Mexican HIV-1 Protease Sequence Diversity.

Protease is one of three enzymes encoded within HIV's pol gene, responsible for the cleavage of viral Gag-Pol polypeptide into mature viral proteins and a target of current anti-retroviral therapy. Protease diversity analysis in Latin America has been lacking in spite of extensive studies of protease-inhibitor resistance mutations. We studied the diversity of 777 Mexican protease sequences and found that all were subtype B except one (CRF02_AG). Phylogenetic analysis suggested the existence of six different clades with geospecific contributions. Thirty-three percent of sites were conserved, 25% had conservative substitutions, and 41% exhibited physicochemical changes. The most conserved regions surrounded the active site, most of the flap domain, and a region between the 60's loop and C-terminal triad. A single sequence exhibited an active site mutation (T26S). Variable sites were mapped to a crystallographic structure, providing further insight into the distribution and functional relevance of variable sites among Mexican isolates.

Molecular Characterization of Mexican HIV-1 Vif Sequences.

The viral infectivity factor (Vif) is an HIV accessory protein that counteracts host antiviral proteins of the APOBEC3 family. Accumulating evidence highlights the pivotal role that accessory HIV proteins have on disease pathogenesis, a fact that has made them targets of interest for novel therapeutic and preventive strategies. Little is known about Vif sequence diversity outside of African or white populations. Mexico is home to Americas' third largest HIV-affected population and Mexican Hispanics represent an ever-increasing U.S. minority. This study provides a detailed analysis of the diversity seen in 77 Mexican Vif protein sequences. Phylogenetic analysis shows that most sequences cluster with HIV-1 subtype B, while less than 10% exhibit greater similarity to subtype D and A subtypes. Although most functional motifs are conserved among the Mexican sequences, substantial diversity was seen in some APOBEC binding sites, the nuclear localization inhibitory signal, and the CBFß interaction sites.

Association of KIR3DL1/S1 and HLA-Bw4 with CD4 T cell counts in HIV-infected Mexican mestizos.

Certain genotypic combinations of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and human leukocyte antigens (HLA) have been associated with favourable outcomes after exposure to human immunodeficiency virus in Caucasoid and African populations. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by a rapid exhaustion of CD4 cells, which results in impaired cellular immunity. During this early phase of infection, it is thought that the natural killer (NK) cells represent the main effector arm of the host immune response to HIV. This study investigates whether KIR and HLA factors are associated to CD4 T cell numbers after HIV infection in Mexican mestizos as assessed at the time of initial medical evaluation and subsequent clinical follow-up. KIR and HLA-B gene carrier frequency differences were compared between groups of patients stratified by CD4 T cell numbers as assessed during their first medical evaluation (a point in time at which all patients were anti-retroviral therapy naïve). In addition, the influence that these genetic factors have on averaged historical CD4 cell counts in patients subjected to follow-up (mostly therapy-experienced) was also evaluated. Our results suggest a protective role for the HLA-Bw4 and KIR3D + Bw4 combination in both therapy-naïve and therapy-experienced patients. This report furthers our understanding on the way that immune genes modulate HIV disease progression in less-studied human populations such as the Mexican mestizos with a special focus on CD4 T cell number and behaviour.