Document 3263
 DOCN  M94A3263
 TI    Full sequence of gp120 of an HIV-1 variant (GWGR) highly prevalent in
       Brazil.
 DT    9412
 AU    Costa SM; Shindo N; Vincente AN; Pinto ME; Schechter M; Tanuri A; Dept.
       of Genetics, UFRJ.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):116 (abstract no. PA0085). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369312
 AB    INTRODUCTION: Data available from Brazil, a country selected by WHO for
       future vaccine trials, indicate that most circulating strains belong to
       clade B. On the other hand, it has also been shown that in Brazil the
       motif GWGR at the tip of the V3 loop is almost as common as GPGR. The
       latter motif is encountered in virtually all isolates so far described
       from the US and Europe. OBJECTIVE: To obtain full gp120 sequence from a
       variant highly prevalent in Brazil. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted
       from noncultivated PBMCs and amplified by PCR. A PCR fragment was cloned
       and named HIVBZ(GWGR). GP120 was fully sequenced. A phylogenetic tree
       was constructed using the Clustal V computer program and the Neighbor
       Joining Method. RESULTS: Sequence analysis revealed that HIVBZ(GWGR) is
       closely related to the American MN prototype strain, with 80.1% of
       aminoacid identity and 89.1% of nucleic acid homology, with 6 deletions
       and 11 insertions. Although phylogenetic tree analysis demonstrated that
       HIVBZ(GWGR) clusters with clad B, the low number of nodes, when compared
       to the American/European complex, suggests that HIVBZ(GWGR) is somewhat
       divergent. COMMENTS: To our knowledge, this is the first full GP120
       sequence reported from Brazil. Our results might be of importance for
       the design and selection of potential vaccines to be tested in Brazil.
 DE    America  Amino Acid Sequence  Brazil  Cloning, Molecular  Comparative
       Study  DNA, Viral/BLOOD/GENETICS  Europe  Human  HIV Envelope Protein
       gp120/*GENETICS  HIV Infections/*MICROBIOLOGY
       HIV-1/CLASSIFICATION/*GENETICS/*ISOLATION & PURIF  Leukocytes,
       Mononuclear/MICROBIOLOGY  Molecular Sequence Data  Peptide
       Fragments/GENETICS  Polymerase Chain Reaction  Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
       *Variation (Genetics)  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).