Samples were obtained from a cohort of 17 patients with early HIV infection (<6 months after infection) who initiated ART, and the C2V5 region of the HIV-1 envelope (env) gene was amplified via single genome amplification (SGA) to determine the peripheral plasma HIV quasispecies.
Enfuvirtide (T-20) is the first entry inhibitor approved for treatment of HIV infection and acts by inhibiting conformational changes in the viral envelope protein gp41 that are necessary for fusion of the virus and host cell membranes.
We compared the pattern of evolution of the HIV-1 env gene between individuals with recent HIV infection whose virus exhibited either a low or a high rate of escape from neutralizing antibody responses.
Susceptibility of cells to HIV infection is correlated with CD26 expression, and HIV transactivator Tat and envelope protein gp120 are reported to interact with CD26.