Genetic characterization of HIV type 1 Tat exon 1 from a southern Indian clinical cohort: identification of unique epidemiological signature residues.

ABSTRACT: The trans-activator of transcription (Tat) of HIV-1 plays an important role in viral infection and pathogenesis. We examined the genetic characteristics of exon 1 of the tat gene derived from 102 seropositive subjects from southern India. Database-derived Indian (n=105) and global (n=413) HIV-1C sequences were also used for viral epidemiological signature pattern analysis in the Tat open reading frame (ORF). We identified HIV-1C as the most predominant genetic subtype (99%) and the presence of a novel A1C recombinant strain in one study participant. After examining all the available HIV-1C Indian sequences from primary clinical isolates and database-derived sequences, we found a high level of sequence conservation (92.6 ± 12%) within Tat amino acid residues. Furthermore, signature pattern

SUBMITTER: Neogi U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3423656 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature