Simultaneous isolation of HIV-1 and HIV-2 from an AIDS patient

Abstract

Two distinct human immunodeficiency viruses, HIV-1SF480 and HIV-2UC2 were isolated simultaneously from the blood of an Ivory Coast patient with AIDS. The HIV subtypes were segregated by their differential ability to infect established human cell lines and by the cell surface expression of type-specific viral antigens. The viruses could be distinguished by both immunoblot and Southern blot analyses. The results indicate that an individual can be infected by both HIV subtypes.

PIP: 2 distinct human immunodeficiency viruses, HIV-1 and HIV-2 were isolated simultaneously from the blood of an Ivory Coast patient with AIDS. The HIV subtypes were segregated by their differential ability to infect established human cell lines and by the cell surface expression of type-specific viral antigens. The viruses could be distinguished by both immunoblot and Southern blot analyses. The results indicate that an individual can be infected by both HIV subtypes. The serum samples were from individuals who attended the Triechville Hospital in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. A 37-year-old woman presenting with recurrent vomiting and weight loss of 39 kg, prolonged fever, but no lymphadenopathy had both isolates. Necator americanus infection was diagnosed before she died. Altogether of 67 HIV antibody-positive samples tested to date, 23 (34%) had reactivity by both procedures to HIV-1 and HIV-2. PMC from 13 of these 23 individuals with dual reactivity were co-cultivated with PMC from normal seronegative donors. 15 of the other 22 individuals with dual antibody reactivity presented with parasitic bowel infections, chronic diarrhea and extreme weight loss; the remainder had pulmonary disease. There were no differences in clinical manifestations of individuals with dually reactive sera and of patients with antibodies specific to either HIV-1 or HIV-2 alone. However, it is not possible to assess the role of dual infection in the exacerbation of HIV associated illness as all patients in this study were selected on the basis of their clinical manifestations.