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Phylogenetic analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 group B
Eleonora Cella1, Alessandra Lo Presti2, Marta Giovanetti3, Carla Veo4, Alessia Lai4, Giordano Dicuonzo5, Silvia Angeletti5, Marco Ciotti6, Gianguglielmo Zehender4, Massimo Ciccozzi7
1 Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome; Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
2 Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
3 Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome; Department of Biology, General Pathology Laboratory, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
4 Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
5 Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
6 Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Tor Vergata Foundation Hospital, Rome, Italy
7 Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome; Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Massimo Ciccozzi
Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rome; Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Rome
Italy
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0974-777X.188592
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Context: Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) infections are mainly restricted to West Africa; however, in the recent years, the prevalence of HIV-2 is a growing concern in some European countries and the Southwestern region of India. Despite the presence of different HIV-2 groups, only A and B Groups have established human-to-human transmission chains. Aims: This work aimed to evaluate the phylogeographic inference of HIV-2 Group B worldwide to estimate their data of origin and the population dynamics. Materials and Methods: The evolutionary rates, the demographic history for HIV-2 Group B dataset, and the phylogeographic analysis were estimated using a Bayesian approach. The viral gene flow analysis was used to count viral gene out/in flow among different locations. Results: The root of the Bayesian maximum clade credibility tree of HIV-2 Group B dated back to 1957. The demographic history of HIV-2 Group B showed that the epidemic remained constant up to 1970 when started an exponential growth. From 1985 to early 2000s, the epidemic reached a plateau, and then it was characterized by two bottlenecks and a new plateau at the end of 2000s. Phylogeographic reconstruction showed that the most probable location for the root of the tree was Ghana. Regarding the viral gene flow of HIV-2 Group B, the only observed viral gene flow was from Africa to France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Conclusions: The study gives insights into the origin, history, and phylogeography of HIV-2 Group B epidemic. The growing number of infections of HIV-2 worldwide indicates the need for strengthening surveillance. |
