The cloning and phylogenetic analysis of envelope gene of HTLV-1 virus from the coastal region of Fujian.
The human T cell leukemia/lymphotropic virus type 1(HTLV 1)belongs to the Oncovirinae subfamily of retroviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of the long terminal repeat(LTR)and env gene of HTLV 1 gave a phylogenetic classification of HTLV 1 genotypes into five major molecular subtypes: Cosmopolitan(C), Japanese(J), West African(WA), Central African(CA), and Melanesian(M). In order to understand the major genotype of HTLV 1 prevalent in China, HTLV 1 env gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced from peripheral blood lymphocyts of three HTLV 1 carriers in the Putian region of Fujian Province. Phylogenetic analysis was done with env sequences of three isolates and the representative strains of five major HTLV 1 subtypes. The results showed that all the three isolated HIV 1 strains were grouped into subtype C. Thus, the existence of HTLV 1 subtype C virus in China mainland was firstly confirmed. Since Putian region is located along the coast of Fujian, where oversea emigration have been frequent in recent several centuries, whether it associated with the global dissemination of HTLV 1 subtype C deserves further study.