Variability of Rev protein in HIV-1 sub-subtype A6 in patients with different stages of HIV infection

The aim of the study. The comparison of genetic diversity of Rev protein in HIV-1 sub-subtype A6 in people living with HIV (PLHIV) with different stages of the disease. Materials and methods. 227 whole blood clinical samples received from PLHIV who have not had previously treatment and observed in Moscow Regional Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS and Infectious Diseases were analyzed. The extraction of proviral DNA, the amplification of the first and the second rev exons with the followed sequencing was carried out. Subtyping was conducted by analyzing the rev second exon. Then the conservatism and amino acid substitutions in Rev sequences were compared in patients from different groups. Results and discussion. 220/227 (96.9%) samples contained HIV-1 sub-subtype A6. In patients with IV stage of the disease the conservation in Rev was significantly lower. There were found two substitutions (L13I, S113P) with a statistically significant difference in occurrence in PLHIV with different stages of HIV infection. Conclusion. The results obtained confirm the hypothesis of correlation between Rev structure and course of HIV infection and indicate the necessity for further research on this field.