title: Genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 subtype C from Uganda.
abstract: To better understand the emergence of subtype C and its potential impact on vaccine efforts in Uganda, we have characterized subtype C sequences from Uganda (n = 13), Zimbabwe (n = 11), Mozambique (n = 5), South Africa (n = 4), and India (n = 3). Phylogenetic analysis of subtype C sequences in the env gp41 gene region revealed multiple subclusters within subtype C. Further, while most Ugandan specimen subclustered together, other subclusters did not reflect a clear geographic location. The nucleotide divergence within the Ugandan subset was 8.2% (6.1-9.8%) compared with 9.5% (2.5-15%) for the other subtype C gp41 sequences. The protein sequence alignment revealed marked sequence conservation of major immunodominant epitopes within the gp41 region.
authors.affiliation: Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pieniazek
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biryahwaho
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fridlund
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rayfield
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sempala
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lal
mesh_terms: D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / Q000235:genetics*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014454:Uganda
chemical_list: D015700:HIV Envelope Protein gp41