title: Characterization of full-length HIV-1 CRF17_BF genomes and comparison to the prototype CRF12_BF strains.
abstract: The aim of this work is to characterize the full-length intersubtype recombinant structure of the HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant Form CRF17_BF. A single genome of CRF17_BF was originally described in 2001 as being largely similar to CRF12_BF. Since then, more genomes of CRF17_BF have been sequenced but not adequately described in publications. Here we describe CRF17_BF as a genuine CRF, and analyze its recombination pattern based on bootscan analyses, subtype signature patterns, and phylogenetic reconstruction of subtype-delimited segments. We show that CRF17_BF can be distinguished from CRF12_BF in several regions of the genome, including vpu, pol, env and nef. A complete and accurate characterization and description of recombination breakpoints in CRFs is required for a proper surveillance of HIV-1 genotypes, and important for epidemiological purposes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Retrovirus-CONICET, Hospital de Pediatría J P Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina. pauauli@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paula C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Aulicino
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez-Carrillo
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bello
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rocco
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Foley
mesh_terms: D023061:Gene Order; D016679:Genome, Viral; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA