Phylogenetic analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 isolated from Cuban individuals

• Published in: AIDS research and human retroviruses Vol. 30; no. 8; p. 823
• Main Authors: Machado, Liuber Y, Díaz, Héctor M, Noa, Enrique, Martín, Dayamí, Blanco, Madeline, Díaz, Dervel F, Sánchez, Yordank R, Nibot, Carmen, Sánchez, Lourdes, Dubed, Marta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Cluster Analysis; Cuba; env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus - genetics; Female; Genetic Variation; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-2 - classification; HIV-2 - genetics; HIV-2 - isolation & purification; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Young Adult; Cuba
• ISSN: 1931-8405
• DOI: 10.1089/aid.2014.0090

The presence of infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) in Cuba has been previously documented. However, genetic information on the strains that circulate in the Cuban people is still unknown. The present work constitutes the first study concerning the phylogenetic relationship of HIV-2 Cuban isolates conducted on 13 Cuban patients who were diagnosed with HIV-2. The env sequences were analyzed for the construction of a phylogenetic tree with reference sequences of HIV-2. Phylogenetic analysis of the env gene showed that all the Cuban sequences clustered in group A of HIV-2. The analysis indicated several independent introductions of HIV-2 into Cuba. The results of the study will reinforce the program on the epidemiological surveillance of the infection in Cuba and make possible further molecular evolutionary studies.