HIV controllers suppress viral replication and evolution and prevent disease progression following intersubtype HIV-1 superinfection. (1st March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Azevedo, Suwellen S.D.; Delatorre, Edson; Côrtes, Fernanda H.; Hoagland, Brenda; Grinsztejn, Beatriz; Veloso, Valdilea G.; Souza, Thiago Moreno L.; Morgado, Mariza G.; Bello, Gonzalo
• Is Part Of: AIDS. Volume 33:Number 3(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-03-01
• Subjects: disease progression -- HIV controllers -- reservoir -- superinfection -- viral load; AIDS (Disease) -- Periodicals; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; AIDS (Disease); Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.9792005
• DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9370

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of intersubtype HIV-1 superinfection on viremia, reservoir reseeding, viral evolution and disease progression in HIV controllers (HIC). Design: A longitudinal analysis of two Brazilian HIC individuals (EEC09 and VC32) previously identified as dually infected with subtypes B and F1 viruses. Methods: Changes in plasma viremia, total HIV-1 DNA levels, CD4 + T-cell counts and HIV-1 quasispecies composition were measured over time. HIV-1 env diversity in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and plasma samples was accessed by single genome amplification and next-generation sequencing approaches, respectively. Viral evolution was evaluated by estimating nucleotide diversity and divergence. Results: Individual EEC09 was probably initially infected with a CCR5-tropic subtype B strain and sequentially superinfected with a CXCR4-tropic subtype B strain and with a subtype F1 variant. Individual VC32 was infected with a subtype B strain and superinfected with a subtype F1 variant. The intersubtype superinfection events lead to a moderate increase in viremia and extensive turnover of viral population in plasma but exhibited divergent impact on the size and composition of cell-associated HIV DNA population. Both individuals maintained virologic control (<2000 copies/ml) and presented no evidence of viral evolution or immunologic progression for at least 2 years after the intersubtype superinfection event. Conclusion: These data revealed that some HIC are able to repeatedly limit replication and evolution of superinfecting viral strains of a different subtype with no signs of disease progression. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text