Molecular characterization of a novel simian immunodeficiency virus lineage (SIVtal) from northern talapoins (Miopithecus ogouensis).
Simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) are found in an extensive number of African primates, and humans continue to be exposed to these viruses by hunting and handling of primate bushmeat and following occupational exposures to captive nonhuman primates. Here, we report the molecular characterization of a new SIV lineage, SIVtal, from wild-caught and captive talapoin monkeys (Miopithecus ogouensis) from Cameroon and U.S. zoos, respectively. Phylogenetic tree analyses of a small fragment in the pol gene indicated that all SIVtal strains clustered together forming a single species-specific lineage. Full-length sequence analysis for two strains, SIVtal-00CM266 and SIVtal-01CM8023, from wild-caught animals in Cameroon confirmed that SIVtal was distinct from all primate lentiviruses isolated so far and represents a new SIV lineage. Phylogenetic analyses in different viral genes showed a significant clustering of the SIVtal lineage with the Cercopithecus-specific SIVs. In addition, SIVtal and Cercopithecus-specific SIVs share functional motifs in Gag and Env that distinguish them from other primate lentiviruses. Like SIVsyk and SIVdeb, a vpu gene homologue was also absent in SIVtal. Although northern talapoins belong to the Miopithecus genus, their SIVs belong to the Cercopithecus SIV lineage, suggesting evolution from a common ancestor or cross-species transmission between both primate genera.
Liegeois
Florian
F
UMR145, Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement, University of Montpellier I, Montpellier, France.
Courgnaud
Valerie
V
Switzer
William M
WM
Murphy
Hayley W
HW
Loul
Severin
S
Aghokeng
Avelin
A
Pourrut
Xavier
X
Mpoudi-Ngole
Eitel
E
Delaporte
Eric
E
Peeters
Martine
M
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002163:Cameroon; D002520:Cercopithecidae / Q000821:virology*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016338:Genes, vpu; D016679:Genome, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017385:Sequence Homology; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000821:virology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014481:United States