Differences of HIV-1 genotypes and quasispecies in the individuals with vertical transmission / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To disclose the variant rule of HIV-1 vertical transmission by studying the differences of genotypes and quasispecies in the individuals with HIV-1 vertical transmission. Methods RNA was extracted from the plasma of the individuals of vertical transmission and C2-V5 DNA segment of HIV-1 env gene was acquired by RT-PCR. Purified DNA segment was inserted into T vector and transformed into Top10 Escherichia coli. Positive clones were acquired by blue-white screening and used as models in PCR. PCR products were analyzed by conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis (CSGE). The clones of major and minor quasispecies were sequenced. Results HIV-1 quasispecies in the mother of the first group were less complex than her child, and their quasispecies nucleotide sequences were highly homologous and of HIV-1 of C subtype. HIV-1 quasispecies in the mother of the second group were more complex than her child, and their quasispecies nucleotide sequences were highly homologous and of HIV-1 of AE subtype. Conclusion HIV-1 genetic subtypes are generally not changed in vertical transmission, but HIV-1 quasispecies could be selected in vertical transmission and screened by the new environment of the new host which may both induce the changes of dominative and minor quasispecies. We also find that complexity of HIV-1 quasispecies is associated with immune status of host.