Molecular characterization of gp120 of HIV-1 envelope: implications on genetic diversity and tropism

Abstract

CCR5 antagonists are a new drug class able to block virus entry into host cell which a significant decreasing of viremia. Nevertheless, the use of this drug class involves viral coreceptor usage determination and possible switch along the infection. Gold-standard assays for coreceptor usage determination remains barely accessible, then software able to predict the coreceptor usage using V3 loop sequences are a more available to screening subjects indicated to CCR5 antagonist administration. Also, the monitoring of mutations that could leads to resistance is necessary during the therapy. gp120-V3 loop of HIV-1 envelope is the main tropism determinant and also the main target of resistance mutations, however there are other factors which could be associated to viral changes, like intrinsic differences among HIV-1 viral variants, number of N-glycosites, strength variation into some regions and net charge of gp120. In the present study, the analysis of which factors are associated to bioinformatics tools will allow the characterization of viral genotypic changes that could be related to clinic prognosis from HIV-1 infected subjects. (AU)