A rapid and sensitive method of identification of HTLV-II subtypes (original) (raw)

1995, Journal of Medical Virology

There are 2 subtypes of human T-cell lymphoma/ leukemia virus type II (HTLV-11), A and B. HTLV-II is increasingly associated with rare forms of lymphocytic neoplasia and a neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by hyperspasticity and ataxia. We have used PCR to amplify, clone and sequence 140 bp of the pol gene from many isolates of HTLV-IIA and HTLV-IIB from around the world. Analysis of these and other published sequences established that all HTLV-IIA sequences contained a unique Hinf I site and all HTLV-IIB sequences a unique Mse I site. A rapid and specific oligomer restriction (OR) assay was developed utilizing the primer pair SKI 10/SK111 and subsequent digestion with these enzymes. Concordance between sequenced and OR-based subtyping of DNA amplified by PCR was absolute among 22 HTLV-II isolates tested. Further OR or sequence analyses on an additional 30 other isolates indicated that the majority of North American non-indian HTLV-I1 isolates were subtype A, while all Paleo-Amerindian samples, including those from the Seminole of Florida; the Guaymi from Panama; and the Toba, Chorote, Wichi, and Chulupe of Argentina, belonged to subtype B. The SKIIO/SKI 11 PCR-OR format should facilitate molecular epidemiology studies of HTLV-I1 infection and allow for subtype stratification in assessing the sensitivity and specificity of HTLV detection formats and HTLV-II disease association. o 1995 Wiley-Liss, tnc.

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