Genetic and biological analysis of variants derived from the cerebrospinal fluid of HIV type 1 subtype B- and D- infected patients with and without AIDS dementia complex

One of the most frequent neurological complications of HIV-1 infection in patients with AIDS is the AIDS dementia complex (ADC), also called HIV dementia, subacute encephalitis, or HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor complex. Although the pathogenesis of this syndrome is only partly understood, it is clear that HIV-1 plays a dominant role in the pathophysiology of ADC. In view of identifying specific envelope sequences associated with ADC, several investigators have studied subtype B HIV-1 sequences from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain. In this study, we have investigated the relationship existing between both the V3 sequence variability and the cytopathic properties of HIV-1 subtype B and D isolates, and the occurrence of ADC.