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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Molecular characterization of HIV-1 subtype C gp-120 regions potentially involved in virus adaptive mechanisms
PLoS ONE, Volume 9, No. 4, Article e95183, Year 2014
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Description
The role of variable regions of HIV-1 gp120 in immune escape of HIV has been investigated. However, there is scant information on how conserved gp120 regions contribute to virus escaping. Here we have studied how molecular sequence characteristics of conserved C3, C4 and V3 regions of clade C HIV-1 gp120 that are involved in HIV entry and are target of the immune response, are modulated during the disease course. We found an increase of "shifting" putative N-glycosylation sites (PNGSs) in the α2 helix (in C3) and in C4 and an increase of sites under positive selection pressure in the α2 helix during the chronic stage of disease. These sites are close to CD4 and to co-receptor binding sites. We also found a negative correlation between electric charges of C3 and V4 during the late stage of disease counteracted by a positive correlation of electric charges of α2 helix and V5 during the same stage. These data allow us to hypothesize possible mechanisms of virus escape involving constant and variable regions of gp120. In particular, new mutations, including new PNGSs occurring near the CD4 and CCR5 binding sites could potentially affect receptor binding affinity and shield the virus from the immune response. © 2014 Cenci et al.
Authors & Co-Authors
Cenci, A.
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
D'Avenio, G.
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Tavoschi, L.
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Sweden, Solna
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Chiappi, M.
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Spain, Madrid
Csic - Centro Nacional de Biotecnologia Cnb
Becattini, S.
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Switzerland, Bellinzona
Institute for Research in Biomedicine
Del Pilar Narino, Maria
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Picconi, O.
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Bernasconi, Daniela
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Italy, Rome
Abbott Srl
Fanales-Belasio, Emanuele
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Vardas, Eftyhia
South Africa, Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch University
South Africa, Johannesburg
Lancet Laboratories
Sukati, H.
Swaziland
National Center Public Health Laboratory
Lo Presti, Alessandra
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Ciccozzi, M.
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Italy, Rome
University of Biomedical Campus
Monini, P.
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Ensoli, Barbara
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Grigioni, Mauro
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Buttò, Stefano
Italy, Rome
Istituto Superiore Di Sanita
Statistics
Citations: 17
Authors: 17
Affiliations: 9
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1371/journal.pone.0095183
e-ISSN:
19326203
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases