Reappearance of Founder Virus Sequence in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Patients

Different patterns of temporal evolution in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 V3 and p17 regions are described for eight patients studied during the first years following primary infection. In samples from three patients, a rapid replacement of the major sequence occurred but the original sequence reappeared later simultaneously with clinical deterioration and increased plasma viral load.