title: Sequence homology and morphologic similarity of HTLV-III and visna virus, a pathogenic lentivirus.
abstract: A study was conducted of the genetic relation between human T-cell lymphotropic retroviruses and visna virus. The human T-cell lymphotropic viruses include those associated with T-cell malignancies (HTLV-I and HTLV-II) as well as the etiologic agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HTLV-III). Visna virus, a slowly replicating and pathogenic but nononcogenic retrovirus of sheep, is a member of the subfamily Lentivirinae. Results obtained by molecular hybridization and heteroduplex analysis indicated that a greater extent of nucleotide sequence homology exists between HTLV-III and visna virus than between HTLV-III and any of the other viruses. The homology observed under conditions of low stringency spanned the entire genome, but was strongest in the gag/pol region. The morphogenesis and fine structure of HTLV-III and visna virus also demonstrated striking similarities. The data provide strong evidence for a close taxonomic and thus evolutionary relation between HTLV-III and the Lentivirinae subfamily.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gonda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wong-Staal
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gilden
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009692:Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014790:Visna-maedi virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D009692:Nucleic Acid Heteroduplexes; D012367:RNA, Viral