Detection and partial characterization of simian immunodeficiency virus SIVsm strains from bush meat samples from rural Sierra Leone

Apetrei, C., Metzger, M. J., Richardson, D., Ling, B., Telfer, P. T., Reed, P., Robertson, D. L. and Marx, P. A. (2005) Detection and partial characterization of simian immunodeficiency virus SIVsm strains from bush meat samples from rural Sierra Leone. Journal of Virology, 79(4), pp. 2631-2636. (doi: 10.1128/JVI.79.4.2631-2636.2005) (PMID:15681464) (PMCID:PMC546599)

Abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) originated from simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) that naturally infect sooty mangabeys (SMs; Cercocebus atys). In order to further investigate the relationship between HIV-2 and SIVsm, the SIV specific to the SM, we characterized seven new SIVsm strains from SMs sold in Sierra Leone markets as bush meat. The gag, pol, and env sequences showed that, while the viruses of all seven SMs belonged to the SIVsm-HIV-2 lineage, they were highly divergent viruses, in spite of the fact that most of the samples originated from the same geographical region. They clustered in three lineages, two of which have been previously reported. Two of the new SIVsm strains clustered differently in gag and env phylogenetic trees, suggesting SIVsm recombination that had occurred in the past. In spite of the fact that our study doubles the number of known SIVsm strains from wild SMs, none of the simian strains were close to the groups in which HIV-2 was epidemic (groups A and B).

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Robertson, Professor David
• Authors: Apetrei, C., Metzger, M. J., Richardson, D., Ling, B., Telfer, P. T., Reed, P., Robertson, D. L., and Marx, P. A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Journal of Virology
• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
• ISSN: 0022-538X
• ISSN (Online): 1098-5514