       Document 1033
 DOCN  M9621033
 TI    Characterization of HIV type 1 from Romanian children: lack of
       correlation between V3 loop amino acid sequence and syncytium formation
       in MT-2 cells.
 DT    9602
 AU    Holm-Hansen C; Grothues D; Rustad S; Rosok B; Pascu FR; Asjo B; Centre
       for International Health, University of Bergen, Norway.
 SO    AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1995 May;11(5):597-603. Unique Identifier :
       AIDSLINE GENBANK/X77987
 AB    The biological properties and amino acid sequences of the third variable
       domain (V3 loop and flanking regions) of the env region of 34 HIV-1
       isolates obtained from Romanian children were analyzed. Unambiguous
       nucleic acid sequences were obtained from 31 isolates. The derived V3
       amino acid sequences were highly homologous (93-100%) and clustered with
       the HIV-1 subtype F Romanian consensus. Five of the 31 isolates
       presented a syncytium-inducing phenotype in MT-2 cells and established
       continuous viral replication in various CD4+ cell lines (rapid/high
       phenotype). The V3 sequence from one of these isolates showed a slightly
       lesser degree of homology with the consensus sequence. The presence of
       positively charged amino acids at positions 306 and 320 has been
       strongly associated with the ability to induce syncytia in MT-2 cells,
       whereas negatively or uncharged amino acids at these positions are
       present in non-syncytium-inducing isolates (slow/low phenotype). There
       was, however, no correlation between phenotype and amino acid sequence
       in the five syncytium-inducing isolates; negatively or uncharged amino
       acids were conserved at positions 306 and 320 for all 31 isolates in
       sequences obtained from PBMCs. A tendency toward a more positive net
       charge in the V3 loop of syncytium-inducing isolates was noted. These
       data confirm the recent observations that HIV-1 isolates from Romania
       not only cluster in subtype F, but also show a high degree of
       interpatient homogeneity in the V3 region.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250
       WORDS)
 DE    Amino Acid Sequence  Base Sequence  Cell Line  Child  Child, Preschool
       DNA, Viral  Giant Cells/VIROLOGY  Human  HIV Envelope Protein
       gp120/*GENETICS  HIV Seropositivity/BLOOD/*VIROLOGY
       HIV-1/GENETICS/ISOLATION & PURIF/*PHYSIOLOGY  Molecular Sequence Data
       Peptide Fragments/*GENETICS  Phylogeny  Romania  Sequence Homology,
       Amino Acid  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

