title: Evidence of a novel B/C recombinant exhibiting unique breakpoints of near full-length HIV type 1 genome from Northeastern India.
abstract: Despite the predominance of the HIV-1 clade C in India, the presence of other subtypes and recombinants has been reported. Here we report the identification of a novel HIV-1 B/C recombinant isolated from Northeast India and characterized near full length genome of the recombinant virus. Bootscan analysis of the nearly full-length genome showed a unique mosaic structure consisting of a subtype B backbone with three subtype C genome insertions. Breakpoint analyses revealed insertion of fragments belonging to subtype C at positions 1853-2223 in gag and 3025-3759 and 3998-5073 in pol. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the segments of subtype B clustered with sequences of subtype B viruses reported from Thailand whereas segments of subtype C clustered with sequences of subtype C viruses reported from India. We report the mosaic structure that is distinct to HIV-1 B/C recombinant viruses reported to date.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Virology, National AIDS Research Institute, Indian Council of Medical Research, Bhosari, Pune-411026, India.
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lakhashe
authors.forename: Srikanth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tripathy
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paranjape
authors.forename: Jayanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhattacharya
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D016679:Genome, Viral; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D054643:INDEL Mutation; D007194:India; D010802:Phylogeny; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA