Evolution of the HIV-1 <it>nef </it>gene in HLA-B*57 Positive Elite Suppressors

• Main Authors: Siliciano Robert F, Ray Stuart C, Bailey Justin R, O'Connell Karen A, Brennan Timothy P, Salgado Maria, Blankson Joel N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2010-11-01
• Series: Retrovirology
• Online Access: http://www.retrovirology.com/content/7/1/94

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Elite controllers or suppressors (ES) are HIV-1 infected patients who maintain viral loads of < 50 copies/ml without antiretroviral therapy. CD8+ T cells are thought to play a key role in the control of viral replication and exert selective pressure on <it>gag </it>and <it>nef </it>in HLA-B*57 positive ES. We previously showed evolution in the <it>gag </it>gene of ES which surprisingly was mostly due to synonymous mutations rather than non-synonymous mutation in targeted CTL epitopes. This finding could be the result of structural constraints on Gag, and we therefore examined the less conserved <it>nef </it>gene. We found slow evolution of <it>nef </it>in plasma virus in some ES. This evolution is mostly due to synonymous mutations and occurs at a rate similar to that seen in the <it>gag </it>gene in the same patients. The results provide further evidence of ongoing viral replication in ES and suggest that the <it>nef </it>and <it>gag </it>genes in these patients respond similarly to selective pressure from the host.</p>