Dual Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 of Distinct Envelope Subtypes in Humans

Authors:
  • TVT. C. VanCott
    T. C. VanCott
  • JMJ. R. Mascola
    J. R. Mascola
  • JCJ. K. Carr
    J. K. Carr
  • PHP. A. Hegerich
    P. A. Hegerich
  • JGJ. Gaywee
    J. Gaywee
  • ESE. Sanders-Buell
    E. Sanders-Buell
  • MRM. L. Robb
    M. L. Robb
  • DDD. E. Dayhoff
    D. E. Dayhoff
  • STS. Thitivichianlert
    S. Thitivichianlert
  • SNS. Nitayaphan
    S. Nitayaphan
  • JMJ. G. McNeil
    J. G. McNeil
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Abstract
Multiple genetic subtypes of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have been identified among internationally collected isolates. The HIV-1 epidemic in Thailand is largely due to B and E subtypes of virus. Dual infection with distinct HIV-1 subtypes would suggest that antiviral immunity evoked by one subtype can be incompletely protective against a second. Polymerase chain reaction typing and serologic typing were used to screen a panel of specimens from HIV-1-infected subjects in Thailand. Two persons simultaneously harbored HIV-1 of env subtypes B and E, and this was confirmed by colony hybridization with subtype-specific probes and nucleotide sequence analysis of a 630-bp fragment of gp120 from multiple molecular clones. In addition, both subtypes were identified in cocultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 1 individual. These data provide the first evidence of dual HIV-1 infection in humans and reinforce the need for polyvalent vaccines.