Understanding the diversification of HIV-1 groups M and O.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the similarity (or lack of) between the phylogenetic substructure of HIV-1 groups O and M.


METHODS
Two phylogenetic tree statistics--the subtype diversity ratio (SDR) and the subtype diversity variance (SDV)--were used in conjunction with bootstrap replicates on gag, pol and env sequence alignments of group O and M strains. Randomly generated phylogenetic trees were used as a control.


RESULTS
We show that, as expected, the established global-group M subtypes have a high degree of phylogenetic symmetry in relation to each other in terms of inter- and intra-subtype diversification. They are significantly different from the substructure present amongst the random trees. To the contrary, the group O diversification does not display this highly symmetrical substructure and is not significantly different from the substructure present on randomly generated trees. Phylogenies comprised of group M strains from the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), exhibit a substructure more similar to group O than to global-group M.


CONCLUSIONS
The substructure present within groups O and M is quantifiably different. The well defined clades, the subtypes that characterize group M diversification, are not present in group O or amongst group M strains from the DRC. The group M subtypes are thus unique and a signature of pandemic HIV-1.
Archer
John
J
Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK.
Robertson
David L
DL
D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010802:Phylogeny