Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
Type
ArticleCopyright
Open access
Collections
- BA - IGM - Artigos de Periódicos [3689]
- IOC - Artigos de Periódicos [12791]
Metadata
Show full item record
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF LONG TERMINAL REPEAT SEQUENCES FROM BRAZILIAN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 ISOLATES
Author
Affilliation
Abstract
HIV-1 provirus activation is under control of the long terminal repeat (LTR)-5¢ viral promoter region, which
presents remarkable genetic variation among HIV-1 subtypes. It is possible that molecular features of the LTR
contribute to the unusual profile of the subtype C epidemic in the Brazilian Southern region. To characterize the
LTR of Brazilian HIV isolates, we analyzed sequences from 21 infected individuals from Porto Alegre and
Salvador cities. Sequences were compared with subtype B and C reference strains from different countries.
Phylogenetic analysis showed that 17 (81%) samples were subtype B and four (19%) were subtype C. Common
patterns of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) in subtypes B and C sequences were confirmed and other
potential TFBS specific for subtype C were found. Brazilian subtype C sequences contained an additional NF-jB
biding site, as previously described for the majority of subtype C isolates. The high level of LTR polymorphisms
identified in this study might be important for viral fitness.
Share