SEQUENCE VARIATION IN THE GP135 GENE OF MAEDI-VISNA VIRUS-STRAIN EV1

We have used the PCR and HIRT DNA obtained from MVV-infected tissue cu lture cells as a template to generate a number of independently derive d clones representing overlapping fragments of the gp135 region (env) of Maedi visna virus (MVV) strain EV1. Sequencing these clones reveale d that homology between selected regions of gp135 ranged from 93.2% e to 99.8%. Four hypervariable regions and one large highly conserved re gion have been identified. These data provide information on the varia bility of EV1 env, which extends and complements the data previously a vailable on env variability between geographically distinct isolates o f MVV.