Files and links (1)
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified), Open
Journal article
Specific amino acids in HIV-1 Vpr are significantly associated with differences in patient neurocognitive status
Journal of neurovirology, v 23(1), pp 113-124
11 Jul 2016
PMID: 27400931
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Even in the era of combination antiretroviral therapies used to combat human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, up to 50% of well-suppressed HIV-1-infected patients are still diagnosed with mild neurological deficits referred to as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The multifactorial nature of HAND likely involves the HIV-1 accessory protein viral protein R (Vpr) as an agent of neuropathogenesis. To investigate the effect of naturally occurring variations in Vpr on HAND in well-suppressed HIV-1-infected patients, bioinformatic analyses were used to correlate peripheral blood-derived Vpr sequences with patient neurocognitive performance, as measured by comprehensive neuropsychological assessment and the resulting Global Deficit Score (GDS). Our studies revealed unique associations between GDS and the presence of specific amino acid changes in peripheral blood-derived Vpr sequences [neuropsychological impairment Vpr (niVpr) variants]. Amino acids N41 and A55 in the Vpr sequence were associated with more pronounced neurocognitive deficits (higher GDS). In contrast, amino acids I37 and S41 were connected to measurably lower GDS. All niVpr variants were also detected in DNA isolated from HIV-1-infected brain tissues. The implication of these results is that niVpr variants alter the genesis and/or progression of HAND through differences in Vpr-mediated effects in the peripheral blood and/or the brain.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Specific amino acids in HIV-1 Vpr are significantly associated with differences in patient neurocognitive status
- Creators
- Will Dampier - Drexel UniversityGregory C. Antell - Drexel UniversityBenjamas Aiamkitsumrit - Drexel UniversityMichael R. Nonnemacher - Drexel UniversityJeffrey M. Jacobson - Drexel UniversityVanessa Pirrone - Drexel UniversityWen Zhong - Drexel UniversityKatherine Kercher - Drexel UniversityShendra Passic - Drexel UniversityJean W. Williams - Drexel UniversityTony James - Drexel UniversityKathryn N. Devlin - Temple UniversityTania Giovannetti - Temple UniversityDavid J. Libon - Rowan UniversityZsofia Szep - Drexel UniversityGarth D. Ehrlich - Drexel UniversityBrian Wigdahl - Drexel UniversityFred C. Krebs - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of neurovirology, v 23(1), pp 113-124
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); Microbiology and Immunology; Infectious Diseases (and HIV Medicine)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000395011300010
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84978101498
- Other Identifier
- 991019168850304721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Neurosciences
- Virology