Molecular characterization of the HIV-1 gag nucleocapsid gene associated with vertical transmission.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nucleocapsid (NC) plays a pivotal role in the viral lifecycle: including encapsulating the viral genome, aiding in strand transfer during reverse transcription, and packaging two copies of the viral genome into progeny virions. Another gag gene product, p6, plays an integral role in successful viral budding from the plasma membrane and inclusion of the accessory protein Vpr within newly budding virions. In this study, we have characterized the gag NC and p6 genes from six mother-infant pairs following vertical transmission by performing phylogenetic analysis and by analyzing the degree of genetic diversity, evolutionary dynamics, and conservation of functional domains.

Results

Phylogenetic analysis of 168 gag NC and

SUBMITTER: Wellensiek BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1459197 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature