REGULATORY GENES OF SIMIAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUSES FROM WEST-AFRICANGREEN MONKEYS (CERCOPITHECUS-AETHIOPS SABAEUS)

The high seroprevalence of simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) in A frican green monkeys (AGMs) without immunological defects in their nat ural hosts has prompted consideration of SN-infected AGMs as a model o f apathogenic SIV infection. Study of the molecular mechanisms of SIVa gm asymptomatic infection could thus provide clues for understanding t he pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency viruses. Regulatory genes co uld be candidates for genetic control of SIVagm apathogenicity. We hav e characterized Vpr, Tat, Rev, and Nef genes of two SIVagm strains iso lated from naturally infected sabaeus monkeys captured in Senegal. The results provide further evidence that SIVagm from West African green monkeys is the most divergent class of AGM viruses, with structural fe atures in long terminal repeat sequences and Vpr and Tat genes that di stinguish them from viruses isolated from other AGM species (vervet, g rivet, and tantalus monkeys).