Genetic and Functional Analysis of HIV Type 1 nef Gene Derived from Long-Term Nonprogressor Children: Association of Attenuated Variants with Slow Progression to Pediatric AIDS
- Corró, Guillermo
- Rocco, Carlos Alberto
- de Candia, Cristian Ariel
- Catano, Gabriel
- Turk, Gabriela Julia Ana
- Mangano, Andrea Maria Mercedes
- Aulicino, Paula
- Bologna, Rosa
- Sen, Luisa
DOIAbstract
Among persons infected by HIV-1, the rate of progression to AIDS is multifactorial being affected by host and viral factors, including the HIV-encoded negative factor (Nef). Our aim was to define whether variations in the nef gene as well as its functions may be associated with slower HIV disease course in infected children. The proviral HIV-1 nef gene was cloned, sequenced, and compared in children with contrasting disease course: 10 long-term nonprogressors (LTNP) and six rapid progressor (RP). The CD4 and MHC-I down-modulation ability of nef alleles derived from LTNP and RP children was analyzed. We observed that only one of our 10 LTNP had a protective genetic background, and out of them, 40% had defective nef genes, carrying substituti...
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