<i>Short Communication:</i> HIV Type 1 Phenotype, Tropism, and Sequence Patterns: Association and Preference

Abstract

In this study, the relationship between biological phenotypes, coreceptor usages, and sequence patterns of V1V2 or V3 regions on HIV-1 envelope gp 120 was carefully analyzed based on the existing isolates in the Los Alamos National Laboratory sequence database. Obviously, SI/NSI phenotypes were closely linked to the capability of HIV-1 to use coreceptor CXCR4, but not CCR5. Moreover, compared to NSI or R5 isolates, SI or X4 HIV-1 isolates significantly prefer higher net charges and the loss of the N-linked glycosylation site in the V3 loop, but they show no preference in either net charge or N-linked glycosylation of the V1V2 region. In addition, no significant relationship between V1V2 length and virus tropism or phenotypes was observed.