Diversity of the vif gene of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in Uganda.
Little sequence information is available for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vif genes of African origin. Here we describe 37 new complete vif genes of 18 AIDS patients from Uganda and show that vif has a high in vivo genetic variability. vif proviral DNA sequences of peripheral blood cells were determined by direct sequencing of PCR products. Only 52% of the deduced Vif amino acids were absolutely conserved; when Vif sequences previously analysed were considered, only 32% of the Vif consensus sequence comprised conserved and as such possibly functionally important motifs. The high inter-individual vif variability was in contrast to a very low intra-individual variability. One patient carried a vif gene with a stable C-terminal deletion, but N-terminal truncations were not found in patients' predominant vif sequences. The vif genes analysed comprised subtypes A, D and an A/D mosaic. Phylogenetic analyses additionally showed that HIV- 1 in Uganda has spread across the boundaries of ethnic groups.
Wieland
U
U
Institut für Virologie, Universität zu Köln, Germany. ulrike.wieland@uni-koeln.de
Seelhoff
A
A
Hofmann
A
A
Kühn
J E
JE
Eggers
H J
HJ
Mugyenyi
P
P
Schwander
S
S
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D000328:Adult; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D005260:Female; D016346:Gene Products, vif / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D014454:Uganda; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D016346:Gene Products, vif; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus