NUCLEIC ACIDS AND METHODS FOR THE DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN SYNCYTIUM INDUCING AND NON SYNCYTIUM INDUCING VARIANTS OF THE HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS

摘要

This invention is in the area of molecular biology/virology and presents oligonucleotides with nucleotide-sequences specific for SI HIV-1 strains. These oligonucleotides may be used for in vitro determination of biological phenotype of HIV-1 strains in biological material from HIV-infected individuals by a number of techniques such as Southern and Northern blot analysis, PCR, NASBA, in situ hybridization, branched DNA hybridization, heteroduplex tracing hybridization and liquid hybridizations. HIV-1 phenotyping may i.e. be used as a diagnostic marker for disease progression or for testing efficacy of antiviral therapy.