Genetic variability of principal neutralizing determinants on HIV-1 gp41 and its correlation with subtypes

Several neutralizing determinants have been identified on HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp41: LGIWGCSGKLIC (HXB2: aa593-604), ELDKWA (aa662-667), NWFDIT (aa671-676), and ERDRDR (aa739-744). Restricted mutations were observed on these epitopes. In this study, the genetic variability of these neutralizing determinants in 3799 isolates from different M-group subtypes (A, B, C, D, F, G, H, CRF01_AE and CRF02_AG) and O group was analyzed. Many variants were found to be closely correlated with certain subtypes. These subtype-related variants could be recruited into the subtype identification and subtype-specific vaccine development.