Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase is heterogeneous

Article Abstract:

Discrepancies in the medical literature about the properties of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) could be a result of the purification method used. RT is the viral enzyme that converts viral RNA to DNA, which is then incorporated into the host DNA. The enzyme is normally created for research purposes by introducing its gene into the E. coli bacterium. Researchers compared the properties of wild type RT and an RT that contains a mutation that makes it resistant to AZT (variant T215Y) after using three different purification methods. All three forms of the T215Y RT had different properties, indicating differences at their active sites. They also differed in their stability to denaturation. The wild RT also differed in stability depending on the purification procedure used.

Research, Proteins, Reverse transcriptase, Protein separation

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Reverse transcriptase mutations in HIV-1-infected children treated with zidovudine

Article Abstract:

Certain mutations in the gene for the HIV enzyme reverse transcriptase appear to be associated with a poor prognosis. Researchers followed 12 HIV-infected children who were taking zidovudine (AZT), a drug that inhibits reverse transcriptase. During 11 to 20 months of treatment, the virus developed mutations in the reverse transcriptase gene in 11 children. The children developed all 5 known mutations but mutations at codon 41 and 215 were more common and led to rapid decline and death. During the 6-month study, six children deteriorated or died and most had the codon 41 or codon 215 mutation.

Drug therapy, HIV infection in children, Pediatric HIV infections, Zidovudine

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Decreased susceptibility of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals heterozygous for a mutant CCR5 allele to HIV infection

Article Abstract:

A mutation in the gene for the CCR5 cell receptor could explain why some people do not develop HIV infection even after being exposed to the virus. The CCR5 receptor has been identified as one of the receptors HIV uses to enter cells. About 1% of whites have two copies of the mutation and are resistant to HIV infection. Researchers exposed blood cells from people with only one copy of the mutation to HIV. Much higher levels of the virus were needed to infect the cells, indicating that the 20% of the population that has only one copy of the mutation may also be protected against HIV infection.

HIV (Viruses), HIV, Genetic aspects, Cell receptors, Disease susceptibility

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