Higher viral load and genetic diversity of HIV ‐1 in the seminal compartments than in the blood of seven Chinese homosexual men with early HIV‐1 infection

We examined genetic diversity and viral load of HIV‐1 in the seminal compartments and blood of Chinese MSM with early HIV‐1 infection in this study. Viral load and genetic diversity of HIV‐1 in paired samples of semen and blood were analyzed in seven homosexual patients who were with early HIV‐1 infection. Levels of HIV‐1 RNA and DNA were tested by real‐time PCR assays. Through sequencing the C2‐V5 region of the HIV‐1 env gene we determined the HIV‐1 genotype and genetic diversity based on V3 loop amino acid sequences by using Geno2pheno and PSSM programs theco‐receptor usage was predicated. We found that in seminal plasma the HIV‐1 RNA levels were higher compared with those in blood plasma and total, the levels of 2‐LTR circular and integrated HIV‐1 DNA were higher in seminal cells compared with those in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from all seven early HIV‐infected patients. There was higher HIV‐1 genetic diversity in seminal compartments as compared to blood compartments. HIV‐1 in plasma displayed higher genetic diversity than in cells from the blood and semen, respectively. In addition, the V3 loop central motifs, which present some key neutralizing antibodies epitopes, varied between the blood and the semen. So virological parameters in semen may be more representative to evaluate the transmission risk in early HIV infection.
Source: Microbiology and Immunology - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research