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Mutations in HIV genes that render host cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) unable to recognize the mutated virus are believed to be important in HIV pathogenesis. CTL activation requires antigen binding to HLA molecules, followed by interaction with the T-cell receptor. T-cell mediated immunity in each person is HLA-allele-specific. It now seems that specific HIV gene polymorphisms and host HLA types are linked.
Investigators determined the HLA genotypes of 473 HIV-positive patients in western Australia and ascertained the amino acid sequence between positions 20 and 227 of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) of the patients' most recent HIV isolates. A multivariate analysis found 64 significant positive associations between specific HIV-…