CHARACTERIZATION OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 ISOLATES FROMCHILDREN IN ROMANIA - IDENTIFICATION OF A NEW ENVELOPE SUBTYPE

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates recovered from in fected children in Romania were characterized for their biologic, sero logic, and molecular properties. The isolates were from subjects in di fferent clinical states, and all showed cytopathic properties in perip heral blood mononuclear cells and varying kinetics of replication. The isolates grew to varying titers in macrophages and established T cell lines. Serologic evaluation with Romanian sera indicated stronger ant ibody response to the gp120 of Romanian isolates than to the envelope protein of HIV-1 isolates from other countries. Although there was cro ss-neutralization among the Romanian isolates, no substantial activity was noted against HIV-1 prototype strains from the United States, Afr ica, and Thailand. Genetic analysis of the envelope C2-V3 region stron gly suggests that the Romanian isolates are a subtype distinct from th ose assigned to other HIV-1 strains analyzed to date. This finding rai ses questions about the origin of HIV-1 in Romania.