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PubMed1982

Herpes simplex virus variants restraint to high concentrations of acyclovir exist in clinical isolates.

Acyclovir (ACV) has been shown to inhibit the replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in vitro. We examined a wide variety of HSV clinical isolates for the presence of naturally occurring ACV-resistant (ACVr) variants. Although the ACV doses that inhibited 50% of these isolates were within the range of doses inhibiting 50% of the ACV-susceptible wild-type strains, we successfully isolated variants resistant to high ACV concentrations (25 to 75 microM) from each virion population even in the absence of prior drug exposure. Furthermore, we demonstrated, by fluctuation analysis of two encephalitis strains, that the ACVr variants were clonally distributed in the virus populations before exposure to ACV and did not result from rapid adaptation to ACV. All variants isolated after a single exposure to a high dose of ACV were true ACVr variants, as demonstrated by their plating efficiencies in the presence of ACV. We found that 36 and 50% of the ACVr variants of the two strains examined in detail displayed plating efficiencies in phosphonoacetic acid of greater than 0.1, possibly indicating that many of the ACVr variants contained alterations in the DNA polymerase gene locus. Because the distribution of ACVr variants in natural populations is relatively high (10(-4), these results suggest that selection of ACVr strains during ACV therapy is possible.

Acyclovir↗

PubMed2006

Rhizosphere selection of highly motile phenotypic variants of Pseudomonas fluorescens with enhanced competitive colonization ability.

Phenotypic variants of Pseudomonas fluorescens F113 showing a translucent and diffuse colony morphology show enhanced colonization of the alfalfa rhizosphere. We have previously shown that in the biocontrol agent P. fluorescens F113, phenotypic variation is mediated by the activity of two site-specific recombinases, Sss and XerD. By overexpressing the genes encoding either of the recombinases, we have now generated a large number of variants (mutants) after selection either by prolonged laboratory cultivation or by rhizosphere passage. All the isolated variants were more motile than the wild-type strain and appear to contain mutations in the gacA and/or gacS gene. By disrupting these genes and complementation analysis, we have observed that the Gac system regulates swimming motility by a repression pathway. Variants isolated after selection by prolonged cultivation formed a single population with a swimming motility that was equal to the motility of gac mutants, being 150% more motile than the wild type. The motility phenotype of these variants was complemented by the cloned gac genes. Variants isolated after rhizosphere selection belonged to two different populations: one identical to the population isolated after prolonged cultivation and the other comprising variants that besides a gac mutation harbored additional mutations conferring higher motility. Our results show that gac mutations are selected both in the stationary phase and during rhizosphere colonization. The enhanced motility phenotype is in turn selected during rhizosphere colonization. Several of these highly motile variants were more competitive than the wild-type strain, displacing it from the root tip within 2 weeks.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1982

Surface coat variant antigen of Trypanosoma brucei brucei: its clearance from blood and concentration in organs of normal, infected, and immune mice.

Experiments were conducted to determine the fate of variant antigen once it was shed from the surface of Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Radioiodinated variant antigen was administered intravenously to normal mice, mice immunized to the homologous variant antigen, and mice infected with an antigenically dissimilar (heterologous) T. brucei brucei variant. The variant antigen was cleared slightly faster in infected and immune animals. Though over 80% of the variant antigen was cleared in all animals within 4 h, traces of radioactivity could be detected in the peripheral blood at 48 h postinjection. At 1 h postinjection, most of the variant antigen had collected in the liver, kidneys, bone marrow, spleen, lungs, thymus, and lymph nodes (listed in the order of decreasing radioactivity). At 24 h, the kidneys, liver, and spleen retained the most radioactivity. The kidneys had 10 to 20 times, the liver had 8 to 10 times, and the spleen had 5 to 7 times more variant antigen than was present in the organs' blood supply. At 48 h postinjection, two-thirds of the radioactivity present at 24 h remained in these tissues. The livers and spleens from infected animals had, on a per gram of tissue weight basis, reduced uptake of the soluble antigen whereas their lungs had an increased uptake. Radioactivity in blood and organs was proved to be associated with protein by electrophoresis/autoradiography and precipitation of radioactive protein of tissue extracts.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori variants selected for urease deficiency.

The urease of Helicobacter pylori is suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of gastritis. Although all clinical isolates of H. pylori are urease positive (U+), we have selected and characterized several spontaneously arising urease-negative (U-) variants from wild-type strain 60190. Urease-negative variants were identified by growth in medium containing 60 mM urea and arose at a frequency of 10(-5) to 10(-6). The urease activity of the wild-type strain inhibited growth of this strain in the presence of 60 mM urea. U- variants retained the U- phenotype for more than 100 passages on medium with or without urea. The urease activities of the original U+ and derived U- cells were 9.55 to 16.7 and 0.01 to 0.17 U/mg of protein, respectively. Colonial growth and other biochemical characteristics were identical for the strains. U- variants showed three classes of whole-cell sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis profiles: (i) identical to U+; (ii) change in the migration of the 61-kDa urease subunit; and (iii) lack of 61- and 30-kDa subunits. These differences were confirmed by immunoblotting and by protein separation using fast protein liquid chromatography. The U+ strain but not U- variants tolerated exposure to pH 4.0 for 60 min in the presence of urea. Supernatants of the U+ strain and U- variants contained vacuolating cytotoxin activity for HeLa cells in similar titers. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, human serum samples recognized water extract from the U+ strain significantly better than extract from a U- variant lacking urease subunits. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that U- H. pylori variants may arise spontaneously, that urease activity enhances survival at acid pH, and that urease and cytotoxin activities are disparate phenotypes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

PubMed1998

Expression of Anaplasma marginale major surface protein 2 variants during persistent cyclic rickettsemia.

Anaplasma marginale is an intraerythrocytic rickettsial pathogen of cattle in which infection persists for the life of the animal. Persistent A. marginale infection is characterized by repetitive rickettsemic cycles which we hypothesize reflect emergence of A. marginale antigenic variants. In this study, we determined whether variants of major surface protein 2 (MSP-2), a target of protective immunity encoded by a polymorphic multigene family, arise during persistent rickettsemia. By using a quantitative competitive PCR to identify rickettsemic cycles, msp-2 transcripts expressed in vivo were isolated from peak rickettsemia of sequential cycles. Cloning and sequencing of msp-2 cDNA revealed that genetic variants of MSP-2 emerge representing a minimum of four genetic variant types in each cycle during persistent infection. Two-color immunofluorescence using variant-specific antibody showed that emergence of MSP-2 variants resulted in expression of a minimum of three antigenic types of MSP-2 within one rickettsemic cycle. Therefore immune control of each cycle would require responses to an antigenically diverse A. marginale population. These findings demonstrate that polymorphic MSP-2 variants emerge during cyclic rickettsemia in persistent A. marginale infection and suggest that emergent variants play an important role in persistence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1973

Pathogenicity of stable L-phase variants of Staphylococcus aureus: failure to colonize experimental endocarditis in rabbits.

Endocarditis was induced in the rabbit by the placement of a polyethylene catheter in the right heart. The catheter was filled with stable L-phase variants of Staphylococcus aureus to determine if the variant form would colonize the damaged endocardium and produce further tissue injury similar to that produced by the vegetative bacterial phase. No L-phase variants were recovered from cultures of blood or vegetations, although pure cultures of L-phase variants were obtained from all catheters, including one in place for 70 days. The vegetations were grossly similar in control animals with sterile media in the catheters and animals with catheters containing L-phase variants, although polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils were more frequently found in vegetations from animals inoculated with L-phase variants. Endocarditis was also induced in animals with vegetative S. aureus and then treated with penicillin G. Blood cultures in hypertonic media often grew vegetative S. aureus when there was no growth in routine media, but no L-phase variants were detected. Vegetative S. aureus, but not wall-defective variants, were isolated from vegetations of all treated animals.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Isolation of two physiologically induced variant strains of Bacillus stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a and characterization of their S-layer lattices.

During growth of Bacillus stearothermophilus NRS 2004/3a in continuous culture on complex medium, the chemical properties of the S-layer glycoprotein and the characteristic oblique lattice were maintained only if glucose was used as the sole carbon source. With increased aeration, amino acids were also metabolized, accompanied by liberation of ammonium and by changes in the S-layer protein. Depending on the stage of fermentation at which oxygen limitation was relieved, two different variants, one with a more delicate oblique S-layer lattice (variant 3a/V1) and one with a square S-layer lattice (variant 3a/V2), were isolated. During the switch from the wild-type strain to a variant or from variant 3a/V2 to variant 3a/V1, monolayers of two types of S-layer lattices could be demonstrated on the surfaces of single cells. S-layer proteins from variants had different molecular sizes and a significantly lower carbohydrate content than S-layer proteins from the wild-type strain did. Although the S-layer lattices from the wild-type and variant strains showed quite different protein mass distributions in two- and three-dimensional reconstructions, neither the amino acid composition nor the pore size, as determined by permeability studies, was significantly changed. Peptide mapping and N-terminal sequencing results strongly indicated that the three S-layer proteins are encoded by different genes and are not derived from a universal precursor form.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2006

LMP1 strain variants: biological and molecular properties.

The ubiquitous herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is linked to the development of several malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is considered the EBV oncogene as it is necessary for EBV-induced transformation of B lymphocytes and is able to transform Rat-1 fibroblasts. LMP1 can activate a wide array of signaling pathways, including phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt and NF-kappaB. Six sequence variants of LMP1, termed Alaskan, China 1, China 2, Med+, Med-, and NC, have been identified, and individuals can be infected with multiple variants. The frequencies of detection of these variants differ for various EBV-associated malignancies from different geographic regions. In this study, the biological and signaling properties of the LMP1 variants have been characterized. All of the LMP1 variants transformed Rat-1 fibroblasts, induced increased motility of HFK cells, and induced increased homotypic adhesion of BJAB cells. While all the variants activated the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to similar extents, the Alaskan, China 1, and Med+ variants had limited binding to the E3 ubiquitin ligase component homologue of Slimb and had slightly enhanced NF-kappaB signaling. These findings indicate that the signature amino acid changes of the LMP1 variants do not hinder or enhance their in vitro transforming potentials or affect their signaling properties.

Animals↗

PubMed1969

Contrasting effects of polycations on plaquing efficiency of encephalomyocarditis virus variants.

Polycation treatment of L cell monolayers affected plaquing efficiency of both the r(+) and r variants of the encephalomyocarditis virus. Plaque formation by r(+) variant was decreased markedly by three structurally different types of synthetic basic polymers, diethylaminoethyl dextran, hexadimethrene (polybrene), and basic polyamino acids. In contrast, these same substances increased substantially the number of plaques formed by the r variant. The effect on the two variants was observed when polycations were applied to the cells before or simultaneously with the introduction of virus. The molar concentration and size of the polymer proved important. Thus, basic polyamino acids of low molecular weight were significantly more inhibitory for the r(+) variant than were those of high molecular weight. On the other hand, plaquing efficiency of the r variant was increased by relatively large polyamino acids, but not by polymers of small size. Basic polyamino acids inhibited r(+) plaque formation to a greater degree at low than at high pH values. However, plaquing efficiency of the r variant in polycation-treated cultures was not affected by changes in pH. Basic polymers appear to bind to cell membranes and affect either attachment or uptake of the viruses. The evidence suggests that the substances influence by different mechanisms the interaction of the r(+) and r variants with cells.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed1988

Genetic analysis of in vivo-selected viral variants causing chronic infection: importance of mutation in the L RNA segment of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus.

Viral variants with different biological properties are present in the central nervous systems (CNS) and lymphoid tissues of mice persistently infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Viral isolates from the CNS are similar to the original Armstrong LCMV strain and induce potent virus-specific T-cell responses in adult mice, and the infection is rapidly cleared. In contrast, LCMV isolates derived from spleens of carrier mice cause persistent infections in adult mice. This chronic infection is associated with low levels of antiviral T-cell responses. In this study, we genetically characterized two independently derived spleen variants by making recombinants (reassortants) between the spleen isolates and wild-type (wt) LCMV and showed that the ability to persist in adult mice and the associated suppression of T-cell responses segregates with the large (L) RNA segment. In addition, we analyzed a revertant (isolated from the CNS) derived from one of the spleen variants. By comparing the biological properties of three reassortants that contained the same S segment but had the L segment of either the original wt Armstrong LCMV, the spleen variant derived from it, or the CNS revertant derived from the spleen variant, we were able to show unequivocally that biologically relevant mutations occurred in the L segment not only during generation of the spleen variant from wt LCMV but also in reversion of the spleen variant to the wt phenotype. Thus, our results showed that (i) genetic alterations in the L genomic segment were involved in organ-specific selection of viral variants, and (ii) these mutations profoundly affected the ability of LCMV to cause chronic infections in adult mice.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Molecular characterization of replication-competent variants of adenovirus vectors and genome modifications to prevent their occurrence.

Adenovirus (Ad) vectors for gene therapy are made replication defective by deletion of E1 region genes. For isolation, propagation, and large-scale production of such vectors, E1 functions are supplied in trans from a stable cell line. Virtually all Ad vectors used for clinical studies are produced in the 293 cell, a human embryonic kidney cell line expressing E1 functions from an integrated segment of the left end of the Ad type 5 (Ad5) genome. Replication-competent vector variants that have regained E1 sequences have been observed within populations of Ad vectors grown on 293 cells. These replication-competent variants presumably result from recombination between vector and 293 cell Ad5 sequences. We have developed Ad2-based vectors and have characterized at the molecular level examples of replication-competent variants. All such variants analyzed are Ad2-Ad5 chimeras in which the 293 cell Ad5 E1 sequences have become incorporated into the viral genome by legitimate recombination events. A map of Ad5 sequences within the 293 cell genome developed in parallel is consistent with the proposed recombination events. To provide a convenient vector production system that circumvents the generation of replication-competent variants, we have modified the Ad2 vector backbone by deleting or rearranging the protein IX coding region normally present downstream from the E1 region such that the frequency of recombination between vector and 293 cell Ad5 sequences is greatly reduced. Twelve serial passages of an Ad2 vector lacking the protein IX gene were carried out without generating replication-competent variants. In the course of producing and testing more than 30 large-scale preparations of vectors lacking the protein IX gene or having a rearranged protein IX gene, only three examples of replication-competent variants were observed. Use of these genome modifications allows use of conventional 293 cells for production of large-scale preparations of Ad-based vectors lacking replication-competent variants.

Adenovirus E1 Proteins↗

PubMed1999

Comparison of the complete DNA sequences of human herpesvirus 6 variants A and B.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), which belongs to the betaherpesvirus subfamily and infects mainly T cells in vitro, causes acute and latent infections. Two variants of HHV-6 have been distinguished on the basis of differences in several properties. We have determined the complete DNA sequence of HHV-6 variant B (HHV-6B) strain HST, the causative agent of exanthem subitum, and compared the sequence with that of variant A strain U1102. A total of 115 potential open reading frames (ORFs) were identified within the 161,573-bp contiguous sequence of the entire HHV-6 genome, including some genes with remarkable differences in amino acid identity. All genes with <70% identity between the two variants were found to contain deleted regions when ORFs that could not be expressed were excluded from the comparison. Except in the case of U47, these differences were found in immediate-early/regulatory genes, DR2, DR7, U86/90, U89/90, and U95, which may represent characteristic differences of variants A and B. Also, we have successfully typed 14 different strains belonging to variant A or B by PCR using variant-specific primers; the results suggest that the remarkable differences observed were conserved evolutionarily as variant-specific divergence.

DNA, Viral↗

PubMed2001

Replication of the wild type and a natural hepatitis B virus nucleocapsid promoter variant is differentially regulated by nuclear hormone receptors in cell culture.

A natural hepatitis B virus (HBV) variant associated with seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe antibody contains two nucleotide substitutions (A1764T and G1766A) in the proximal nuclear hormone receptor binding site in the nucleocapsid promoter. These nucleotide substitutions prevent the binding of the retinoid X receptor alpha (RXR alpha)-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) heterodimer without greatly altering the efficiency of binding of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) to this recognition sequence. In addition, these nucleotide substitutions create a new binding site for HNF1. Analysis of HBV transcription and replication in nonhepatoma cells indicates that RXR alpha-PPAR alpha heterodimers support higher levels of pregenomic RNA transcription from the wild-type than from the variant nucleocapsid promoter, producing higher levels of wild-type than of variant replication intermediates. In contrast, HNF4 supports higher levels of pregenomic RNA transcription from the variant than from the wild-type nucleocapsid promoter, producing higher levels of variant than of wild-type replication intermediates. HNF1 can support variant virus replication at a low level but is unable to support replication of the wild-type HBV genome. These observations indicate that the replication of wild-type and variant viruses can be differentially regulated by the liver-specific transcription factors that bind to the proximal nuclear hormone receptor binding site of the nucleocapsid promoter. Differential regulation of viral replication may be important in the selection of specific viral variants as a result of an antiviral immune response.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Route of simian immunodeficiency virus inoculation determines the complexity but not the identity of viral variant populations that infect rhesus macaques.

A better understanding of the host and viral factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission is essential to developing effective strategies to curb the global HIV epidemic. Here we used the rhesus macaque-simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) animal model of HIV infection to study the range of viral genotypes that are transmitted by different routes of inoculation and by different types of viral inocula. Analysis of transmitted variants was undertaken in outbred rhesus macaques inoculated intravenously (IV) or intravaginally (IVAG) with a genetically heterogeneous SIVmac251 stock derived from a well-characterized rhesus macaque viral isolate. In addition, we performed serial IV and IVAG passage experiments using plasma from SIV-infected macaques as the inoculum. We analyzed the V1-V2 region of the SIV envelope gene from virion-associated RNA in plasma from infected animals by the heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) and by DNA sequence analysis. We found that a more diverse population of SIV genetic variants was present in the earliest virus-positive plasma samples from all five IV SIVmac251-inoculated monkeys and from two of five IVAG SIVmac251-inoculated monkeys. In contrast, we found a relatively homogeneous population of SIV envelope variants in three of five monkeys inoculated IVAG with SIVmac251 stock and in two monkeys infected after IVAG inoculation with plasma from an SIV-infected animal. In some IVAG-inoculated animals, the transmitted SIV variant was the most common variant in the inoculum. However, a specific viral variant in the SIVmac251 stock was not consistently transmitted by IVAG inoculation. Thus, it is likely that host factors or stochastic processes determine the specific viral variants that infect an animal after IVAG SIV exposure. In addition, our results clearly demonstrate that the route of inoculation is associated with the extent and breadth of the genetic complexity of the viral variant population in the earliest stages of systemic infection.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

PubMed2003

Evolutionary pressure of a receptor competitor selects different subgroup a avian leukosis virus escape variants with altered receptor interactions.

A complex interaction between the retroviral envelope glycoproteins and a specific cell surface protein initiates viral entry into cells. The avian leukosis-sarcoma virus (ALV) group of retroviruses provides a useful experimental system for studying the retroviral entry process and the evolution of receptor usage. In this study, we demonstrate that evolutionary pressure on subgroup A ALV [ALV(A)] entry exerted by the presence of a competitive inhibitor, a soluble form of the ALV(A) Tva receptor linked to a mouse immunoglobulin G tag (quail sTva-mIgG), can select different populations of escape variants. This escape population contained three abundant ALV(A) variant viruses, all with mutations in the surface glycoprotein hypervariable regions: a previously identified variant containing the Y142N mutation in the hr1 region; a new variant with two mutations, W141G in hr1 and K261E in vr3; and another new variant with two mutations, W145R in hr1 and K261E. The W141G K261E and W145R K261E viruses escape primarily by lowering their binding affinities for the quail Tva receptor competitive inhibitor while retaining wild-type levels of binding affinity for the chicken Tva receptor. A secondary phenotype of the new variants was an alteration in receptor interference patterns from that of wild-type ALV(A), indicating that the mutant glycoproteins are possibly interacting with other cellular proteins. One result of these altered interactions was that the variants caused a transient period of cytotoxicity. We could also directly demonstrate that the W141G K261E variant glycoproteins bound significant levels of a soluble form of the Tvb(S3) ALV receptor in a binding assay. Alterations in the normally extreme specificity of the ALV(A) glycoproteins for Tva may represent an evolutionary first step toward expanding viral receptor usage in response to inefficient viral entry.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Influence of reverse transcriptase variants, drugs, and Vpr on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 mutant frequencies.

The evolution of drug resistance is a major complication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) chemotherapy. HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is a major target of antiretroviral therapy and ultimately the target of drug resistance mutations. Previous studies have indicated that drug-resistant HIV-1 RTs can alter HIV-1 mutant frequencies. In this study, we have tested a panel of HIV-1 RT variants for their ability to influence virus mutant frequencies. The RT variants tested included drug-resistant RT variants as well as other variants analyzed in enzyme fidelity studies with the lacZalpha gene as a mutation target and/or implicated as being important for enzyme fidelity by structural studies. Combinations of mutations that alone had a statistically significant influence on virus mutant frequencies resulted in different mutant frequency phenotypes. Furthermore, when virus replication occurred in the presence of drugs [e.g., 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, (-)2/,3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine, hydroxyurea, thymidine, or thioguanine] with selected RT variants, virus mutant frequencies increased. Similarly, Vpr variants deficient for binding to the uracil DNA glycosylase repair enzyme were observed to influence HIV-1 virus mutant frequencies when tested alone or in combination with RT variants. In summary, these observations indicate that HIV-1 mutant frequencies can significantly change by single amino acid substitutions in RT and that these effects can be altered by additional mutations in RT, by drugs, and/or by expression of Vpr variants. Such altered virus mutant frequencies could impact HIV-1 dynamics and evolution in small population sizes.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2005

Perforin and Fas cytolytic pathways coordinately shape the selection and diversity of CD8+-T-cell escape variants of influenza virus.

Antigenic variation is a viral strategy exploited to promote survival in the face of the host immune response and represents a major challenge for efficient vaccine development. Influenza viruses are pathogens with high transmissibility and mutation rates, enabling viral escape from immunity induced by prior infection or vaccination. Intense selection from neutralizing antibody drives antigenic changes in the surface glycoproteins, resulting in emergence of new strains able to reinfect hosts immune to previously circulating viruses. CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) also provide protective immunity from influenza virus infection and may contribute to the antigenic evolution of influenza viruses. Utilizing mice transgenic for an influenza virus NP366-374 peptide-specific T-cell receptor, we demonstrated that the respiratory tract is a suitable site for generation of escape variants of influenza virus selected by CTL in vivo. In this report the contributions of the perforin and Fas pathways utilized by influenza virus-specific CTLs in viral clearance and selection of CTL escape variants have been evaluated. While transgenic CTLs deficient in either perforin- or Fas-mediated pathways are efficient in initial pulmonary viral control, variant virus emergence was observed in all the mice studied, although the spectrum of viral CTL escape variants selected varied profoundly. Thus, a less-restricted repertoire of escape variants was observed in mice with an intact perforin cytotoxic pathway compared with a limited variant diversity in perforin pathway-deficient mice, although maximal variant diversity was observed in mice having both Fas and perforin pathways intact. We conclude that selection of viral CTL escape variants reflects coordinate action between the tightly controlled perforin/granzyme pathway and the more promiscuous Fas/FasL pathway.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

CCR5, GPR15, and CXCR6 are major coreceptors of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 variants isolated from individuals with and without plasma viremia.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is generally considered capable of using a broad range of coreceptors. Since HIV-2 variants from individuals with nonprogressive infection were not studied previously, the possibility that broad coreceptor usage is a property of variants associated with progressive infection could not be excluded. To test this, we determined the coreceptor usage of 43 HIV-2 variants isolated from six long-term-infected individuals with undetectable plasma viremia. Using GHOST indicator cells, we showed for the first time that the only coreceptors efficiently used by low-pathogenic HIV-2 variants are CCR5, GPR15 (BOB), and CXCR6 (BONZO). Surprisingly, control HIV-2 variants (n = 45) isolated from seven viremic individuals also mainly used these three coreceptors, whereas use of CCR1, CCR2b, or CCR3 was rare. Nearly a quarter of all HIV-2 variants tested could infect the parental GHOST cells, which could be partially explained by CXCR4 usage. Use of CXCR4 was observed only for HIV-2 variants from viremic individuals. Thirty-eight variants from aviremic and viremic HIV-2-infected individuals were additionally tested in U87 cells. All except one were capable of infecting the parental U87 cells, often with high efficiency. When virus production in parental cells was regarded as background in the coreceptor-transduced cell lines, the results in U87 cells were largely in agreement with the findings in GHOST cells. HIV-2 isolates from aviremic individuals commonly use as coreceptors CCR5, GPR15, and CXCR6, as well as an unidentified receptor expressed by U87 cells. Broad coreceptor usage, therefore, does not appear to be associated with pathogenicity of HIV-2.

Cell Line, Tumor↗