Abstract
Methods Seventy-two HIV-1+ patients undergoing protease inhibitor (PI) therapy were recruited. We synthesized three peptides from HXB2 strain protease (wild-type) and 32 additional peptides from the same regions, which encompassed the most frequent PI-induced mutations in Brazil. PBMC from those patients were analyzed by the CFSE dilution assay to detect proliferating CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cell responses against each of the 35 protease peptides. Pol protease HIV-1 genomic regions were sequenced using internal primers with the ABI Prism Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Reaction Kit in an automated sequencer.
Highlights
HIV-1 protease is an important virus protein that is a target of both antiretroviral therapy and cellular immune response, which can both act as inducers of mutation
Recognition of sequences dissimilar to the autologous sequence occurred in the majority of patients
It is possible that the observed immune responses were developed to an antigenic sequence which was common in the past, and which underwent an escape or drug-induced mutation
Summary
HIV-1 protease is an important virus protein that is a target of both antiretroviral therapy and cellular immune response, which can both act as inducers of mutation. T cell recognition of autologous and non-autologous HIV-1 protease peptides by HIV-1 infected patients undergoing PI therapy Address: 1University of Sao Paulo/Institute of Tropical Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 2University of Sao Paulo/School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 3Federal University of Rio De Janeiro/Molecular Virology, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and 4Center Of Reference and Training in Dst/Aids, Sao Paulo, Brazil * Corresponding author from AIDS Vaccine 2009 Paris, France.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
