Phylogenetic characterization of six full-length HIV-1 subtype C molecular clones from three patients: identification of rare subtype C strains containing two NF-κB motifs in the long terminal repeat.

ABSTRACT: Molecular surveillance is the backbone of HIV-1 vaccinology. Full-length HIV-1 sequences are useful tools that can provide a better understanding of the epidemiology in a given region. A limited number of full-length HIV-1 sequences are available from India, where >95% of the HIV infections are due to HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C), which is distinct from the prototype African HIV-1C. In this study, we sequenced six full-length clones isolated from three patients. Extensive phylogenetic analyses of the full-length viral sequences using bioinformatic tools identified a separate cluster of Indian strains, thus confirming the distinct phylogenetic identity of the Indian HIV-1C. Notably, the long terminal repeat (LTR) of two of the six molecular clones contained only two NF-κB binding sites. The seq

SUBMITTER: Hanna LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4046206 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature