title: Molecular Characterization of Mexican HIV-1 Vif Sequences.
abstract: The viral infectivity factor (Vif) is an HIV accessory protein that counteracts host antiviral proteins of the APOBEC3 family. Accumulating evidence highlights the pivotal role that accessory HIV proteins have on disease pathogenesis, a fact that has made them targets of interest for novel therapeutic and preventive strategies. Little is known about Vif sequence diversity outside of African or white populations. Mexico is home to Americas' third largest HIV-affected population and Mexican Hispanics represent an ever-increasing U.S. minority. This study provides a detailed analysis of the diversity seen in 77 Mexican Vif protein sequences. Phylogenetic analysis shows that most sequences cluster with HIV-1 subtype B, while less than 10% exhibit greater similarity to subtype D and A subtypes. Although most functional motifs are conserved among the Mexican sequences, substantial diversity was seen in some APOBEC binding sites, the nuclear localization inhibitory signal, and the CBFβ interaction sites.
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratorio de Genómica Viral y Humana, Facultad de Medicina UASLP , San Luis Potosí, SLP, México .
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Guerra-Palomares
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratorio de Genómica Viral y Humana, Facultad de Medicina UASLP , San Luis Potosí, SLP, México .
authors.forename: Pedro G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Hernandez-Sanchez
authors.affiliation: 2 Centro Ambulatorio de Prevención y Atención en SIDA e ITS , San Luis Potosí, SLP, México .
authors.forename: Mario A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Esparza-Perez
authors.affiliation: 3 Instituto de Ciencia y Medicina Genómica , Torreón, COAH, México .
authors.forename: J Rafael
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Arguello
authors.affiliation: 4 Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina UASLP , San Luis Potosí, SLP, México .
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Noyola
authors.affiliation: 1 Laboratorio de Genómica Viral y Humana, Facultad de Medicina UASLP , San Luis Potosí, SLP, México .
authors.forename: Christian A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Garcia-Sepulveda
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C514847:vif protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1