d-mediated antigen presentation. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9675. [PMID: 25872908 PMCID: PMC4397644 DOI: 10.1038/srep09675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 accessory protein Vpu is emerging as a critical factor for viral evasion from innate immunity. We have previously shown that the Vpu proteins of two HIV-1 group M subtype B strains (NL4-3 and BaL) down-regulate CD1d from the surface of infected dendritic cells (DCs) and inhibit their crosstalk with the innate invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. In the present study, we have investigated the ability of a comprehensive set of primate lentiviral Vpu proteins to interfere with CD1d-mediated immunity. We found that CD1d down-regulation is a conserved function of Vpu proteins from HIV-1 groups M, O and P as well as their direct precursors SIVcpzPtt and SIVgor. At the group M subtype level, subtype C Vpu proteins were significantly weaker CD1d antagonists than subtype B Vpu proteins. Functional characterization of different mutants and chimeras derived from active subtype B and inactive subtype C Vpu proteins revealed that residues in the cytoplasmic domain are important for CD1d down-regulation. Specifically, we identified a C-terminal APW motif characteristic for group M subtype B Vpu proteins necessary for interference with CD1d surface expression. These findings support the notion that Vpu plays an important role in lentiviral evasion from innate immunity.
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Münk C, Jensen BEO, Zielonka J, Häussinger D, Kamp C. Running loose or getting lost: how HIV-1 counters and capitalizes on APOBEC3-induced mutagenesis through its Vif protein. Viruses 2012; 4:3132-61. [PMID: 23202519 PMCID: PMC3509687 DOI: 10.3390/v4113132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Revised: 10/29/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) dynamics reflect an intricate balance within the viruses’ host. The virus relies on host replication factors, but must escape or counter its host’s antiviral restriction factors. The interaction between the HIV-1 protein Vif and many cellular restriction factors from the APOBEC3 protein family is a prominent example of this evolutionary arms race. The viral infectivity factor (Vif) protein largely neutralizes APOBEC3 proteins, which can induce in vivo hypermutations in HIV-1 to the extent of lethal mutagenesis, and ensures the production of viable virus particles. HIV-1 also uses the APOBEC3-Vif interaction to modulate its own mutation rate in harsh or variable environments, and it is a model of adaptation in a coevolutionary setting. Both experimental evidence and the substantiation of the underlying dynamics through coevolutionary models are presented as complementary views of a coevolutionary arms race.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Münk
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (C.M.); (B.-E.O.J.); (J.Z.); (D.H.)
| | - Björn-Erik O. Jensen
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (C.M.); (B.-E.O.J.); (J.Z.); (D.H.)
| | - Jörg Zielonka
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (C.M.); (B.-E.O.J.); (J.Z.); (D.H.)
- Roche Glycart AG, Schlieren 8952, Switzerland
| | - Dieter Häussinger
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany; (C.M.); (B.-E.O.J.); (J.Z.); (D.H.)
| | - Christel Kamp
- Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 51-59, 63225 Langen, Germany
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Musyoki A, Mothapo K, Rakgole J, Lukhwareni A, Bessong P, Selabe G, Bredell H, Williamson C, Mphahlele MJ. Genetic characterization of HIV before widespread testing of HIV vaccine candidates at a clinical trial site in Pretoria, South Africa. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2012; 28:1131-8. [PMID: 22106990 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2011.0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied 123 samples from adult chronic HIV patients initiating HAART from various centers around a newly established clinical trial site in Pretoria. Each sample was sequenced in at least one structural gene (pol, gag, and env) or functional gene (vif, vpr, and vpu). A subset of 25 samples was subjected to near full-genome analysis. All samples were HIV-1 subtype C. Highly conserved regions within the gene sequences were observed. Overall, the gag and vif sequences showed closer similarity followed by the env, vpr, pol, and vpu. The env gene was the most difficult to sequence, resulting in only 31 sequences from 40 samples; of these, 25 were predicted to be R5 coreceptor tropic, while 6 were X4 tropic. The study asserted the predominance of HIV-1 subtype C within the catchment population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Musyoki
- HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Medunsa Campus, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Khutso Mothapo
- HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Medunsa Campus, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Johnny Rakgole
- HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Medunsa Campus, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Azwidowi Lukhwareni
- HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Medunsa Campus, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Pascal Bessong
- AIDS Virus Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Gloria Selabe
- HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Medunsa Campus, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Helba Bredell
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town/National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Carolyn Williamson
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Virology, University of Cape Town/National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - M. Jeffrey Mphahlele
- HIV and Hepatitis Research Unit, Department of Virology, Medunsa Campus, University of Limpopo/National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa
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Rossenkhan R, Novitsky V, Sebunya TK, Musonda R, Gashe BA, Essex M. Viral diversity and diversification of major non-structural genes vif, vpr, vpu, tat exon 1 and rev exon 1 during primary HIV-1 subtype C infection. PLoS One 2012; 7:e35491. [PMID: 22590503 PMCID: PMC3348911 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0035491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2012] [Accepted: 03/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess the level of intra-patient diversity and evolution of HIV-1C non-structural genes in primary infection, viral quasispecies obtained by single genome amplification (SGA) at multiple sampling timepoints up to 500 days post-seroconversion (p/s) were analyzed. The mean intra-patient diversity was 0.11% (95% CI; 0.02 to 0.20) for vif, 0.23% (95% CI; 0.08 to 0.38) for vpr, 0.35% (95% CI; −0.05 to 0.75) for vpu, 0.18% (95% CI; 0.01 to 0.35) for tat exon 1 and 0.30% (95% CI; 0.02 to 0.58) for rev exon 1 during the time period 0 to 90 days p/s. The intra-patient diversity increased gradually in all non-structural genes over the first year of HIV-1 infection, which was evident from the vif mean intra-patient diversity of 0.46% (95% CI; 0.28 to 0.64), vpr 0.44% (95% CI; 0.24 to 0.64), vpu 0.84% (95% CI; 0.55 to 1.13), tat exon 1 0.35% (95% CI; 0.14 to 0.56 ) and rev exon 1 0.42% (95% CI; 0.18 to 0.66) during the time period of 181 to 500 days p/s. There was a statistically significant increase in viral diversity for vif (p = 0.013) and vpu (p = 0.002). No associations between levels of viral diversity within the non-structural genes and HIV-1 RNA load during primary infection were found. The study details the dynamics of the non-structural viral genes during the early stages of HIV-1C infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raabya Rossenkhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
- Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vladimir Novitsky
- Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Theresa K. Sebunya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Rosemary Musonda
- Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Berhanu A. Gashe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - M. Essex
- Botswana–Harvard AIDS Institute, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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The activity spectrum of Vif from multiple HIV-1 subtypes against APOBEC3G, APOBEC3F, and APOBEC3H. J Virol 2011; 86:49-59. [PMID: 22013041 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.06082-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The APOBEC3 family comprises seven cytidine deaminases (APOBEC3A [A3A] to A3H), which are expressed to various degrees in HIV-1 susceptible cells. The HIV-1 Vif protein counteracts APOBEC3 restriction by mediating its degradation by the proteasome. We hypothesized that Vif proteins from various HIV-1 subtypes differ in their abilities to counteract different APOBEC3 proteins. Seventeen Vif alleles from seven HIV-1 subtypes were tested for their abilities to degrade and counteract A3G, A3F, and A3H haplotype II (hapII). We show that most Vif alleles neutralize A3G and A3F efficiently but display differences with respect to the inhibition of A3H hapII. The majority of non-subtype B Vif alleles tested presented some activity against A3H hapII, with two subtype F Vif variants being highly effective in counteracting A3H hapII. The residues required for activity were mapped to two residues in the amino-terminal region of Vif (positions 39F and 48H). Coimmunoprecipitations showed that these two amino acids were necessary for association of Vif with A3H hapII. These findings suggest that the A3H hapII binding site in Vif is distinct from the regions important for A3G and A3F recognition and that it requires specific amino acids at positions 39 and 48. The differential Vif activity spectra, especially against A3H hapII, suggest adaptation to APOBEC3 repertoires representative of different human ancestries. Phenotypic assessment of anti-APOBEC3 activity of Vif variants against several cytidine deaminases will help reveal the requirement for successful replication in vivo and ultimately point to interventions targeting the Vif-APOBEC3 interface.
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Campbell GR, Loret EP, Spector SA. HIV-1 clade B Tat, but not clade C Tat, increases X4 HIV-1 entry into resting but not activated CD4+ T cells. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:1681-91. [PMID: 19917610 PMCID: PMC2804326 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.049957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2009] [Revised: 11/13/2009] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
CXCR4-using human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) variants emerge late in the course of infection in >40% of individuals infected with clade B HIV-1 but are described less commonly with clade C isolates. Tat is secreted by HIV-1-infected cells where it acts on both uninfected bystander cells and infected cells. In this study, we show that clade B Tat, but not clade C Tat, increases CXCR4 surface expression on resting CD4+ T cells through a CCR2b-dependent mechanism that does not involve de novo protein synthesis. The expression of plectin, a cytolinker protein that plays an important role as a scaffolding platform for proteins involved in cellular signaling including CXCR4 signaling and trafficking, was found to be significantly increased following B Tat but not C Tat treatment. Knockdown of plectin using RNA interference showed that plectin is essential for the B Tat-induced translocation of CXCR4 to the surface of resting CD4+ T cells. The increased surface CXCR4 expression following B Tat treatment led to increased function of CXCR4 including increased chemoattraction toward CXCR4-using-gp120. Moreover, increased CXCR4 surface expression rendered resting CD4+ T cells more permissive to X4 but not R5 HIV-1 infection. However, neither B Tat nor C Tat was able to up-regulate surface expression of CXCR4 on activated CD4+ T cells, and both proteins inhibited the infection of activated CD4+ T cells with X4 but not R5 HIV-1. Thus, B Tat, but not C Tat, has the capacity to render resting, but not activated, CD4+ T cells more susceptible to X4 HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant R. Campbell
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0672
| | - Erwann P. Loret
- INSERM U911, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de la Méditerranée, 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France
| | - Stephen A. Spector
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0672
- Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California 92123, and
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Jacquot G, Le Rouzic E, Maidou-Peindara P, Maizy M, Lefrère JJ, Daneluzzi V, Monteiro-Filho CMR, Hong D, Planelles V, Morand-Joubert L, Benichou S. Characterization of the molecular determinants of primary HIV-1 Vpr proteins: impact of the Q65R and R77Q substitutions on Vpr functions. PLoS One 2009; 4:e7514. [PMID: 19838296 PMCID: PMC2759284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0007514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2009] [Accepted: 09/18/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although HIV-1 Vpr displays several functions in vitro, limited information exists concerning their relevance during infection. Here, we characterized Vpr variants isolated from a rapid and a long-term non-progressor (LTNP). Interestingly, vpr alleles isolated from longitudinal samples of the LTNP revealed a dominant sequence that subsequently led to diversity similar to that observed in the progressor patient. Most of primary Vpr proteins accumulated at the nuclear envelope and interacted with host-cell partners of Vpr. They displayed cytostatic and proapoptotic activities, although a LTNP allele, harboring the Q65R substitution, failed to bind the DCAF1 subunit of the Cul4a/DDB1 E3 ligase and was inactive. This Q65R substitution correlated with impairment of Vpr docking at the nuclear envelope, raising the possibility of a functional link between this property and the Vpr cytostatic activity. In contradiction with published results, the R77Q substitution, found in LTNP alleles, did not influence Vpr proapoptotic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Jacquot
- Institut Cochin, Université Paris-Descartes, CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France
- Inserm, U567, Paris, France
| | - Erwann Le Rouzic
- Institut Cochin, Université Paris-Descartes, CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France
- Inserm, U567, Paris, France
| | - Priscilla Maidou-Peindara
- Institut Cochin, Université Paris-Descartes, CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France
- Inserm, U567, Paris, France
| | - Marion Maizy
- Institut Cochin, Université Paris-Descartes, CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France
- Inserm, U567, Paris, France
| | | | - Vincent Daneluzzi
- Institut Cochin, Université Paris-Descartes, CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France
- Inserm, U567, Paris, France
| | | | - Duanping Hong
- University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Vicente Planelles
- University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Laurence Morand-Joubert
- Service de Bactériologie-Virologie, Centre hospitalo-universitaire de Saint-Antoine, APHP, Université Paris VI., Paris, France
- * E-mail: (SB); (LMJ)
| | - Serge Benichou
- Institut Cochin, Université Paris-Descartes, CNRS, UMR 8104, Paris, France
- Inserm, U567, Paris, France
- * E-mail: (SB); (LMJ)
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14
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Campbell GR, Loret EP. What does the structure-function relationship of the HIV-1 Tat protein teach us about developing an AIDS vaccine? Retrovirology 2009; 6:50. [PMID: 19467159 PMCID: PMC2693501 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-6-50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2009] [Accepted: 05/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) trans-activator of transcription protein Tat is an important factor in viral pathogenesis. In addition to its function as the key trans-activator of viral transcription, Tat is also secreted by the infected cell and taken up by neighboring cells where it has an effect both on infected and uninfected cells. In this review we will focus on the relationship between the structure of the Tat protein and its function as a secreted factor. To this end we will summarize some of the exogenous functions of Tat that have been implicated in HIV-1 pathogenesis and the impact of structural variations and viral subtype variants of Tat on those functions. Finally, since in some patients the presence of Tat-specific antibodies or CTL frequencies are associated with slow or non-progression to AIDS, we will also discuss the role of Tat as a potential vaccine candidate, the advances made in this field, and the importance of using a Tat protein capable of eliciting a protective or therapeutic immune response to viral challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant R Campbell
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0672, USA.
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15
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Romani B, Glashoff R, Engelbrecht S. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of HIV type 1 vpr sequences of South African strains. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2009; 25:357-62. [PMID: 19271970 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2008.0251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 subtype C is the prevalent subtype in South Africa, with non-C subtypes being sporadically detected. The accessory genes of subtype C have not been well studied in South Africa. In this study the HIV-1 vpr region of 58 strains was amplified, sequenced, and subtyped. Phylogenetic analysis characterized 54 strains as HIV-1 subtype C and 4 strains as HIV-1 subtype B. The amino acid sequence of the protein was also investigated. The overall amino acid sequence of Vpr was conserved as well as the motifs FPRPWL (34-39: IH1) and TYGDTW (49-54: IH2). The C-terminal was more variable. The importance of these motifs and variability needs to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bizhan Romani
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Virology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
| | - Richard Glashoff
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Virology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
| | - Susan Engelbrecht
- Department of Pathology, Division of Medical Virology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS), Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
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16
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Srinivasan A, Ayyavoo V, Mahalingam S, Kannan A, Boyd A, Datta D, Kalyanaraman VS, Cristillo A, Collman RG, Morellet N, Sawaya BE, Murali R. A comprehensive analysis of the naturally occurring polymorphisms in HIV-1 Vpr: potential impact on CTL epitopes. Virol J 2008; 5:99. [PMID: 18721481 PMCID: PMC2553080 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-5-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2008] [Accepted: 08/23/2008] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The enormous genetic variability reported in HIV-1 has posed problems in the treatment of infected individuals. This is evident in the form of HIV-1 resistant to antiviral agents, neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) involving multiple viral gene products. Based on this, it has been suggested that a comprehensive analysis of the polymorphisms in HIV proteins is of value for understanding the virus transmission and pathogenesis as well as for the efforts towards developing anti-viral therapeutics and vaccines. This study, for the first time, describes an in-depth analysis of genetic variation in Vpr using information from global HIV-1 isolates involving a total of 976 Vpr sequences. The polymorphisms at the individual amino acid level were analyzed. The residues 9, 33, 39, and 47 showed a single variant amino acid compared to other residues. There are several amino acids which are highly polymorphic. The residues that show ten or more variant amino acids are 15, 16, 28, 36, 37, 48, 55, 58, 59, 77, 84, 86, 89, and 93. Further, the variant amino acids noted at residues 60, 61, 34, 71 and 72 are identical. Interestingly, the frequency of the variant amino acids was found to be low for most residues. Vpr is known to contain multiple CTL epitopes like protease, reverse transcriptase, Env, and Gag proteins of HIV-1. Based on this, we have also extended our analysis of the amino acid polymorphisms to the experimentally defined and predicted CTL epitopes. The results suggest that amino acid polymorphisms may contribute to the immune escape of the virus. The available data on naturally occurring polymorphisms will be useful to assess their potential effect on the structural and functional constraints of Vpr and also on the fitness of HIV-1 for replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alagarsamy Srinivasan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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17
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Jacobs GB, Nistal M, Laten A, van Rensburg EJ, Rethwilm A, Preiser W, Bodem J, Engelbrecht S. Molecular analysis of HIV type 1 vif sequences from Cape Town, South Africa. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2008; 24:991-4. [PMID: 18593349 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2008.0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
South Africa has the highest number of HIV-1-infected individuals in the world, with HIV-1 subtype C prevailing. However, HIV-1 subtype C accessory genes are rarely characterized in the country. These genes are important for establishing viral pathogenesis. The Vif protein has been shown to counteract the antiretroviral activity of APOBEC3G/F cytidine deaminases. In this study an additional 50 HIV-1 vif sequences are characterized. These include 48 HIV-1 subtype C and 2 HIV-1 subtype B sequences. Highly conserved HIV-1 subtype C motifs are outlined. The previously identified RLRR (90-93) motif does not seem to be conserved among our newly analyzed sequences. Conserved motifs can be useful for developing new vaccine strategies or antiretroviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme B. Jacobs
- Division of Medical Virology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Nistal
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Annette Laten
- Division of Medical Virology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Estrelita Janse van Rensburg
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Axel Rethwilm
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Preiser
- Division of Medical Virology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jochen Bodem
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Susan Engelbrecht
- Division of Medical Virology, National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg 7505, Cape Town, South Africa
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