Characterization of circulating HIV type 1 env genes in plasma of two antiretroviral-naive slow progressing patients with broad neutralizing antibody response with evidence of recombination.

In the present study, we investigated genetic divergence between complete autologous HIV-1 env genes amplified directly from plasma of two antiretroviral-naive, slow progressing Indian patients with broad neutralizing antibody response. All the envelope (Env) clones obtained from one patient (LT1) belonged to subtype C; the second patient (LT5) harbored quasispecies comprised of pure B, C, and B/C recombinants with distinct breakpoints indicative of dual infection with genetically distinct strains. Further characterization of these Envs would provide insight into the biological properties under strong humoral immune response.