       Document 3262
 DOCN  M94A3262
 TI    The V3 region of HIV-1 isolates prevalent in Taiwan contains a unique
       signature pattern in addition to the Thailand E subtype sequence.
 DT    9412
 AU    Chen YM; Sheu TT; Lee CM; Jang YJ; AIDS Research Center, National
       Yang-Ming Medical College, Taipei,; Taiwan, R.O.C.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):116 (abstract no. PA0083). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369313
 AB    OBJECTIVE: To study the genetic variation of the V3 region in the env
       gene from HIV-1-infected persons in Taiwan. To conduct phylogenetic
       analyses of the Taiwanese HIV-1 isolates. METHODS: HIV-1 proviral DNA
       was PCR amplified using nested primers flanking the V3 domain and then
       sequenced. The nucleotide sequences and predicted amino acid sequences
       were analyzed using PHYLIP program (Phylogeny Inference Package).
       RESULTS: Our studies have demonstrated: (i) 18 of 22 (82%) HIV-1
       isolates from Taiwan belong to the subtype E, with 91% nucleotide
       sequence homology with Thailand E subtype (THA E); (ii) there is an
       average of 8% diversity of the V3 loop amino acid sequences in Taiwanese
       subtype E HIV-1 (TWN E), and the difference of V3 loop amino acid
       sequences between the prototypic TWN E (HIV-1-920027) and THA E strains
       is 21%; (iii) in addition to the THA-E sequence as the backbone, the V3
       region of TWN E also contains a unique signature pattern; (iv) instead
       of having GPGQ at the crown of the V3 loop of the THA E, the TWN E
       strains contain GPGR motif; and (v) the amino acid residues 307-309 of
       THA E strains V3 loop have changed from SNN to YN in all the TWN E
       isolates. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: The predominant HIV-1 strains
       identified in Taiwan during the 1993 and early 1994 period appear to
       have evolved from subtype E in Thailand. The limited genetic variation
       among different TWN E isolates from persons with different risk factors
       also suggests the recent introduction of the subtype E epidemic to
       Taiwan.
 DE    Amino Acid Sequence  DNA, Viral/GENETICS  Genes, env  Human  HIV
       Envelope Protein gp120/*GENETICS  HIV Infections/MICROBIOLOGY
       HIV-1/CLASSIFICATION/*GENETICS/*ISOLATION & PURIF  Molecular Sequence
       Data  Peptide Fragments/*GENETICS  Phylogeny  Polymerase Chain Reaction
       Proviruses/GENETICS  Sequence Homology, Amino Acid  Species Specificity
       Taiwan  Thailand  Variation (Genetics)  MEETING ABSTRACT

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

