title: Genomic divergence of HIV-2 from Ghana.
abstract: Genetic variability in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been studied extensively, but the total nucleotide sequence of the HIV-2 genome has been reported only in two strains. For phylogenetic analyses of HIV, the genetic variability of HIV-2 should be investigated. This paper reports the complete nucleotide sequence of an HIV-2 isolate from Ghana, HIV-2[GH-1]. This virus showed approximately 85% homology in overall nucleotide sequence with HIV-2ROD. The amino acid sequence of the gag and pol proteins of HIV-2[GH-1] showed 90% homology with those of HIV-2ROD, but its env gene and central regions were highly variable (more than 20% divergence in amino acids), indicating the presence of extensive genetic heterogeneity in HIV-2. However, the sequences with specific functions were relatively well conserved in these HIV-2 isolates.
authors.affiliation: Fundamental Research Laboratory, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsujimoto
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukasawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayami
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005869:Ghana; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral