HIV-2 is a phylogenetic relative of HIV-1, which is reported to be less infectious and induce a slower progression to AIDS than HIV-1.

 

Accordingly, the clinical outcomes and treatment approaches for HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection are different, and distinguishing between the 2 strains is an important diagnostic objective.

 

Despite extensive sequence heterology between HIV-1 and HIV-2, the structures of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 envelope proteins are similar, with HIV-2 gp36 mediating the fusogenic activity of the HIV-2 envelope, and representing the structural and functional equivalent of HIV-1 gp41.

 

The immunodominant regions of gp41 and gp36 are, however, sufficiently distinct such that antibodies generated against HIV-1 and HIV-2 do not cross-react significantly with their respective cognate gp41 and gp36 targets.

 

As such recombinant gp36 is commonly used in diagnostic immunoassays to distinguish between HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections.

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