Re-analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates from Cyprus and Greece, initially designated 'subtype I', reveals a unique complex A/G/H/K/? mosaic pattern

J Gen Virol. 2001 Mar;82(Pt 3):575-580. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-82-3-575.

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) has been classified into three main groups and 11 distinct subtypes. Moreover, several circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) of HIV-1 have been recently documented to have spread widely causing extensive HIV-1 epidemics. A subtype, initially designated I (CRF04_cpx), was documented in Cyprus and Greece and was found to comprise regions of sequence derived from subtypes A and G as well as regions of unclassified sequence. Re-analysis of the three full-length CRF04_cpx sequences that were available revealed a mosaic genomic organization of unique complexity comprising regions of sequence from at least five distinct subtypes, A, G, H, K and unclassified regions. These strains account for approximately 2% of the total HIV-1-infected population in Greece, thus providing evidence of the great capability of HIV-1 to recombine and produce highly divergent strains which can be spread successfully through different infection routes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Capsid / classification
  • Capsid / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins*
  • Cyprus
  • Gene Products, gag / classification
  • Gene Products, gag / genetics
  • Gene Products, pol / classification
  • Gene Products, pol / genetics
  • Gene Products, vif / classification
  • Gene Products, vif / genetics
  • Greece
  • HIV Antigens / classification
  • HIV Antigens / genetics
  • HIV Core Protein p24 / classification
  • HIV Core Protein p24 / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / classification
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / classification
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • Viral Proteins*
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Gene Products, pol
  • Gene Products, vif
  • HIV Antigens
  • HIV Core Protein p24
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41
  • NCP7 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Viral Proteins
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • p17 protein, Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1
  • p6 gag protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus