Open AccessV3 Serological Subtyping of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 Infection Is Not Relevant
Author(s) -
JeanChristophe Plantier,
Florence Damond,
Sandrine Souquières,
Françoise BrunVézinet,
François Simon,
Françis Barin
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.39.10.3803-3807.2001
Subject(s) - v3 loop , subtyping , serotype , virology , serology , biology , antibody , genotyping , viral disease , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , epitope , phylogenetic tree , virus , typing , genotype , immunology , genetics , gene , computer science , programming language
V3 enzyme immunoassays have been shown to discriminate effectively between human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtypes. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of V3 serotyping for HIV-2 infection. We serotyped 29 sera with three peptides, corresponding to the V3 loop of subtypes A, B, and D of HIV-2. Sera were collected from HIV-2-infected patients, whose infecting strains were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Our results indicate that HIV-2 serotyping using V3 peptides is not relevant. V3 serotyping data were not consistent with genotyping results. The V3-A and V3-D peptides displayed poor discrimination, and the V3-B peptide was not representative of circulating viruses. Comparison of amino acid sequences and serotype reactivities demonstrated the importance of positions 309 and 314, located on either side of the tip of the V3 loop, in antibody binding.