Sequence analysis of HIV-1vif gene in Spanish isolates

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the HIV-1vif gene in viruses obtained from symptomatic patients of distinct risk groups in Madrid. The genetic diversity among the isolates was estimated in 4.6% (±1.4 standard deviation), a similar value to that obtained for thegag gene 3.9% (±0.8 standard deviation) andenv 4.1% (±1 standard deviation) (Rojas et al., Virus Res31, 331–342, 1994). Amino acid sequence analysis revealed the presence of hypermutable residues at positions 101 and 167, close to antigenically relevant sequential epitopes (comprising amino acids 87–94 and 172–178). Phylogenetic analysis supports the existence of two virus lineages circulating preferentially within different risk groups.