SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF HIV-1 VIF GENE IN SPANISH ISOLATES

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the HIV-1 vif gene in vi ruses obtained from symptomatic patients of distinct risk groups in Ma drid. The genetic diversity among the isolates was estimated in 4.6% ( +/-1.4 standard deviation), a similar value to that obtained for the g ag gene 3.9% (+/-0.8 standard deviation) and env 4.1% (+/-standard dev iation) (Rojas et al., Virus Res 31, 331-342, 1994), Amino acid sequen ce analysis revealed the presence of hypermutable residues at position s 101 and 167, close to antigenically relevant sequential epitopes (co mprising amino acids 87-94 and 172-178), Phylogenetic analysis support s the existence of two virus lineages circulating preferentially withi n different risk groups.