Transmission of HIV-1 CTL escape variants provides HLA - mismatched recipients with a survival advantage.
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Date
2007
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Plos.
Abstract
One of the most important genetic factors known to affect the rate of disease progression in HIV-infected individuals is the
genotype at the Class I Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) locus, which determines the HIV peptides targeted by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs). Individuals with HLA-B*57 or B*5801 alleles, for example, target functionally important parts of the Gag
protein. Mutants that escape these CTL responses may have lower fitness than the wild-type and can be associated with
slower disease progression. Transmission of the escape variant to individuals without these HLA alleles is associated with
rapid reversion to wild-type. However, the question of whether infection with an escape mutant offers an advantage to
newly infected hosts has not been addressed. Here we investigate the relationship between the genotypes of transmitted
viruses and prognostic markers of disease progression and show that infection with HLA-B*57/B*5801 escape mutants is
associated with lower viral load and higher CD4+ counts.
Description
Keywords
HIV infections--Genetic aspects., HIV infections--Virology., HIV infections--Transmission.
Citation
Chopera, D., et al. 2008. Transmission of HIV-1 CTL escape variants provides HLA - mismatched recipients with a survival advantage. Plos Pathogens 4(3): e1000033. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000033