Biological cloning of functionally diverse quasispecies of HIV-1.

Twenty putative clones of HIV-1, derived by biological cloning from two different individuals, were characterized in vitro for functional activity and genotypic diversity. Many of the biological clones isolated by this method were genetically distinct, and could be further distinguished by differences in replication kinetics, host cell range, and/or cytopathicity. Our findings indicate that biological cloning by limiting dilution cultures is an effective method for isolating replication-competent, functionally diverse quasispecies of HIV-1.