Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
HIV-2, THE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF AIDS IN WEST AFRICA
Vaccines 87. Modern Approaches to New Vaccines: Prevention of AIDS and Other Viral, Bacterial, and Parasitic Diseases. Chanock RM et al, eds. New York, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, p. 179-84, 1987.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/88647975 Clavel F; Guetard D; Chamaret S; Favier V; Alizon M; Montagnier L; Brun-Vezinet F; Klatzmann D; Santos-Ferreira MO; Champalimaud JL; Viral Oncology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
Abstract:
Recently, a novel retrovirus was isolated from several acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (pts) living in different countries of West Africa, an area where the reported incidence of AIDS is low. This virus is clearly related to, but distinct from, HIV and the recently described simian retrovirus SIV (or STLV-IIIMac) the causative agent of simian AIDS in some captive macaques. The new West African AIDS retrovirus is referred to as HIV-2, whereas the previously known HIV isolates are called HIV-1. The first two HIV-2 isolates were obtained from two pts presenting with AIDS. Both had severe opportunistic infections, a decrease in the number of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes, and negative skin tests. At present, infection by HIV-2 has been serologically demonstrated in 64 pts, and virus has been isolated from 15 of them. For virus isolation, the pts' peripheral blood lymphocytes were cocultured with normal human blood lymphocytes, which were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin and maintained in the presence of T-cell growth factor (IL-2). Examination of sections of HIV-2-infected cells by electron microscopy revealed the presence of viral particles very similar to those of HIV-1. However, all HIV-2 particles displayed surface projections, which likely correspond to the envelope glycoprotein, whereas such structures are almost never observed on HIV-1 particles. Serology studies indicate that HIV-1 and HIV-2, although bearing immunologically cross-reactive major gag proteins, differ substantially in their envelopes; in this regard, HIV-2 seems more closely related to SIV. It can be assumed that HIV-2 is a new retrovirus, related to, but clearly different from, HIV-1, as assessed by the immunoreactivity of some of its antigens (mainly the envelope glycoprotein) and by nucleic acid hybridization. Nevertheless, this virus induces the same disease, is likely to be transmitted by the same routes, and causes a similar cytopathic effect on the same cells in vitro. More information on the relationship of HIV-2, HTLV-IV, and SIV will be provided by molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence analysis of their genomes. (8 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*IMMUNOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY Africa, Western Antibodies, Viral/ANALYSIS Antigens, Viral/IMMUNOLOGY *Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral Human HIV/GENETICS/*IMMUNOLOGY/ULTRASTRUCTURE Microscopy, Electron Nucleic Acid Hybridization Retroviridae Proteins/IMMUNOLOGY T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/IMMUNOLOGY MEETING PAPER
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
