Identification of a newly characterized HIV-1 BG intersubtype circulating recombinant form in Galicia, Spain, which exhibits a pseudotype-like virion structure

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2002 Apr 15;29(5):536-43. doi: 10.1097/00126334-200204150-00016.

Abstract

We recently reported the finding of phylogenetically related HIV-1 BG intersubtype recombinant and G subtype nonrecombinant viruses circulating among injecting drug users in the region of Galicia in northwestern Spain. Here, we report the characterization of near full-length genome sequences of nine of these viruses (seven BG recombinant and two of nonrecombinant G subtype), obtained from epidemiologically unlinked individuals. Bootscan analysis reveals that six recombinant viruses share an identical mosaic structure, with two intersubtype breakpoints delimiting a B subtype segment comprising most of Env gp120 and the external portion of Env gp41, with the remaining portions of the genome being of subtype G, thus mimicking a pseudotype virion structure. The seventh BG recombinant virus exhibits breakpoints in env coincident with the other BG viruses but contains additional B subtype segments in gag and pol. In phylogenetic trees of complete genomes and of the B subtype segment of env, all seven BG viruses group in a monophyletic cluster. G subtype portions of the BG viruses group uniformly with the newly derived nonrecombinant G subtype viruses of Galicia in bootscan analysis, which points to the locally circulating G subtype strain as parental of the recombinants. These results allow us to define a new HIV-1 circulating recombinant form (CRF14_BG), the first reported to originate in Western Europe.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Genome, Viral
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / genetics
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41 / genetics
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV-1 / classification*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / complications
  • Virion

Substances

  • HIV Envelope Protein gp120
  • HIV Envelope Protein gp41