ROLE OF V1V2 IN HIV TENASMISSION AND PATHOGENESIS

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 我们的研究集中在HIV-1的异性传播上，我们分析了在赞比亚一对HIV不和谐的夫妇队列中登记的伴侣之间传播的病毒的基因和表型特征。我们已经鉴定了来自八个供受者传输对的200多种病毒Env蛋白，并发现传输始终选择HIV-1表面糖蛋白gp120的一个紧凑、中和敏感的变体。我们正在研究这种在传播过程中对env基因的强烈选择的性质，并了解env糖蛋白如何从早期感染演变为慢性疾病。这些研究提供的信息也将被用来设计以环境为基础的疫苗免疫原，目的是引起有效的中和抗体反应。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Our studies center on heterosexual transmission of HIV-1, we have analyzed the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of viruses transmitted between partners enrolled in a large HIV-discordant couple cohort in Zambia. We have characterized over 200 viral Env proteins derived from eight donor-recipient transmission pairs, and have found that transmission consistently selects for a compact, neutralization-sensitive variant of the HIV-1 surface glycoprotein, gp120. We are investigating the nature of this strong selection on the env gene during transmission and to understand how the Env glycoproteins evolve from early infection into chronic disease. Information provided from these studies will also be used to design Env-based vaccine immunogens targeted at eliciting a potent neutralizing antibody response.