Positive selection of HIV host factors and the evolution of lentivirus genes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Positive selection of host proteins that interact with pathogens can indicate factors relevant for infection and potentially be a measure of pathogen driven evolution.

Results

Our analysis of 1439 primate genes and 175 lentivirus genomes points to specific host factors of high genetic variability that could account for differences in susceptibility to disease and indicate specific mechanisms of host defense and pathogen adaptation. We find that the largest amount of genetic change occurs in genes coding for cellular membrane proteins of the host as well as in the viral envelope genes suggesting cell entry and immune evasion as the primary evolutionary interface between host and pathogen. We additionally detect the innate immune response as a gene functional group

SUBMITTER: Bozek K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2906474 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature