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Molecular cloning of SIV from sooty mangabey monkeys

V M Hirsch1, G Dapolito, C McGann

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC.

Journal of Medical Primatology
|January 1, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Researchers created infectious clones of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) from sooty mangabeys. These SIVsmm clones are closely related to, but distinct from, SIVmac and HIV-2, suggesting SIVmac originated from SIVsmm.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Primate Lentiviruses
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is a lentivirus that infects non-human primates.
  • SIVsmm is found in sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys).
  • SIVmac and HIV-2 are related primate lentiviruses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To derive and characterize infectious molecular clones of SIV from sooty mangabeys.
  • To compare these SIV clones to other known primate lentiviruses.
  • To investigate the evolutionary relationship between SIVsmm, SIVmac, and HIV-2.

Main Methods:

  • Derivation of two infectious molecular clones of SIV from sooty mangabey monkeys.
  • Restriction enzyme mapping of SIV clones.
  • Limited DNA sequencing of SIV clones.
  • Comparative analysis with known primate lentiviruses.

Main Results:

  • Two infectious molecular clones of SIV from sooty mangabeys (SIVsmm) were successfully derived.
  • Restriction enzyme mapping and DNA sequencing demonstrated that SIVsmm is closely related to, but distinct from, SIVmac and HIV-2.
  • Phylogenetic analysis suggests a close evolutionary link between SIVsmm and SIVmac.

Conclusions:

  • SIVsmm represents a distinct but closely related lineage to SIVmac and HIV-2.
  • The findings support the hypothesis that SIVmac may have originated from SIVsmm through cross-species transmission in a captive environment.
  • This research provides insights into the origins and evolution of primate lentiviruses.

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