title: An HIV type 2 case series in Italy: a phylogenetic analysis.
abstract: In recent years, the increase of migration from countries where human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is endemic to industrialized countries has facilitated the spread of the virus in individuals previously unexposed to this threat. In this report, we performed a phylogenetic analysis on pol and env sequences of HIV-2 strains identified in foreigners and native citizens to trace the origin of infection. All but one of the 17 pol gene sequences were classified as group A. HIV-2 strains were aggregated in several clusters depending by the country of origin and/or infection. One patient (1AA) was classified as being infected with a recombinant between HIV-2 group A and HIV-2 group B, because the pol gene sequence was clearly in the group A, but an env V3 region sequence from this patient was more similar to group B viruses. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen the surveillance and use adequate molecular virological tools to diagnose and monitor HIV-2 infection.
authors: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: D'Ettorre
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Lo Presti
authors: Caterina
authors: C
authors: Gori
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Cella
authors: Ada
authors: A
authors: Bertoli
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Vullo
authors: Carlo Federico
authors: CF
authors: Perno
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Ciotti
authors: Brian T
authors: BT
authors: Foley
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Ciccozzi
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000235:genetics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D010802:Phylogeny; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; C059762:HIV envelope protein gp120 (305-321); D010446:Peptide Fragments; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054302:pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus