Abstract
Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the human retrovirus associated with AIDS in West Africa, HIV-2, shows that it is evolutionarily distant from the previously characterized HIV-1. We suggest that these viruses existed long before the current AIDS epidemics. Their biological properties are conserved in spite of limited sequence homology; this may help the determination of the structure-function relationships of the different viral elements.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / microbiology
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Base Sequence
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DNA / analysis
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Deltaretrovirus / genetics*
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Deltaretrovirus / isolation & purification
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Gene Products, gag
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Genes*
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Genes, Viral*
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Humans
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Retroviridae Proteins / genetics
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Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
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Viral Envelope Proteins / genetics
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Viral Proteins / genetics*
Substances
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Gene Products, gag
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Retroviridae Proteins
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Viral Envelope Proteins
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Viral Proteins
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DNA