High throughput generation and characterization of replication-competent clade C transmitter-founder simian human immunodeficiency viruses

PLoS One. 2018 May 14;13(5):e0196942. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196942. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Traditional restriction endonuclease-based cloning has been routinely used to generate replication-competent simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIV) and simian tropic HIV (stHIV). This approach requires the existence of suitable restriction sites or the introduction of nucleotide changes to create them. Here, using an In-Fusion cloning technique that involves homologous recombination, we generated SHIVs and stHIVs based on epidemiologically linked clade C transmitted/founder HIV molecular clones from Zambia. Replacing vif from these HIV molecular clones with vif of SIVmac239 resulted in chimeric genomes used to generate infectious stHIV viruses. Likewise, exchanging HIV env genes and introducing N375 mutations to enhance macaque CD4 binding site and cloned into a SHIVAD8-EO backbone. The generated SHIVs and stHIV were infectious in TZMbl and ZB5 cells, as well as macaque PBMCs. Therefore, this method can replace traditional methods and be a valuable tool for the rapid generation and testing of molecular clones of stHIV and SHIV based on primary clinical isolates will be valuable to generate rapid novel challenge viruses for HIV vaccine/cure studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp160 / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp160 / immunology
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV-1* / genetics
  • HIV-1* / immunology
  • HIV-1* / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Organisms, Genetically Modified* / genetics
  • Organisms, Genetically Modified* / immunology
  • Organisms, Genetically Modified* / pathogenicity
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / genetics
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / transmission
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus* / genetics
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus* / immunology
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus* / pathogenicity
  • Zambia
  • vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus* / genetics
  • vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus* / immunology

Substances

  • HIV Envelope Protein gp160
  • vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • vif protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1