Rare and new V3 loop variants in HIV-1-positive long-term non-progressors from Rwanda

Abstract

We identified uncommon amino acid substitutions in the V3 loop regions of HIV-1 strains infecting patients from Rwanda. Their frequency was greater in long-term non-progressors (LTNP) compared with late-stage patients (P = 0.006), particularly in a sequence region that has crucial interactions with the cell surface, and is highly relevant for the host's immune response. These variants might reflect a viral response to a strong immune pressure, or represent attenuated HIV-1 strains infecting LTNP in Rwanda.