Reacquisition of Nef-Mediated Tetherin Antagonism in a Single In Vivo Passage of HIV-1 through Its Original Chimpanzee Host

SummaryThe interferon-induced host restriction factor tetherin poses a barrier for SIV transmission from primates to humans. After cross-species transmission, the chimpanzee precursor of pandemic HIV-1 switched from the accessory protein Nef to Vpu to effectively counteract human tetherin. As we report here, the experimental reintroduction of HIV-1 into its original chimpanzee host resulted in a virus that can use both Vpu and Nef to antagonize chimpanzee tetherin. Functional analyses demonstrated that alterations in and near the highly conserved ExxxLL motif in the C-terminal loop of Nef were critical for the reacquisition of antitetherin activity. Strikingly, just two amino acid changes allowed HIV-1 Nef to counteract chimpanzee tetherin and promote virus release. Our data demonstrate that primate lentiviruses can reacquire lost accessory gene functions during a single in vivo passage and suggest that other functional constraints keep Nef ready to regain antitetherin activity.

► HIV-1 reacquired Nef-mediated tetherin antagonism in its original chimpanzee host
► The chimpanzee-adapted HIV-1 strain uses both Nef and Vpu to counteract tetherin
► Just two changes in a contemporary HIV-1 Nef conferred full antitetherin activity