[Sequence analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 tat gene among the long-term HIV infected non-progressoris in Yunnan province].

OBJECTIVE HIV-1 tat gene is one of its regulatory genes necessary for its replication. This study is to explore whether the variation of tat gene influences the AIDS progress of HIV infected individual. METHODS We carried out investigation on tat gene of HIV among the long term HIV infected non-progressors and the commonly infected individuals. Mononuclear cells of peripheral blood were isolated and cellular DNA was extracted. Nested PCR method was used to amplify tat gene and their sequences were analyzed. RESULTS Blood were collected from 22 HIV infected individuals, of which 11 cases were infected with B subtype strains based on previous env gene analysis and belonged to long term non-progressors according to clinical features and immunology. The other 11 cases were common HIV infection of which 5 subtype B and 6 subtype C were found. Both long term non-progressor group (subtype B) and the commonly HIV infectedly group (subtype B) had constantly four amino acids different from that of international B subtype consensus sequence The both groups clustered randomly on the phylogenetic tree. In commonly HIV infected subtype C group there were 6 amino acids different from that of international subtype C. The variation inside the tatgene of common subtype C group was small. CONCLUSIONS There was no regular variation and significant difference between long term HIV infected non-progressive group and commonly HIV infected subtype B group. There is no evidence showing that progressive speed of AIDS correlated with the tat sequence profile of HIV-1.