HIV-1 and HIV-2 exhibit similar mutation frequencies and spectra in the absence of G-to-A hypermutation

• DOI: 10.1186/s12977-015-0180-6
• Publication Date: 2015-07-09T05:24:59Z
• Authors: Jonathan M O Rawson; Sean R Landman; Cavan S Reilly; Louis M Mansky
• Keywords: Provirus; Mutation frequency

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is often distinguished clinically by lower viral loads, reduced transmissibility, and longer asymptomatic periods than for human 1 (HIV-1). Differences in the mutation frequencies of HIV-1 HIV-2 have been hypothesized to contribute attenuated progression observed clinically. To address this hypothesis, we performed Illumina sequencing multiple amplicons prepared from cells infected with or HIV-2, resulting ~4.7 million read pairs identification ~200,000 mutations after data processing. We that: (1) displayed significantly total mutation, substitution, transition that HIV-1, along a spectrum markedly less biased toward G-to-A transitions, (2) hypermutation consistent activity APOBEC3 proteins was both despite presence Vif, (3) higher (4) were not different absence hypermutants. Taken together, these demonstrate exhibits distinct mutational frequency relative HIV-1. However, differences primarily due levels HIV-2. These findings suggest may be susceptible APOBEC3-mediated hypermutation, but fidelities other sources (such as reverse transcriptase) are relatively similar Overall, imply replication fidelity likely major contributing factor unique clinical features infection.