Amplification of Complete HIV-1 Envelope Genes from Purified CD4+ T Cell Populations

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of full-length HIV-1 envelope genes directly from uncultured clinical samples or from plasma of HIV patients using RT-PCR or from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) DNA extracts of HIV patients is difficult. As HIV mainly infected CD4 positive cells, this paper first describes a sensitive method for the amplification of full-length HIV-1 envelope genes from purified CD4+ cells, and compares this method with other, less effective, procedures. This method were suitable for amplification of HIV-1 envelope genes directly from clinical samples especially from those of low viral load.